The Coaches' Room
3v3•U7•Parents

How are you briefing parents before 3v3 starts?

Asked by AfterWorkCoach82
2524 views 10 replies
This is probably the bit I am most worried about. The guidance around 3v3 seems to be much more about adults stepping back, but some of our parents are used to shouting instructions the whole way through a game. I dont think just saying 'please be quiet' five minutes before kick-off will change much. Has anyone done a proper parent meeting or message explaining what 3v3 is meant to look like and why they will hear less from the coaches as well?

VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

Verified Coach avatar

@CoachEmmaS

UEFA C Coach

Sports Psychology Level 3

Why are Verified Coach details private?
I’d explain the reason before you explain the rules. If parents only hear “please don’t shout instructions”, some will feel like you are asking them not to support their child. I’d tell them that 3v3 is giving the children more chances to make their own decisions, and that the coaches are deliberately going to step back as well. I’d keep the message very practical: encourage them, celebrate effort, enjoy the goals, but try not to tell them what to do with the ball. A short meeting or message before the first matchday is much better than trying to correct people while the game is happening. And I’d include the coaches in the same promise. It lands better if parents can see that the adults on both sides are also resisting the urge to control every moment.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 10 replies

H

HW23

Parent

Short message, clear reason, no lecture. That would be enough for me.
L

LiamH

Parent

As a parent I would much rather get a short explanation than just be told not to shout. If you tell me what the children are supposed to get from it, it makes sense.
D

Dan10

Coach

Do it before matchday. Trying to change parent behaviour while their child is playing is almost impossible.
J

Jess1994

Parent who also coaches

We did ten minutes with the parents at training and actually showed them what we meant. One little 3v3, first two minutes with adults calling everything, then two minutes with everyone just encouraging. The difference was really obvious. It also meant we werent just asking parents to trust some coaching theory they had never seen. Since then the touchline has been much better, not perfect, but better.
K

KellyH

Parent

The little demo would have worked on me. Sometimes clubs send a long message and it reads like parents are the enemy. Showing why you want less instruction feels completely different.
G

GreyHoodie

Parent

I would be careful not to turn it into a 'parents must be silent' thing though. The kids still like hearing people enjoy it. For me the line is cheering them on versus telling them where to run, when to pass and what they should have done.
P

peteonline7

Coach

Exactly. Noise isnt the problem for me. Three adults shouting three different football answers is the problem.
F

FridayFeeling7

Parent

Our coach sent a message the night before the first one. It basically said the coaches will be quieter, please encourage rather than instruct, and dont panic if it looks messy. That helped because nobody felt like the rules had suddenly changed once we got there.
T

TouchlineTom7

Parent

Do they send that before every festival or was once enough? We have a few who are good for a week then slowly drift back into coaching from the side.

HAVE A QUESTION TOO?

Ask about your own situation.