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By Dave Wright
Recently, I watched several games of youth football. Young kids between 12 and 17 were competing, playing with their friends and working on their game.
Game day is usually the pinnacle of a young footballer’s week. I also watched some first team action. What struck me was the difference between the crowds at the youth and senior fixtures.
At the senior men’s game, beyond the usual excitement and crowd commentary towards refereeing decisions, I didn’t hear any of the crowd yelling instructions, telling players what decision to make or how to play the game.
At the youth games, I stood among groups of parents from both sides. What I heard was a constant diatribe of instruction, command, commentary and what felt like parental “micro-management.”
I left the ground a little frustrated, wondering why this kind of sideline behaviour is so endemic, not just in football, but in youth sport? Why do adults feel the need to direct this noise at kids in a sporting setting? It’s their game, not ours.
I’m sure most people are well-meaning, but the commentary I so often hear is entirely unhelpful and, quite frankly, tiring to listen to.
Adults need to learn that yelling instructions at a child, or telling them what decision to make is not only wasted energy and unnecessary noise, but it can negatively affect the player, potentially removing the opportunity for the child to make the right decision.
We also forget that our view from the sideline is very different from the information the players are perceiving in the game.
Three things to consider
- What support are you providing in your club to educate parents about sideline behaviour?
- If you do decide to engage parents in discussion, it needs to be open and non-confrontational. Take an approach of raising awareness as opposed to passing judgment.
- Consider your sideline behaviour as the coach, and how you can ensure the players make the decisions.
One thing for you to try this week
If you’re coaching a team on the weekend, bring the parents together beforehand and share what you’re working on with the players; encourage them to observe and support, but not instruct.
Parents are the most important people in children’s lives, so it’s important we work with them.
One critical resource on the topic
Check out this research review on the impact of parental involvement in youth sport.
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Dave Wright
Dave Wright is a UEFA A-licensed football coach and co-founder of Player Development Project. Currently completing his OFC Pro Licence, he has been coaching since 2002 in England, Australia and New Zealand with players at all levels. During five years in the United Kingdom, Wright worked for Fulham and Brentford and in Australia, he coached the U-20s at A-League club Melbourne Victory. He is a high performance consultant for Oceania Football Confederation, director of coaching at Northern League club Birkenhead United and head coach of the Westlake Boys first team.
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This story was first published on September 10, 2024.
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