Parent Education

Carlsbad United F.C. Parent Guidelines
Carlsbad United F.C. makes a commitment to you that we will work hard to provide a fun, educational, and safe environment in which your child’s soccer and their team skills can grow. We will treat you with respect in our words and actions and expect the same courtesy from our players and parents.

Basic Guideline for Parents

• Provide unconditional love and support regardless of the game’s outcome
• Ensure that your child arrives to all practices and games at the designated time
• Remain seated in the spectator area during games
• Do not yell instructions or criticism to any player
• Make no derogatory comments to players, other parents, fans, or officials
• Do not interfere with your child’s coach, except to draw attention to an urgent safety issue
• Let the coach be responsible for your child during games

Practices & Games

• We welcome you to attend and watch practice, but please remain in the spectator area during practice activities
• For the good of the team, it is important that all players attend all practices and games. We recommend that soccer practices and games not be used as a punishment. If a player must miss practices or games, please discuss the situation with the coach
• It is understood that school academics are the top priority. Please help your child to organize and prioritize school, athletics, and other activities
• Please work to be creative in scheduling doctor’s appointments, tutoring, etc. so as to not consistently coincide with soccer practice

Topics that we encourage you to discuss with your child’s coach

• Both mental and physical treatment of a player
• Discussing ways to help a player improve
• Concerns about a player’s behavior

Topics that we ask you to refrain from discussing with your child’s coach

• Playing time that falls within the Carlsbad United F.C. guidelines*
• Team Strategy
• Any player that is not your own child

* Play time guidelines: Recreational and Developmental team players will play at least 50% of all regulation games. Gold, Premier, Elite, and all tournament games are at the coach’s discretion. Missed practices and disruptive behavior are grounds for less than mandated play time.

Game Day Fueling Guide

Pre-game:
Items to focus on are a good carbohydrate source and hydration. Starting your game/practice with a full tank will ensure that your will have the energy to finish strong. In soccer and high-intensity intermittent sports you burn through your carbohydrate/energy stores really quickly. Items to focus on before the game would be oatmeal’s, PB and Jelly sandwiches, fruit and electrolyte drinks such as Hydrate or Gatorade. Ensuring that players are hydrated before the game is also key. Making sure they have fluids (water first)  at least 20 oz will aid in keeping them hydrated. Have them always have a water bottle with them to ensure they are dinking and hydrating throughout the day.
During the game:
We are trying to maintain our stores that we have as best we can here. In-between games fuel with carbohydrates and water will allow them to finish strong. Every 10-15 mins have them drink some water or electrolyte drink, giving them some simple carbohydrates and fluids. If it is a tournament setting have the kids get a good meal/snack between games. Some options for this would be a PB and Jelly sandwich, fruit with nuts or nut butter, and always fluids.
After the game:
This is when we need to get them ready for the next game and help them to recovery. We want to Rebuild, Refuel, and Rehydrate. The sooner we can get something into the kids the better, within the first 10-30 mins is ideal.
Rehydrate – restoring fluid and electrolyte loss
Refuel – focus on carbohydrates
Rebuild – protein need to be a part of the recovery process post game. This will help them rebuild muscles and prevent injury over the long run.

Click here to view the ‘EXOS Competition Day Fueling Guide’ pdf.

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