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Guidelines For Parental Involvement In Youth Sports

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Chris Klein, PCA-Los Angeles Board Member, is the President of the LA Galaxy. Klein serves as the club’s top business executive overseeing all aspects of business operations, strategic planning and overall management of the LA Galaxy. Prior to being named president, Klein served as a Vice President for the Galaxy, having retired as a player in 2010 following a distinguished 13-year career in Major League Soccer. As a player, the Indiana University graduate won the MLS Cup in 2000 and set MLS records for most consecutive games started and consecutive games played.

Klein's son plays for the Galaxy Academy, which has strict guidelines about parental involvement. Parents aren't allowed to be at practice, a rule he equates to parents not sitting in the classroom with their children. Rules and guidelines for parents on the sidelines at games include encouraging parents to cheer positively, but prohibiting any contesting of calls, yelling at coaches, or rooting against the other team.

These parental guidelines are important because, as Klein says, "at the end of the day these kids are 13 years old and we're trying to build character that's going to last their lifetime."