"Heart-breaking" - the effects of aggression in junior sport

A football coach in East Yorkshire is warning parents to stay positive at their child's sport event.

Author: Laurence GriffinPublished 8th Oct 2023

Sport at youth level is mainly about fun and wellbeing, but there are fears negative behaviour from parents or coaches spoils the fun.

Mike Ward, Vice President of Cottingham Rangers football club near Hull, said: "We had an incident of a parent and an opposing coach actually coming to blows. It was related to an under-8s game which just made it even more ludicrous.

"I've seen brought to tears by it which is the last thing you want to see. To see the children upset when in essence they're doing something they love, is quite heart-breaking."

The NSPCC is encouraging parents to show positive support, after their survey showed that more than a quarter of parents (28%) who attended their child's sports club or activity said they've seen or experienced inappropriate behaviour.

Shouting insults, intimidating or threatening behaviour, and fights are all taking away from young people's enjoyment of sport.

Mike said: "From a child's perspective if you were to be 7,8,9, 10 years old on the pitch and being shouted at by your parents, by opposing parents, it can be very intimidating."

Cottingham Rangers are taking steps to encourage parents to be positive, including having parents of both sides standing nearer to coaching staff, to leave it to the experts to give advice to the players.

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