Among a plethora of life lessons and values that can be learned from competition is the concept of respect.  At some point, nearly everyone who plays or coaches ends up on both sides of a lopsided result.  Demonstrating appropriate behavior during these episodes – and enforcing such behavior within the team – is critical in order to help young players understand the value of respect.

In youth soccer, the opponent should not  be seen as “the enemy.”  Some youth coaches and parents have a mindset that winning at all costs is the only indicator of success, and that the higher the goal differential, the better.  This mindset should change.  Consider this quote from David Winner discussing Dutch football philosophy:  “Opponents were not seen as foes to be fought and beaten; rather as posing a problem which had to be solved.”

This line of thinking recognizes the opponents as individuals; kids playing a game and trying their best to win in the manner they were instructed – not as combatants needing to be vanquished with prejudice.  Viewed in this light, coaches can make a point of ensuring their players refrain from needless taunting.

Lopsided games provide opportunities for coaches to focus on aspects of play that they feel could be improved – not padding the scoreline.  There are a number of ways by which a coach can prevent his team from running up the score.  By doing so he can accomplish two goals – 1) his team works on a needed skill (e.g., possession / using the weaker foot, etc.); and 2) he sends a message to his players that respect is an important part of the game.

Briefly, a couple ways to keep the score down (feel free to add more in the comments section):

• Limit players to two-touches
• Mandate a number of passes before shooting
• Restrict players to their weak foot
• Mandate that every player on the team touch the ball before another shot
• Remove a player from the field

When coaches only focus on winning (a development problem in an of itself), sometimes the intangible benefits of playing sports can get lost.  When playing teams that are inferior, fostering a team environment that encourages players to taunt opponents during and after the game makes it difficult to teach the value of respect.  Even in the NFL, a league teeming with prima donnas, players are penalized for taunting their opponents.

Kids may not play soccer forever, but they will always have to interact with other human beings.  Learning how to treat others with respect is a crucial tool, and it’s a lesson that can be reinforced by coaches on the soccer field.