Parental Influences

Many parent/s (guardian/s) do not understand and appreciate the role they play and how they contribute to their child’s involvement in football. This is a shame because they can affect their actions can affect their child in a negative way as well as positive way.

Positive influences

• Encouragement: Remain positive and upbeat, ensuring that the child knows that they have your full support.
• Funds: Participation at any level requires some financial input and for the majority of players, this input will materialise from the parent/s (guardian/s).
• Transport: As with funds, the requirement for transportation is present at any level of participation. So whether parent/s (guardian/s) are only delivering their own child to games and training or a number of players, their assistance is invaluable.
• Interest: Showing an interest in what the child is doing is crucial for the child however do not allow this interest to overlap to pressure.

Negative influences

• Pressure: Placing pressure on the child is unfair, they are their own self, not an extension through which the parent / guardian can live out their own dreams!
• Control: A controlling parent (guardian) can adversely affect a child’s enjoyment of the game, if they feel like they do not have the freedom to express themselves then they may lose interest and withdraw from the sport altogether.
• Abuse: Of any kind, verbal, bullying, physical or sexual, should not be inflicted by any adult onto a child. If this does occur then witnesses should not just stand by and allow it, as the child may be at risk physically and psychologically.
• Lack of interest: A child looks up to their parent/s so if they feel that they are showing them no interest they will take it to heart and assume that they have done something wrong. Even if the parent (guardian) does not like football, the child does so at least share their interest.

So parents and guardians alike please recognise and appreciate the important role you play within your child’s participation, development and success within the sport.