<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/" -->

---
title: This Soccer Dad Had the Funniest Parenting Hack of All Time
description: This rad dad and soccer fan figured out a way to enjoy an Atlanta United Football Club game while entertaining his young daughter.
canonical: https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/
author: Rachel E. Greenspan
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2019-03-12T16:12:22.000Z
article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T00:30:53.000Z
og:title: Soccer Dad May Have Pulled Off Best Parenting Hack Ever
og:description: At a recent soccer game, one father inspired the internet
og:url: https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Soccer Dad May Have Pulled Off Best Parenting Hack Ever
twitter:description: At a recent soccer game, one father inspired the internet
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# Soccer Dad May Have Pulled Off the Most Hilarious Parenting Hack of All Time

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="c0df8950-ab3e-46a4-8bca-575cb4c105d8" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=c0df8950-ab3e-46a4-8bca-575cb4c105d8&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=c0df8950-ab3e-46a4-8bca-575cb4c105d8&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=c0df8950-ab3e-46a4-8bca-575cb4c105d8&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->



by 

[Rachel E. Greenspan](https://time.com/author/rachel-e-greenspan/)


## Rachel E. Greenspan


Updated: Dec 13, 2023 12:30 AM UTCPublished: Mar 12, 2019 4:12 PM UTC

by 

[Rachel E. Greenspan](https://time.com/author/rachel-e-greenspan/)


## Rachel E. Greenspan


Updated: Dec 13, 2023 12:30 AM UTCPublished: Mar 12, 2019 4:12 PM UTC

One [rad dad](http://time.com/5548990/billys-donuts-texas/) figured out a way to have his cake and eat it, too — by enjoying a soccer game while [entertaining his young daughter](http://time.com/5530444/olive-oil-car/), that is.

At a recent Atlanta United Football Club game, a father enjoyed his hot dog during the National Anthem, while showing his daughter some kind of entertainment on his iPhone as the toddler sat comfortably in contentment.

> [](https://twitter.com/espn/status/1105180908905213952)

The video, originally posted on Instagram by another soccer fan, quickly gained traction on Twitter and Instagram. Some people thought the tactic was a genius parenting move.

> [](https://twitter.com/JOEGOTTI2K/status/1105193587875241984)

> [](https://twitter.com/AllYallsDaddy23/status/1105219742812569600)

> [](https://twitter.com/StocktonJewkes/status/1105226775800483844)


> [](https://twitter.com/AWPeebles/status/1105271917546782720)

Even the Twitter account behind Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., the team’s home stadium, voiced support for the dad’s clever move.

> [](https://twitter.com/MBStadium/status/1105202788324294657)

Atlanta United definitely backed up the father’s choices, too, asking followers to identify the fan in order to reward him with a star for his jersey.

> [](https://twitter.com/ATLUTD/status/1105204973518966790)


The team did not immediately respond to TIME’s request for comment.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/"},"headline":"Soccer Dad May Have Pulled Off the Most Hilarious Parenting Hack of All Time","datePublished":"2019-03-12T16:12:22.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T00:30:53.000Z","description":"At a recent Atlanta United Football Club game, one father inspired the internet","url":"https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/","keywords":["Newsfeed","viral","Soccer","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel E. Greenspan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rachel-e-greenspan/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5549849/soccer-dad/","name":"Soccer Dad May Have Pulled Off the Most Hilarious Parenting Hack of All Time"}}]}]
```

