Should a parent tell the coach their child is struggling?

I would encourage him to speak first, but I would help him prepare for it. A shy ten-year-old being told “you need to talk to your coach” can feel like a very big task. You could help him choose one sentence: “I’m not sure where I should be when we lose the ball,” or whatever the real problem is. Maybe he says it before training while you are nearby. If he cannot do that yet, I think it is completely reasonable for a parent to raise it quietly with the coach. The important thing is not speaking over him forever. Let the coach know the issue, then give your son more chances to ask questions himself over time. At U10, parent support and player independence can exist together. The aim is gradually giving him a stronger voice, not making him handle every difficult conversation alone.