Respect the ref. Speak up for respect.
A short, phone-friendly course on sideline sportsmanship. Respect the referee, respect the other team, and welcome visiting families like guests, at home games and away. Our kids learn respect by watching us.
What you'll learn
Simple habits that make game day better for every kid on the field, both teams included.
Respect the referee
Many youth refs are teenagers still learning. Know where the line is, and why a quiet “thanks for doing this” matters.
Respect the other team
They're kids too. Be a good host at home and a good guest away, welcome visiting families, and never taunt an opponent.
Speak up for respect
When another adult crosses the line, a calm “hey, they're just kids” helps more than anything. Know when to get a club official.
The rules parents get wrong
Offside, handball and small-sided rules, in plain English, so fewer calls feel “wrong.”
Development over results
At this age, learning and loving the game matter more than the scoreboard. Praise effort, bravery and trying new skills.
The ride home
Start with six words that mean the most to your player: “I love watching you play.”
Cheer, don't coach
Too much coaching from parents confuses the kids, so leave the coaching to the coach.
When you shout instructions, your child hears two voices, yours and the coach's, and they often say different things. Kids freeze and look at the sideline instead of the ball. Cheering is always welcome. Coaching, yelling instructions and refereeing from the stands are not.
✓ Cheer
- “Nice try!”
- “Great hustle!”
- “Unlucky!”
- Clap for a great save, any jersey
- “Thanks, ref!”
✕ Skip
- “Shoot!” “Pass!”
- “Get rid of it!”
- Play-by-play instructions
- “Offside!” “Call it, ref!”
- Comments about other kids
The lessons
Five short videos, about two to three minutes each, with a quick check after every lesson.
The Ref Is Somebody's Kid (and Where the Line Is)
Many youth referees are teenagers. Why they deserve respect, where emotion turns into dissent, and one simple test before you say anything.
Rules Parents Get Wrong
Offside, handball and small-sided rules in plain English, and why the ref's angle almost always beats yours from the sideline.
Opponents, Coaches and Your Own Kid
The other team are kids too. Be a good host at home and a good guest away, cheer great plays in any jersey, and let the coach coach.
Your Game-Day Playbook
A before, during and after routine: thank the ref, cheer effort for both teams, reset when the heat rises, and calmly speak up if an adult crosses the line.
The Good Call Parent Pledge
Nine commitments for the calm majority. Accept the pledge and get your unique completion code.
Return to the Sideline
A short refresher lesson clubs can ask a parent to complete after a sideline incident. It does not replace any club or league decision.
How it works
From checkout to your club's registration in about 15 minutes.
Buy once
$5.99 per family. Pay securely by card through Stripe.
Watch on your phone
Five short lessons with captions. Pause any time and pick up where you left off.
Get your code
Finish the lessons and the pledge, and we email your unique code, like GCP-4821.
Give it to your club
Enter the code at registration. Your club sees your family has finished.
Questions
Who is this for?
Parents, grandparents and anyone who cheers from a youth soccer sideline, anywhere in the U.S. Most parents already do great. This course is for the calm majority who set the tone for everyone else.
How long does it take?
Five short video lessons, about 13 minutes of video, plus a quick question or two after each. Most families finish in about 15 minutes, on a phone, in one sitting or a few.
How much does it cost?
$5.99, one time, per family. There's no subscription.
What is the completion code?
When you finish all five lessons and accept the pledge, we email you a unique code that looks like GCP-4821. Give it to your club, usually by typing it into a question on your registration form. It is a course completion code, not a certificate or official credential.
Is this official U.S. Soccer training?
No. Good Call Parent is an independent program, not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Soccer, US Youth Soccer or any association. Lessons summarize the rules and policies in plain English. Your league's current rules always govern.
My club wants to use it. What do we do?
Great! See the For clubs page, or email [email protected].
Be the calm voice on your sideline.
Fifteen minutes, five short lessons, one code for your club.
Start the course — $5.99