Malta FA Parenting the Young Footballer

Session 1 - The Role of the Parent

• Parental Support (emotional, behavioural and financial)
• Parental Involvement and Positive Engagement
• The perils of delusional and helicopter parenting
• Attitudes & Unrealistic Expectations
• Coping with the stress of multiple sports siblings
• The journey home after training or competition
• Understanding why children drop out
• Behaviours during training and matches
• Video and audio clips of poor behaviour
• Discussion

Session 2 - Nutrition & Hydration

• The main nutritional components
• Nutritional needs of the young footballer
• Performance and recovery benefits of eating the right type, in the right amounts and at the right time
• Developing daily behavioural habits
• How to plan a daily diet plan
• Understanding food labelling
• The importance of fluids to maintain hydration
• Practical session & Take-home recipe cards
• Appropriate guidance for tackling food allergies and intolerances, diabetes, and other clinical conditions
• Parents as role models of diet and lifestyle

Session 3 - The Role of the Club Academy

• Understanding the role and aims of football communities and academies
• What to look for in a good academy. The non-negotiables
• Club structure & strategy
• Club philosophy, vision and programmes
• Relationships between coaches and parents
• Academy Staff compliment
• Festivals & competitions age-appropriate
• Educational opportunities for parents
• Looking after the late developers
• Providing equal opportunities. Development experiences to as many, for as long and, as best as possible. What is talent and potential.

Session 4 - Winning, Competition & Development

• Person and player-centred approach
• Defining success
• The importance of fun and enjoyment
• Different methods to enhance learning
• Competition in a developmental way
• Resisting early specialisation
• The different phases in player pathway
• Holistic development approach – the four development corners
• Trusting the process rather than the outcome
• When winning becomes important
• Over inflated view of child’s football abilities

Session 5 - Child Development

• Stages of child development
• Different areas of development (physical, cognitive and psycho-social)
• Key principles for supporting your child’s development
• How children learn
• Physical Literacy
• Long-Term Player Development
• Growth & Maturation
• Understanding and supporting the young footballer through growth spurt

Session 6 - Athletic Development

• Optimising physical development
• Physical Training
• Managing injury and recovery– how can we best support as parents
• Understanding what is Strength & Conditioning
• Loading & Recovery
• Off-season activity
• Burnout, over training, overuse injuries, and too much pressure – more is not always better

Session 7 - Player Welfare & Safeguarding

• Holistic approach to child’s wellbeing (physical, mental, emotional and social)
• Understanding safeguarding – positive and safe climate
• Recognising poor practice
• Awareness of the different forms, signs and indicators of abuse
• Reporting through recognised channels
• Dealing with Success and Failure

Session 8 - Mental Health & Performance Lifestyle

• Overloading, multiple Coaches and sessions
• Developing character
• The importance of Alignment
• The Connecting Pillars – The Person, The Student & The Player. A holistic view.
• Academia-Sport-Life Balance
• Supporting the child’s performance lifestyle, the foundation of their wellbeing and potential.

Session 9 - The Use and Effects of Social Media

• Different ways of using social media
• Effects of social media on young players
• Consequences & social and psychological threats
• Engaging in positive dialogue with your child
• Setting limits, rules and boundaries
• Knowledge of online privacy
• Cyberbullying
• Modelling good behaviour on social media