- Be your child’s best fan and support him unconditionally.
- When you take your child home after a match or training session, please be supportive and always focus on the positive aspects of his game.
- Develop a responsibility in your child to pack his own kit, clean his own boots and take a drinks bottle (full of water) to practice and games.
- Respect the facilities at our opponents’ grounds.
- Do not criticise your child’s coach to your child or other parents. If you are not happy with the coach you should raise the issue with the coach.
- Encourage your child to speak to the coach. If your child is having difficulties in training or games, or can’t attend training etc. encourage him to speak directly to the coaches. This “responsibility taking” is a big part of becoming a mature person. By handling off the field tasks, your child is claiming ownership of all aspects of the game.
- Help your child to focus on the performance and not the result. Remember – winning is NOT as important as the performance.
- Support all the players in your child’s squad. Do not criticise anyone. Remember – Children don’t make mistakes.
- Do not criticise the opponents, their parents or officials.
- Never audibly dispute a referee’s decision. They WILL make mistakes occasionally. We all do. If you abuse or shout at the referee you are breaking the rules of the game and risk generating a fine for the club. In extreme circumstances we could even be expelled from the League, be forced to play all our games away or play without spectators present.
- Parents/Carers must not coach from the sideline during matches or training. Leave this to the manager/coach or your may cause confusion and erode your child’s confidence.
- Parents/Carers must not enter the field of play.
Please remember – The game is for the children. It is not for the glory of the coach, manager or parents.