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Youth Soccer
"Pearls Of Wisdom From The Mouth Of Babes"

By 8 and 9 year olds to Ann Landers

We know that from the mouth of babes can come pearls of wisdom... The following advice was given by 8 and 9 year olds to Ann Landers for here Dear Ann column. See if you can glean some ideas for your coaching methodology:
  1. Don't give me everything I ask for. Sometimes, I am just testing you to see how much I can get.
  2. Don't always be giving orders. If you suggest something instead of giving a command, I will do it faster.
  3. Don't keep changing your mind about what you want me to do. Make up your mind and stick to it.
  4. Keep promises, good and bad. If you promise a reward, make sure you give it to me. If you promise a punishment, make sure I get that, too.
  5. Don't compare me with anybody else, especially if the comparison will hurt somebody's feelings. I don't want to be considered smarter than somebody else, because it will hurt that person's feelings. If you make me out to be dumber than somebody else, then it will hurt MY feelings.
  6. Let me do as much for myself as I can. That's how I learn. If you do everything for me, I will never be able to do anything for myself.
  7. Don't correct my mistakes in front of other people. Tell me how to improve when nobody is around.
  8. Don't scream at me. It makes me scream back, and I don't want to be a screamer. Screamers sound awful.
  9. Don't tell lies in front of me or ask me to tell lies to help you out. It makes me think less of you and less of myself, even if I am supposed to be doing you a favor.
  10. When I do something wrong, don't try to get me to tell you WHY I did it. Sometimes, I don't know why myself.
  11. Don't pay too much attention to me when I say I have a stomach ache. Playing sick can be a good way to get out of doing things I don't want t do or going places I don't want to go. Make sure it's real.
  12. When you are wrong about something, admit it. It won't hurt my opinion of you. It will make it easier for me to admit it when I am wrong.
  13. Treat me like you would treat a friend. Then, I will be YOUR friend and you will be mine. Just because people are related does not mean they can't be polite and nice to each other.
Dear Reader: Do you have any 'words of wisdom' you would like to share? Send them to us when it is convenient!