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Game Day Experience

Game days are an important component of player development however if not managed in the correct way it can be a counterproductive experience for the young player. X-Roads fosters an environment for our players that is safe from physical and verbal abuse and encourages our player to experiment and create on the field. We wish to celebrate their successes and manage their failures as through their failures they learn and develop. Below is the XFC Academies expectations of the players, coaches and parents on game days.

IMPORTANT MATCH DAY CONSIDERATIONS

  • We must encourage players, coaches and parents to honor the game collectively by adopting a player-centered philosophy.
  • Youth football games should be viewed in a different context to senior games. The main focus in a senior football game is to win. In youth football, the main focus needs to be fun and development; winning will be a byproduct.
  • Once a player crosses the white line, it is their game and they must make their own technical and tactical decisions. The coach’s decisions are made to aid this process.
  • Match day is a players chance to put into action what they have learned from training. It is purely an extension of the training session where transfer of learning should occur.
  • Players who are over-coached during training and games will become robotic and will not be able to make critical game decisions on their own. If the coaches are doing all the talking, the players won’t communicate.
INTERACTION
AREA		COACH EXPECTATIONS
PLAYERSVerbal instructions should be carefully measured to provide players with the necessary information they need to improve without over-coaching or joy-sticking players
OFFICIALSThe officials’ decisions should be respected and unchallenged. No attempt should be made to influence their decisions or the outcome of the game.
PARENTSParents should be engaged in the educational process. If possible, parents should be debriefed to ensure they understand post game goals and areas for discussion with their children.
OPPOSITIONParent’s interaction with players from the opposite team should only ever be positive and sportsmanlike in nature. Parents should never get involved in any type of verbal confrontation or dispute with parents and players of the opposing team, whatever the reason.
INTERACTION AREAPARENT CONDUCT
TEAM COACHParents and team coaches should be on the same page with regards to the team’s seasonal objectives, which should be communicated during preseason.


Parents should avoid questioning or confronting the team coach during or immediately after a game. Where appropriate parents should call or email the team coach to discuss the issue.
PLAYERSBe supportive but don’t coach from the sidelines. Let the coaches communicate important information to avoid confusing players. A parent’s role should be to provide support and encouragement. If parents are over communicating, it takes away the opportunity for players to communicate with each other.

Avoid defining success and failure in terms of winning and losing. For each game, the coach will have defined skill acquisition goals for the team. These are the objectives that should be used to measure success. This will teach players to have a better perspective on the game experience.
REFEREEParents should not question or try to influence a referee’s decision for any reason. Mistakes will happen; parents should be a role model for their players. Any communication to the referee should be via the team coach.
OPPOSITIONParent’s interaction with players from the opposite team should only ever be positive and sportsmanlike in nature. Parents should never get involved in any type of verbal confrontation or dispute with parents and players of the opposing team, whatever the reason.
INTERACTION AREAPLAYER EXPECTATIONS
COACHESRespect the decisions of the team coach with regards to playing time and position as well as substitutions.


Players should have an open and inquisitive mind when receiving feedback from the coach. Players should be encouraged to implement feedback where applicable.
TEAMMATESEncourage other players on your team and support decisions of teammates regardless of the outcome.
OFFICIALSPlayers should not question or argue with a referee’s decision for any reason. Mistakes will happen; players should respect the decision and continue with the game.
OPPOSITIONFair play and good sportsmanship should be an integral part of all interactions with opposition players. Shake hands and congratulate all players on a good game upon completion of the match.
PARENTSPlayers should not look to their parents during the game for feedback or information on their self-performance. Players should focus on the game and their own performance with no distraction.


Players should keep their parents informed of important information that the coach has relayed after the game. This may include logistical information for future training session or games and player development information that relates to focused areas of improvement