On a match day it is clear that players and parents want the team to be successful and are pleased if the team wins. However, we at Wrightchoice feel it is important to consider the concept of ‘winning’ and really think about what is important for the children participating in football matches.

Firstly we have to remember always that we are dealing with children, and what is important is that we install in them the necessary skills that help them be a success in the future, not to pressure them to win on a match day.

We at Wrightchoice are less interested about matches, and more interested about success in life.

Q. Would we be proud if our under 11 team won every single week but more than half the team couldn’t go to secondary school because they had been excluded so many times that no school would have them?

A. No, we at Wrightchoice would find this unacceptable.

What makes us proud as coaches and managers is that we are working in an organisation that has the capabilities to reach so many children, and we are given an opportunity to assist them in their development through life.

There are a number of lifestyle benefits that result from being a member of a Wrightchoice football team such as responsibility, teamwork, personal sacrifice and lifestyle balance. The success of a match day is dependent on many more things than the final score at the end of the game. Wrightchoice is winning if our players are:

• Prepared for the game with their kit
• Arrive on time
• Participate in the warm-up with enthusiasm
• Show respect by listening to the coach and match officials
• Play the game in the philosophy we practice (see ‘the way we play’ with great effort
• Demonstrate fair play
• Regardless of the score, can take positives from the experience

If all of the above are achieved, and the young players have enjoyed their efforts, then we feel that constitutes to a winning performance and we are sure that this approach to Wrightchoice’s football is the way forward to boost our children’s:

• Confidence
• Self worth
• Self discipline
• Appreciation of others
• Technical ability

We encourage our children to have success in life and avoid pressuring them to win. It is vital that parents understand the importance of this approach as we are working in unison to give all our members the best possible experience in football.

For more info about match days, and the role of parents and coaches we strongly advise parents to visit soccerparents.thefa.com/SoccerParent

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