| In many junior sporting clubs, the dilemma of | | | | on the other players just to demonstrate to other |
| coaching your own child happens as a matter of | | | | parents that I was being fair, and that I was not |
| course. There is usually not a great number of willing | | | | playing favourites with my own child. Is it possible to |
| and skilled coaches that are available to coach the | | | | treat your child as just another player? After all, they |
| junior teams. For this reason the coach will often be | | | | are not really just another player because they are |
| a parent of one of the children on the team. There | | | | the only member of your team that is your own |
| are a number of challenges faced when coaching | | | | flesh and blood. My son used to get upset because |
| your own child's sporting team. I do not currently | | | | he believed I was being too hard on him in |
| coach my son and his soccer team, but have | | | | comparison to the other members of the team. It is |
| coached him for a number of years previous to this. | | | | very important to be aware of this when coaching |
| When everything goes well, coaching your own child | | | | your own child. |
| can be a rewarding experience, but it also has pitfalls | | | | If you are going to coach your own child I think it is |
| that you must be aware of. | | | | essential that you set groundrules before you start. |
| In a lot of instances parents see that they do not | | | | In all teams that I have coached I have always set |
| really have any choice but to coach their own child. | | | | groundrules at the start of each season as to what I |
| You are willing to do it (maybe!!), no one else is willing | | | | expected from them in terms of commitment and |
| to do it (likely!), you are going to be there anyway, | | | | behaviour, and what they could expect of me in |
| and so it becomes a marriage of convenience. | | | | return. When coaching your own child, I think it is vital |
| Unfortunately, like a lot of marriages of convenience | | | | to also do this process with them alone, so that |
| there are dangers. So, do you have another option? | | | | there is a clear understanding from the beginning as |
| If it looks likely that you will end up coaching your | | | | to what the expectations are. Allow them to have an |
| childs sporting team and you have some reservations | | | | input in the process as well. What are their fears and |
| about this, look around your club at the other teams | | | | concerns? Are their teammates giving them a hard |
| to see if there is another parent coaching their own | | | | time because Dad or Mum is the coach? |
| child. Perhaps you can swap teams, so that you | | | | Coaching your own child can be a very rewarding |
| coach their childs team and they coach your child. | | | | experience. I also know some very successful |
| Perhaps you can swap drills and coaching ideas and | | | | coaches who have expressly avoided coaching their |
| work together as a coaching team. This is one | | | | own child. In order to do it successfully you must set |
| solution to the challenge of coaching your own child. | | | | clear groundrules at the beginning of the season with |
| I coached my sons soccer team for a number of | | | | both your child and your team. If you leave it to |
| years. I always tried to treat him as just another | | | | chance you could very likely finish up with an |
| player. Sometimes I was harder on him than I was | | | | unhappy child or an unhappy team. |