05/08/2018
Diary of a Parent Grassroots Coach
Written by a working dad, who has a busy life like everyone else.
As a coach I thought I did enough....
There’s planning for training sessions planning for matches, setting up pitches, marking pitches, sometimes organising tournaments and organising on occasions lifts for games.
Then I joined a new club closer to home and a committee.... the emails coming through at times are like having a full time job. There’s the chasing up registrations, chasing of subs, the player registrations the league registrations, the organising of pitches, the organising of training venues, the organising of match venues, the advertising for teams that players, organising club events, sorting out of equipment looking more sponsors, club tournaments, team tournaments, club welfare and security checks, and that’s just during the pre season without the seasons activities.
Welfare issues, coaches issues, ensuring coaches are educated, then there’s the time out from coaches that need to be educated doing both online courses and other courses, prepping training sessions,and some do organise festive parties,At times it’s like a full time job.
Whilst others are organising their summer holidays football clubs managers committees are thinking about how to move their clubs forward.
Yet in the grassroots game we are still struggling for volunteers. We ask ourselves why??? We are losing volunteers why?
Because they’d rather work than get grief off parents.
Ask others can they volunteer ? They say I’ve got two much on...HELLO, am I not?
So as the premiership and lower leagues seasons start ...people who get paid but get next to no grief ask yourself can I help??
The biggest help you can give is by being patient, letting your manager manage, your coach coach and your club do their best to help your child enjoy their football.
Remember just like you’re busy so are they, they are also mums ,dads, uncles , aunties, grandmas grandads, self employed , working a number of jobs , and most PAY for their children just like you do too,and sadly a lot of clubs are folding, coaches are giving up their love for the beautiful game because of the above.
The chances are that whilst you find fault in your club, you’ll find a fault in others too,
So rather than unnecessary grief put your club and manager through, ask the question at your club :
WHAT CAN I DO....
The chances are most have busy lives like you, coaches like me, but many hands make light work so why not join your clubs football family .
