Parents shall not argue or fight with parents of the opposing team or the referee under any circumstances.  If provoked, MLBTB's expectation is that our parents will walk away and report the incident to their child's coach or an MLBTB Board member.

Let the coaches coach.  This includes goal setting and psyching up your child for practice and post game critiques.  Having more than one "coach" confuses children.  Do not yell "shoot" when your child has the ball near the goal.  Do not yell at your child to pass the ball or dribble.

Do not bribe or offer incentives.  Leave motivation to the coach.  Offering money for scoring goals, for example, distracts your child from concentrating properly in practices and games. Support your child unconditionally. Do not withdraw love when your child performs poorly.

Support all players on the team.  Your child's teammates are not the enemy. When they are playing better than your child, your child has a wonderful opportunity to learn.

Support the program.  Get involved by volunteering, helping with fundraisers, car-pooling, or however else you can.

Encourage your child to talk with the coaches.  "Taking responsibility" - whether about playing difficulties or missing an upcoming match - is a big part of soccer.

Understand and display appropriate game behavior.  When you cheer appropriately, you help your child focus on the parts of the game he can control (positioning, decision-making, skills, etc.). If your child begins focusing on elements he or she can't control (field conditions, the referee, the weather, etc.), your child will not play up to his ability.

Monitor your child at home.  Be sure your child is eating and sleeping properly.   Help your child keep priorities straight.  A youngster needs help balancing school work, friendships, and other commitments besides soccer - but having made a commitment to soccer, your child also needs help fulfilling his/her obligation to her team.

Pass the reality test.  If your child's team loses but your child played their best, help your child see this as a "win." Focus on the process, not the end result. Fun and satisfaction should come from "striving to win." Conversely, do not let your child be satisfied with "winning" if it comes from inadequate preparation and performance.

Keep soccer in its proper perspective.  The game should not be larger than your life. If your child's performance produces strong emotions in you, suppress them. Keep your own goals and needs separate from your child's. Remember that your relationship with your child will continue long after his/her competitive soccer days end.