supporting coaches and players on matchday

The 2025/26 is now well underway and we know that matchday can be a great part of the week, but it can also present challenges for our coaches and players, particularly players who are very young and still developing their confidence and skills.

We have out together some top tips and gudiance to help parents/guardians maximise their supportive impact on matchday.

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OUR PHILOSOPHY ON MATCHDAY

The club recognises that playing matches comes with scorelines and sense of competition - we do not wish to discourage competiveness and believe this is part of every players development, but it cannot be our sole focus or come at the costs of other equally important parts of their development.

Our coaches will be supported to adopt an approach where players are provided with equal game time or as close to equal game time as possible. In addition, our youngest age groups will not have set positions as we rotate and help them learn the various roles.

Coaches will also be advised to offer limited information to players on matchday, trying to focus on a small number of technical, tactical and social challenges as to not overload players. Too much information, shouting of instructions and a focus on scores often has a negative impact on our players.

It is important to note that the Epsom and Ewell league for which our teams play, will readjust our teams allocations to divisions based on scorelines at the younger age groups. After October half-term a new set of fixtures will be shared with new teams who have won/lost a similar number of games - this is to help players enjoy competitive and close matches as much as they can.

If you wish to discuss our matchday philosophy at all, please speak with Ashley Gumbrell (Head of Coaching) at the next training session.

WHAT IS MATCHDAY LIKE FOR OUR PLAYERS?

For many matchday can be an anxious time - they are competing in front of lots of people, some for the first time. Hearing lots of shouting, even when well intended can add to this burden which impacts on performance.

Players broadly speaking are quite competitive and will keep the score and recognise when their team is winning or losing. But research tells us that the reason children play football in the first place is never for the winning - this is only part of their development.

Research shows that 90% of young players play better with positive encouragement. Our vision is to create a safer, more inclusive, more enjoyable game, a game with more respect. Engalnd Football 'Positive Always Wins' campaign (2022).

Find out more about the 'Power of Positivity' by visiting the England Football website HERE.

What can you do to help?.....

• Keep your comments positive at all times.

• Consider the volume at which you provide encouragement!

• If you want to discuss the game with your child after, try making the focus about what the players did well and the effort they made as opposed to the scoreline.

WHAT IS MATCHDAY LIKE FOR OUR COACHES?

Lots of effort goes into the organisation of matchday, with managers and age group coordinators having to juggle team selection, last minute drop-outs, referee payments, communicating changes with opposing managers and setting up the pitches.

Some managers rightly or wrongly, feel under pressure as they have an audience (you!). Questions about selection or why players are playing in certain positions are therefore an added stress on matchday.

What can you do to help?.....

• Communicate well in advance if there are changes to your childs availability.

• Offer your time pre and post match to help. We will ask our managers to delegate as much to you as possible so that they can focus on warming-up players and providing any last minute tips. Please offer as often as you can to put up goals or set out corner flags etc.

• Speak with managers before to see whether they have set any challenges or objectives to the players - encourage players in relation to these if you can. We will encourage managers to share their matchday plans with you where they have them.

• Avoid any shouting or aggressively delivered information to players from either team, coaches or referees. Even when well intended, this creates an atmosphere we want to avoid.

• "Thank you" - it sounds simple but a sign of appreciation towards the managers from players and parents goes aong way.

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A NOTE ON SAFEGUARDING

We take the welfare of our players, referees and managers very seriously and will not tolerate any forms of what we believe to be unecessary or over zealous support - even if well intended. Referees, regardless of their age or qualifications do have the power to ask parents to leave the area of the pitch if they believe their conduct to have over stepped the mark.

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Check out these useful websites and blogs from external sources for further information and tips...

The Coaching Manual - Matchday guide for parents

FA Learning - 'Top tips for mathday'

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