Why is my kid on the bench?Concussion: the first 24 hours at home Concussion: the first 5 minutes JDL, club academies, private academies explained Your first month as team manager What to say after your kid loses The line that ruins the car ride home The claim order after a football injury Starting football at 9: too late?Five things that earn the coach's respect Should you say yes to team manager?Your kid says they don't want to play Four yellow flags before a coach conversation JDL head coach minimum: C Diploma required Your kid ready for MiniRoos yet?Five ways to help your first-time coach Coaching your own kid: two rules that work The MPIO at your club Your kid played well but the team lost Late developer or done growing?Return-to-learn: the school conversation by Friday Moving house mid-season: stay or switch clubs?Your kid played twelve minutes today Your kid loses it after mistakes Four signs your kid's coach is qualified You said yes to cones, now running drills Reading squad lists through RAE bias What that $500 registration actually covers Your daughter wants to play Don't send that Sunday night email

The first coach conversation: the two things to volunteer about your kid, and the one to hold back.

7 min read

An Australian parent and a community football coach have a brief conversation in a car park beside a training pitch in early evening light. Both standing, kit bag at the coach's feet, parent listening attentively.

Listen to this article

Audio is a member feature

Unlock the library to listen

The first conversation with your kid's new coach is short. Usually five minutes at the end of a pre-season training, in the car park, while the coach is also collecting cones and managing the next family. The conversation is small. The effect on the season is large, because it is the moment the coach forms an early read on your kid and on you.

Read our free articles

Unlock the full library.

Read every article, including this one.

Every article, including this one
The cheat sheet for every article
A new article every day
Listen in the car: every article on Apple Podcasts or Pocket Casts
Save articles to come back to

Unlock the library

$4.95/month. Cancel anytime.

Unlock everything