This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone.#SaveSnackScore #CollectiveBias

Most school sports have ended and now summer travel leagues are in full gear. Many hot and exhausting days are spent during the summer on the sidelines for our children. My kids have been playing sports since Kindergarten and I have seen a lot of different types of sideline parents. Too often I need to remind myself and sometimes other parents, in a comical way, “remember this is only 9 year-old soccer”. One coach even gave out lollipops for parents to suck on when they felt the urge to yell on the sideline. So before we head across country with your kids and sporting equipment in tow, here are 9 Things to Keep in Mind While Watching from the Sidelines so you can be the sideline hero not the Sideline embarrassment!

9 Things to Keep in Mind While Watching from the Sidelines

1. Say something nice or nothing at all. We tell our kids this all the time. Positive comments from the sidelines are more likely to boost children on the field
2. Let the coaches coach. The coaches spend hours at practice teaching your kids the game, don’t yell something at them as it can be very confusing. 
3. Don’t complain about other players or coaches to other parents. This can be tough, especially if the team is having a bad season. Try to bite your tongue or eat a snack. 
4. Cheer for good plays no matter what jersey color. It’s ok to clap when they other team gets a goal, or has a good shot in tennis. No hard feelings you are just complimenting good athletes. 
5. Be courteous to everyone around you. Even if the other team is playing mean or extra rough, try not to reflect your feelings to the parents, its up to the officials. 
6. Don’t yell at the referees. Remember refs make mistakes and they also have a different view than you do on the sideline. I have seen teams get technicals because of obnoxious parents thinking they know it all on the sidelines.
7. Don’t walk up and down the field with your player. You are there as a spectator. Keep it that way. It is fine if you need to change point of view when the kids change sides on the field but don’t pretend you are a ref following them up and down the field. 
8. Tomorrow is a new Day. Trust me the kids, especially the younger ones,  are going to forget about the game in a few hours, you should too. 
9. Bring Snacks for the Parents. The heat and long hours on the sideline is tough on the spectators too. Bring some refreshments to pass out to your parents. You will be surprised it will calm them down too.

You can pin this later to print and give out to your sideline parents: 

In addition to all the sporting equipment you bring for your kids, pack up a soft sided cooler with  POWERADE and RITZ Bits Cracker Sandwiches or NABISCO – savory snack mix box to share with the other parents.

Thanks to the deals at Walmart you will Save Snack and Score this summer sports season. 

Save – These snacks are not expensive and keep your eyes out for the following coupons:

• POWERADE 8pk 20oz is on rollback at Walmart
• Get these two In-Store coupon options from NABISCO that your readers can be on the lookout for.
  • coupon neck hanger on POWERADE (8pk 20oz): Save $1.50 on NABISCO 20-pack Multipack
  • coupon sticker on boxes of NABISCO snack packs : Savings of .75 when you purchase a 12-pack or larger NABISCO Multipack

Snack – Keep yourself and other parents  fueled as you cheer on your players with these snacks and drinks!

Score – Be the sideline HERO at the game by sharing these snacks and drinks with other parents at the game!

9 Things to Keep in Mind While Watching from the Sidelines

 

Be sure to check out other ideas for being a sideline hero here! What other things would you add to the 9 Things to Keep in Mind While Watching from the Sidelines? Also find out the What To Pack For Your Kids Sports Events.