Whether it is soccer or another sport, there are rules of engagement. Learning to navigate your field of choice creates opportunities to make mistakes not to mention stir up serious anxiety. Since I’m pretty sure that I have made or witnessed just about all of them, I’ll save you the trouble of trial by fire.

Whether you are a soccer, cheer, track, football, or multi-sport mom, there are some things that you just should skip while you're out on the field. If you're not sure where to start, look no further. I have a few suggestions that will get you through more than one season of your favorite sport.

Arriving on time is just about the same as being late. If you're not there 30 minutes early, you'll get the bad parking spot. You'll have to walk 1/2 mile to the field. You'll be cranky as will the kids. And to top it all off, the good seats are gone too.
Bring bacon to the field. Despite your best effort, your child or someone else's will become ravished right before the game. Bring a little protein for them to snack on. It will diminish the hunger pangs and give them a little energy boost.
Leave the sweats at home. Try a mom uniform instead. A sporty top, jeans, and comfy sneaks makes it easy to be ready in a snap. Add a light sweater, scarf, and shades and you're all set.
Your job is to give kisses, cheer them on, and congratulate them on a job well done. Don't expect too much when you get there. It takes a couple of years for most kids to become stellar athletes. In the mean time, cheer on!
Make every game a celebration. When kids are young, officials don't always announce the score. So, cheer for everything. Avoid comparing your child to other kids or badgering him or her about their performance. see #4
You haven't lived until four extra kids hop into your minivan without notice. No matter what you have planned for the hour after the game, forget about it. Your child and her teammates will come up with a plan that includes you as shuttle service.
The unexpected will happen. Bring everything to the game. It is much easier to sprint to your car than to drive home. Bring extra socks, all uniforms, an after-the-game outfit, ice packs, band aids, and other things that might be needed.
Don't make them choose between you and the coach. Coaches come from two places, the volunteer pool or the employee pool. If you didn't volunteer or get hired for the job, you are not the coach. When you are on the sidelines, you get to cheer only.
Heckling other people's children is the worst. Do not holler at the other kids. Do not tell your kid to get the slow kid. Do not tell kids they are cheating. Do not use potty mouth words. Do not engage in verbal altercations with parents, officials or the coach.
Your child is a ROCK STAR and as such shall have an entourage. When your child looks to the sidelines, they should see a crowd just for them. Parents, grandparents, siblings, family friends, kiddie friends and pets may be part of the entourage.