Youth sport environments are always evolving and over the last few years we have witnessed first hand numerous changes, many for the better.
One thing that has not changed in the background is how important the role of the parent is in a young persons life as on the whole they remain most influential character in their lives in most cases till their early-mid teenage years. In youth sport this has remained an untapped resource and ally in many sporting environments for clubs and coaches.
With a fear in some sports that are losing young people from sport and physical activity, it is more important than ever that the environments we create around our sporting experiences are positive, inclusive of everyone and really engaging.
Some of the key ingredients for this include better facilities, high quality coaching and an environment around the experience that allows young people to thrive and develop individually in and out of their sport. The final point certainly requires the help and support of parents.
We have seen huge strides taken by sporting organisations over the last few years to foster a more positive relationship with parents, recognising the importance of their role and finding new and innovative ways of sharing information with them as well as providing much more support in order to give parents the best chance of motivating, supporting and managing their children’s sporting experience so that it is a positive environment for all.
We cannot rest on our laurels, leadership in sporting environments needs to be strong and effective, promoting transparent environments that encourage parents to be a key part in the process.
As a former coach myself, I understand the fear of coaches that if we open the door to much that parents will start to become overly involved which actually is not healthy for anyone. However this can be averted by having a well thought out communication policy and a set of expectations that everyone buys into before any season or programme gets underway, along with continued dialogue throughout the sporting journey.
In an ideal world, we will have environments where sporting organisations are creating a positive parent culture, children are taking ownership of their sporting experience, coaches are delivering highly effective and engaging sessions and there is an understanding from parents of their role and what is going on throughout the process bound together by everyone working in harmony in the best interests of the child.
This may be a big wish and is very much a work in progress but there are definite signs for optimism. We look forward to playing a small part in ensuring that sport and physical activity is enjoyed by all parties and continues to provide inspiration for the next generation of children.
If we can help support your programme in any way please do not hesitate to get in touch. We offer customised programmes with real flexibility that will work for you, your sport and your environment. Send an email to gordon@wwpis.co.uk to book a free consultation.
