The time children spend with their soccer coaches represents one of the most important and developmentally-influential relationships they will have throughout their early years. This Children's Mental Health Week, we want to help coaches to help children.
It is vital that this responsibility is treated with the utmost respect, powered by appropriate education for clubs on an organisational basis, and coaches on an individual one.
Relying on traditional coach education courses is not always sufficient to prepare coaches for the behavioural intricacies of the children they look after, particularly when considering children who may have faced trauma or difficult upbringings.
Children who experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are at an increased risk of a number of health and social dangers as they grow older, and coaches must be aware of the impact their actions can have on such children. Examples of ACEs include sexual abuse, domestic violence, separation, and death of a loved one.
In the UK, 48% of adults suffered at least one ACE, while as many as 9% suffered four or more. Children who go through four or more ACEs are 4x more likely to have low levels of mental wellbeing and life satisfaction. However, their fate is not set in stone, and soccer coaches can play a vital role in improving the lives of such children.
Even more important that the sport itself
The 2021 Annual Soccer Parent Survey, carried out by soccerparenting.com, revealed that 59.5% of parents would rather their child’s coach chose interpersonal skills over the game of soccer - a statistic that has remained consistent for the last three years. We love soccer, our players love soccer, but the number one priority for coaches should always be to consider how safe - and conducive for positive growth - the environment they create is.
Although participation in soccer can itself be considered a protective measure that provides a positive structure, coaches have a duty to be equipped with a skillset that includes interpersonal skills appropriate for children’s mental and social growth. Coaches need to be aware of the measures they can take to provide a safe learning environment for all children - this includes being mindful of behaviours that can have a negative effect on emotional development.
The Coaching Manual has always been proud of the holistic approach we have taken to coach education - as well as offering the best coaching sessions, individual training practices, and physical development content, we strive to make available the best emotional, social, and mental health education for coaches all around the world.
Free child safeguarding course
To that end, we would like to recommend this FREE course, that was funded by the UK’s Home Office Early Intervention Fund. The course was designed for practitioners, professionals and volunteers who work with children, young people and their families. Although not strictly created with soccer in mind, coaches who work with Foundation level children should absolutely understand the issues and solutions covered by this 50-minute qualification. The themes covered in this course are quite heavy, but a reality for many children around the world.
What does the course cover?
- An Introduction to ACEs
- Brain Development in the Early Years
- The Impact of Childhood Adversity
- Social, Health and Community Impacts of ACEs Early Trauma
- Protective Factors
- Looking at ACEs Through a Trauma Informed Lens
- Building Resilience
The content in this course is relevant for all coaches, and anyone who completes the course will be better equipped to help create a positive environment for all children. Click here.