Youth sport, and in particular youth soccer, can be a minefield for parents – knowing the do’s and dont’s can be fraught with questions – some of which relate to supporting your child’s game such as:

“How can I help my child develop greater confidence?”

“Should I encourage my child to play other sports?”

“Should I personally coach my child?

And some of which may relate to your attitudes, behaviours and actions in the soccer environment, such as:

“How should I behave on the sidelines?”

“Should I push my child to attain better standards or should I be hands off?”

“How do I manage coaching decisions I’m uncomfortable with?”

Whatever soccer parenting challenges you may have, Dan can help.

In his sessions, Dan will introduce you to the scientific research that underpins effective child and adolescent development within a sporting context. He will present you with simple concepts, tools and techniques that will enable you to help players progress quicker and play more consistently whilst developing autonomy, resilience and confidence. He can also help you develop positive soccer parenting behaviours, giving practical ideas to help you manage yourself in the soccer environment – on the sidelines, at team events and when dealing with coaches.

Over the past 15 years Dan has worked alongside, and learnt from, some of the leading thinkers on child development within education and in sport. This has enabled him to develop a framework that helps parents support their child’s journey in soccer. Some relevant topics Dan can explore with you as the parent of an ambitious soccer player include (but are not limited to):

• Intrinsic motivation
• Autonomy-supportive parenting
• Parent/child communication strategies
• Optimising player experience
• Mastery
• Growth Mindset and Grit (in their truest sense)

Dan takes these complex psychological concepts and breaks them down into practical and easy to apply techniques that you can use to help support your child.

Additionally, having worked at the elite level of soccer, Dan knows what it takes for your child to get to the next level. He can help you navigate the competitive landscape of football, giving you piece of mind that you are making the right decisions for your child’s soccer.

What to expect

Dan can work with you either alone or alongside with your child. He can do so in person or via Skype/online depending on location and preference. Dan offers a range of packages from a single session right through to engagements that last for a season or even for several years.

If you’re looking to get support as the parent of an ambitious soccer player, get in touch with Dan now.