How to Support Your Child When Benched in Soccer: What Every Parent Should Know

It was mid-October, and the weather had turned gloomy. A steady rain fell from the sky 🌧️ — not pouring, but enough to soak through everything. The game was being played on a run-down turf field, with puddles scattered across the surface.

Ten-year-old Bobby hovered near the bench, quietly fidgeting with a soccer ball at his feet ⚽. About ten minutes remained.

He was dying to get in the game. He had even made up his mind — if the coach put him in, he’d sprint down the wing 🏃‍♂️ with everything he had and fire a shot from distance. Whatever happened, happened.

He looked over at his dad, already knowing what was coming. Sure enough, his father was waving his arms, signaling him to stay focused 👋. Bobby could still hear the words one of the meaner kids on the team had said before the match: “You’re weak — you know you’re not gonna play,” 💔.

He clenched his tiny fists in his pockets ✊. He wanted to be part of the win 🏆 — more than anything. But he also didn’t want to go through that conversation again at home.

Bobby never got the chance.

That night, he lay in his room, staring at the neighbor’s porch light through the window 🌙. In the living room, he could hear his dad grumbling after a few beers . His mom’s voice cut through now and then: “I told you… just move him to a different team.”

Bobby loved soccer. But now… he wasn’t so sure anymore.

When it comes to how to support your child when benched in soccer, the most powerful thing you can offer is perspective. Remind them that their value isn’t tied to playing time, but to who they are and how they show up. Be their steady voice, their encourager, and their biggest fan—even from the sidelines. Because the way you support them in this moment will shape how they handle setbacks far beyond the soccer field. ⚽💙