Parent Education Content presented in partnership with The FA Learning AA

Being the Matchmaker

Finding the Right Club/Program
You’ve just bought a new car. It’s your pride and joy and sits in your driveway. Suddenly, knocking on your door is a complete stranger. He asks if he can borrow your car for two hours on a Tuesday evening and every Saturday morning. What’s your answer?

I can bet it wouldn’t be yes and even if it were, you would ask lots of questions. Unfortunately, while many people would be very careful about who they would allow to borrow their car, many aren’t always so careful when lending their real pride and joy—their children!

Belonging to an affiliated soccer team and participating in soccer programs, coaching courses and holiday camps are becoming an increasingly popular way for children to spend their free time and school holidays. But do parents really consider the different options carefully, in terms of which would be the best for their child? Aspects such as the experience and qualifications of the coaches, the facilities, their location, the safety of their child, cost and value for money all need to be taken into account.

Before you begin to look around for a suitable club or program, you and your child need to ask yourselves some questions including:
· What level of commitment is expected in terms of frequency of training and matches?
· How far are you willing to travel? Some clubs involve over one hour’s traveling time.
· What do you want your child to achieve? Is it just about winning?

The Next Step in Finding the Right Team/Program
Once you have a good idea about the kind of team/program you are looking for, the next step is to find it! Here are some helpful hints:
· Contact your local soccer organization, such as Cal South. They will be able to provide you with a list of teams and programs being offered in your area.
· Ask other parents and get their feedback.
· Ask other children such as your child’s friends.
· Ask at school, since many teams, over a number of years, have developed excellent relationships with their local school.
· Research teams and program providers by looking in the local press, on the Internet and even in the Yellow Pages.

Before You Visit
You have your list of requirements, you’ve asked around and now you’ve decided on the best team or program for your child. Before you make contact or visit, find out if the club has a web site. If it does, visit the site as it can give you so much information, such as:
· How old the club is – the longer it’s been around the more reliable and sustainable it will prove to be.
· Its achievements – if it lists lots of cup and league successes, then it may be that a great deal of emphasis is placed on winning.
· Its philosophy.
· A list of officials – so you know who you will be dealing with.

The First Visit
Once you have done your research and chosen your club or program, it’s time to make contact and visit for the first time. Here are a few things to look for:
· Is there a welcoming atmosphere?
· Are there a lot of happy, smiling faces, especially the children?
· Are other parents present and are they watching or are they kept away from the children?
· Is there a good coach to player ratio? Generally, this should be two coaches per squad with a maximum 1:16 ratio.

Make sure to bring your child with you when you visit since, ultimately, your child will need to be central in the decision-making process. If he/she doesn’t like the club or teammates and doesn’t feel comfortable, then everything else is irrelevant. However, observation can’t tell you everything, so here are some questions you may want to ask:
· When and where is the training? Is this convenient to you and your child?
· How much does it cost? Ask about all costs including membership, training and match fees and kit costs.
· Does the club have a child protection/welfare contact person? If yes, who is it?
· How does the club recruit its coaches and staff? They should get coaches and staff to complete forms, carry out interviews and obtain references. In some countries, clubs may also carry out police checks.
· Does the club have a code of conduct?
· What are the first aid procedures? Every team should have a qualified first aid specialist and an appropriate first aid kit.
· Does the club have parent nights? This is a good opportunity to meet and discuss relevant issues.
· What insurance is in place? As a minimum, the club should have public liability insurance.

Communicating with the Club
You now have information on the club, but it is just as important for you to ensure that you provide the club with appropriate information as they will ask you to complete a membership/registration form and a medical form. You may also want to keep the club notified if you plan on taking any vacation days that will keep you away from the club for any duration of time.

Getting the Right Philosophy
Every club or soccer program should have a philosophy that underpins the program direction and attitude to the game. As parents and players it is important that we also have a philosophy ourselves and it is vital to find a club that shares this philosophy and the same beliefs.

The parent in this scenario is basically like a matchmaker, helping the two sides find one another and making sure each is happy with the set-up. If the child is competitive and wants to win, make sure he or she plays on a team with a winning history. If enjoyment is purely the aim, look for a team that stresses fun and opportunity. It’s like dating without the flowers and candy. The right match means everything.

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