I have a 16 year-old son, so I'm now a soccer mom. I stand on the

The words of Brandi Chastain, a warrior of the soccer field whose triumphs inspired nations, now carry the tenderness of a mother standing humbly upon the sidelines. “I have a 16-year-old son, so I’m now a soccer mom… I want them to understand what it is their kids are feeling in any sports environment.” In these words lies a wisdom deeper than the game itself: that the true heart of sport is not only in the victories won but in the feelings of the children who play, who struggle, who hope. She speaks not as a champion alone, but as one who has walked the journey and now beholds it anew through the eyes of her child.

Her words spring from the ancient truth that parents, in their passion and zeal, often forget that sport is not simply a stage for ambition, but a school for the soul. On the sidelines, words of encouragement can become like wings, lifting the child into confidence; yet words of anger or pressure can strike like arrows, piercing the tender heart. Chastain, having once stood as the player who carried the weight of expectation, now bears the wisdom of empathy, urging others to remember: the child is not merely an athlete, but a person in the making.

History gives us many mirrors of this truth. Consider the tale of Leonidas of Sparta, whose warriors were trained from youth in the agōgē, taught to endure, to fight, to be strong. Yet the greatest strength of those warriors did not come only from the training ground, but from the voices of their mothers, who told them to return with their shields or upon them. Their mothers understood the weight of expectation, and their words shaped the spirit of their sons. But what if those words had been ones of cruelty instead of courage? What if, instead of instilling pride, they had sown despair? The destiny of warriors—and children alike—rests greatly upon the voices that surround them.

Chastain’s reflection also reminds us that sport is more than victory; it is the formation of character. To learn teamwork, humility, perseverance, and resilience are treasures greater than any trophy. Yet when parents stand on the sidelines and cry out only for triumph, they risk teaching children that their worth lies only in victory. This is a dangerous lesson, for it binds identity to outcomes and blinds the child to the joy of growth. Instead, if parents honor effort, if they speak encouragement in failure, then the child learns the greater truth: that sport is not merely about winning, but about becoming.

There is a deeper wisdom here for all who guide the young. Children do not remember every score or every medal, but they remember how they were made to feel. They will carry forever the memory of whether their parents’ voices were filled with love or disappointment. In this, Chastain is like the philosophers of old, reminding us that the unseen battles of the heart are greater than the contests of the field. The roar of the crowd fades, but the echo of a parent’s words remains for a lifetime.

The lesson, then, is clear: guard your words, for they build or destroy the spirit of the child. Parents must remember that their children’s hearts are tender, that they come to the field not only to compete, but to belong, to be seen, to grow. Speak encouragement when they stumble, offer pride when they strive, and show love whether they win or lose. In so doing, you will not only raise an athlete—you will raise a person of courage and dignity.

Practically, this means parents should step back and listen. Hear the voices around you, as Chastain has heard, and ask: are they lifting the children or weighing them down? Choose your words as carefully as a craftsman chooses his tools, knowing each one leaves its mark. Celebrate not only goals scored but effort given, not only victories won but lessons learned. By doing so, you fulfill the true purpose of standing on the sidelines: to be the guardian of the child’s spirit, not the judge of their worth.

Thus, Brandi Chastain’s words become a teaching for the ages: that to parent is to shape the soul, and to guide is to honor the feelings of the young. In sport, as in life, the field is but the stage, while the heart is the true battleground. Let your voice be the shield, your words the light, and your presence the anchor. For in the end, victories fade, but love remembered will carry them farther than any trophy ever could.