The Best Advice

The Best Advice

“When you’re working with a child, never forget that they are the most precious being in someone’s life”

Now that I’m a father, this advice stands above any that I’ve received so far in my coaching and teaching career. Of course I understood it and the depth behind the message, but now being a dad, it has a much greater significance.

If you’re lucky enough to work with children, you can never fully appreciate how privileged you are.?

Firstly, you get to work with some of the greatest and open minds that you will ever come across.

Secondly, children will push you to create the best environment for them to flourish. They help you become the best version of you.

Thirdly, and in my opinion, most importantly, a parent has placed their trust in you to care for and guide their child through some of the most important years of their lives.

I still can’t fully describe how lucky I feel when I walk onto a pitch and get to speak to so many smiling faces. There isn’t a buzz like it.?

It gets even better when I get to share our ‘Word of The Week’ with our participants. Each week we share and educate the children on different key words such as, empathy, supportive, strive, effort, communication and patience to name a few.

I get to support the development of the life skills of hundreds of children every week. What have I done to get into this position? What has made it possible for me to share this knowledge?

I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I’ve read journals, books, watched videos, watched hours and hours of documentaries. I’ve completed courses, put myself in situations where I didn’t feel comfortable and I’ve asked more questions than I probably should have. I’ve done everything I can to equip myself with as much knowledge as possible. I still do.

I’m constantly on a quest to improve as it means the children I coach will gain more from their time with me.

Parent’s have placed their trust in me. It’s a privilege like no other. They are allowing me to educate their children. My parents know that when their child attends my sessions they will have fun playing football and begin a life-long love for the game. But on top of this, their child will learn valuable life skills and improve on their social, emotional & physical development.

It’s only right that I ensure my standards are as high as I would expect a coach working with my own son to be. My son is the most precious being in my life. The children who attend my sessions are the most precious in their parent's lives.

It’s my duty to respect my families and give each child the tools to become even more special than they already are. My role isn’t just a football coach, it’s much more than that.