My #PlayTheirWay Promise(s)

I have loved the #PlayTheirWay concept since I first came across it and I am pleased to commit to some promises as part of World Children’s Day.

Play their way is essentially about the voice, choice and journey of children and young people in sport and physical activity. It is unapologetic in its demand that young people have the right to …

• Express their views which and have them acted on, in a meaningful way.
• Play and shape what play looks like.
• Develop holistically, in their own way.

If we play their way, more children and young people will enjoy being active, with the potential to lead happier and healthier lives.

From early conversations (years ago) with Sion Kitson / Stuart Armstrong , and through watching the great work of the many people involved at Sport England and UK Coaching , it’s clear that the resulting movement is one to embrace.?

December 2022 UK Coaching Event

Twelve months ago, UK Coaching hosted a day of sessions to introduce ‘Play Their Way’. On that day I was entertained and educated by Boing Kids , JOLF and Salisbury Rovers and inspired after meeting two of the Coach Core Foundation apprentices who were making an impact in Birmingham.?

The most thought-provoking part of the day though was the 'bad coach' session that Russell Earnshaw ran. He highlighted many practices that are outdated but sadly still common in sports coaching and posed questions about the state of play. Whilst acting as the bad coach, Rusty isolated and picked on me (amongst others) which reminded me how easy it is to feel on the outside of something.?The comments in the picture, were shared by the FA and are a sad indictment of what some people believe and feel it’s acceptable to communicate.

From that day in Leeds, I returned home with a #PlayTheirWay tote bag which is now our peg bag at home and something my family use every day, at least in the summer anyway.?

?#PlayTheirWay Podcast

I have also enjoyed listening to the #PlayTheirWay podcast, hosted by Laura-Jane Jones , since it started in September. The podcast is a collection of conversations with expert guests on ‘child first coaching’, covering best practice and philosophies, tips on how to empower their individual voice and cultivate a deep passion for sport and physical activity. Some of the highlights include

• ?Eugene Minogue talking about the danger of 'sportising' children & the vital importance of play. My favourite lines being "we don't sport sport, we play sport", "we all forget that we are former children" and "build playfulness in to what we do"
• Justyn Price talking about being kind not being a ‘soft thing’, and that kindness has teeth too. I coach a team that my youngest son plays in so could completely relate to the Dad / Coach conundrum that was considered. As a follow up, I listened to 5 minutes or so with him and we had a chat about our relationship at football. I also shared it with a few friends who coach their child, many of whom replied saying that it helped them.
• Nick Levett talks about leaving a lasting impact on the young people you coach and that the sweet spot is to find the right challenge and stretch. The players that don’t seem to be concentrating or appear to be messing about are finding what you are doing too easy or too hard.

?My commitments

?Over the next 12 months I am committed to support the #PlayTheirWay movement in the following ways:

?1.????? As a coach my #PlayTheirWayPromise(s) to the lads in the U11’s football team that I coach is:

?Voice – I promise to make sure that we hear from every player in every session.

Choice – I promise to create space for players to co-create the activities that we do.

Journey - I promise to encourage the players effort rather than their outcomes

?2.????? The #PlayTheirWay movement is underpinned by the rights of a child, 54 articles set by the United Nations Convention.?I will re-read them and consider how they underpin my parenting, my coaching, and the work that I do in the sports sector.

?3.????? I will continue to follow the podcast and share 10 episodes with friends and colleagues in my network. I will also use the insights to inform my coaching and the work that I do in the sports sector.

?4.????? I will connect with 25 young people on question posed in this video by UNICEF UK's Youth Advisory Board. “As children in sport we would like…”.

?5.????? I will observe the sessions of 10 coaches and reflect on their approach with a view to improving my coaching and the work that I do in the sports sector.

?#PlayTheirWay #ChildFirstCoaching #WorldChildrensDay