Cornish Pirates Call on Parents to Back the NSPCC’s ‘Parents in Sport Week’

Cornish Pirates Call on Parents to Back the NSPCC’s ‘Parents in Sport Week’

• NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit hosts its annual Parents in Sport Week from 1 to 7 October 2018
• The Cornish Pirates are lending their support to Parents in Sport Week.

The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) is highlighting the important role parents play in youth sport through its annual awareness raising event – Parents in Sport Week.

The aim of Parents in Sport Week is to encourage parents and sports clubs to work together to help children reach their full potential. It is also an opportunity for sports clubs to reach out to parents who may be less engaged and get them on board.

Parents play a hugely pivotal role in encouraging and supporting their child’s participation, success and enjoyment when playing sport. So it is essential that sports clubs communicate regularly with parents so that both coach and parent work towards the same goals.

Cornish Pirates’ player/coach Chris Morgan, a dad himself, commented:

Rugby promotes proudly held values, including respect, discipline, fitness, teamwork – and good sportsmanship.

In relation to such things many parents understand the importance of the role they play, whereby for those who don’t there is encouragement given by club officials, many of whom are parents themselves!

At the Pirates we have a thriving youth section, well supported by parents, whilst the community work undertaken by the club’s senior team, the Cornish Pirates, strives to embrace not just the needs of young players and their coaches, but also parents.

Anne Tiivas, Service Head at CPSU, explained:

We know parents play a critical role in youth sport. In fact, without parental support and involvement – from washing kits to the taxi of mum and dad – it’s likely that youth sport would cease to exist.

We also know that without parents’ involvement in their child’s sport, children are less likely to achieve and sustain a lifelong interest in sport and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Parents in Sport Week is important because it encourages parents to make sure they are positively influencing their child’s involvement and wellbeing in sport and recognise their role in keeping them safe. It also encourages clubs to ensure they are engaging with parents.

This Parents in Sport Week, parents are being asked to:

• Ensure that sports clubs provide the information they need so they can make informed choices about the clubs or activities they send their child to.
• Look at their behaviour to make sure they are a positive influence. Advice is available on the CPSU website to support parents in this.

To lend their support, sports clubs can:

• Make sure they tell parents what they can do if they have a concern, such as calling the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000).
• Be open with parents about what their child needs from them in relation to their behaviour.
• Use our resources to engage with parents, help them to support their child and raise awareness of the impact positive parental involvement can have on youth sport.

For more information about Parents in Sport Week, and for downloadable resources for both parents and clubs, visit the CPSU website.