“The greatest gift a parent can give a young athlete is the confidence to grow independently.”

Love that presses, love that liberates

Many parents dream of their children playing sports together. They are thrilled with every achievement, excited about every game, and want the best for their athletes. However, between the desire to help and the fear of failure, some cross a dangerous line: They interfere in the training space, give their opinion on technical decisions, correct postures and demand results without understanding their child's situation.

It is important to remember: training is the athlete's moment. It's where he discovers himself, makes mistakes, learns, experiments. It's where the coach is a reference and the field is the mirror of growth.

What does it mean to respect the training moment?

Training is much more than just repeating the basics. It is a space pedagogically structured, where the athlete develops: Motor and technical skills; Discipline and mindset; Emotional autonomy; Relationships with peers and coaches; Ability to listen and adapt.

When parents try to control or “improve” this process from the outside in, they end up breaking trust and the bond of security of the young person with the training space.

When does support become pressure?

Many parents say:

“I just want to help!”
“I'm here to support you!”
“I know football, I know how it works!”

But help, when it is not asked for and not adequate, turns into emotional pressure.

Signs that intervention is being excessive:

• Correcting your child after training, with a critical tone
• Give an opinion on positioning, technical decisions or substitutions
• Questioning the coach in front of the athlete
• Comparing your child to other peers
• Reward only if the child starts or scores a goal
• Shout instructions during the game

This all generates authority confusion, fear of making mistakes, performance anxiety and, often, early abandonment of career.

What does sports psychology show us?

Research in sports psychology indicates that:

• Excessive paternal interference is among the main causes of anxiety in grassroots athletes
• Athletes who feel pressured by parents have less pleasure in the game and a greater tendency to abandon the sport
• The triple relationship (father–athlete–coach) must be built with clarity of roles and mutual respect

According to sports psychologist Christina Leclair (2021):
“The athlete needs to feel that training is a safe space for development, where mistakes are allowed. When the father invades this space with demands or corrections, he destroys this security.”

How can parents really support?

Be a safe haven, not a watchdog: Instead of correcting, listen. Instead of demanding, ask. Instead of commanding, trust.

Strengthen your emotions: Say phrases like:
– “I admire you for dedicating yourself.”
– “What’s important is your effort, not just the result.”
– “I trust your process and your coach.”

Allow the error to exist: Mistakes are part of training. Don't correct moves, don't demand perfection. Training is the space where mistakes become learning experiences.

Trust the technical team: If there is something to talk about, do it out of the athlete's sight, with humility and openness. Remember: you are the parent, not the coach

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