In this short solo episode, I answer a question posed by a parent. "My son has had a tough time recently and often talks about not wanting to continue with football."

Sadly, this question appears to be a common one at present and shows no signs of going away potentially down to the pressures placed on children at a young age, both in their sport and education. I do my best to give sporting parents one idea on how you can help them and open up a conversation on the topic.

Key Learning

• Ask your child why they play football or sport.
• Find out what they love about sport.
• Check-in with yourself, why would you like your children to play sport?
• Now check if you share common ground, if there is a big difference in your motivations I'm hoping you'll question your approach and consider how you communicate with them.

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Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep067: David Charlton - Supporting Children to Transfer their Skills from Training to Competition

Ep074: David Charlton - How Can I Make My Child Feel Confident?

Ep082: David Charlton - Supporting Children in Sport with Positive Feedback

Ep085: David Charlton - David on Being Tough Vs Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin Part 4

Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight - Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences

Other Relevant Blogs and Resources

Blog: A Confidence Checklist for Parents

Blog: Pre Match Tips for Parents

Blog: How Do You Give a Young Golfer Self-Confidence?

Blog: 5 Reasons Why Being Released from a Football Academy is Difficult

Children and Youth Motivation for Sport Quiz

Child and Youth Motivation Quiz for Parents