Code of Conduct - Parents

At Priory Pumas, we believe that parents play a crucial role in shaping their child’s experience in football. While coaches and team managers focus on improving players’ skills, it is parents who have the most significant impact on their child’s attitude, ambition, and love for the game.

Our Expectations for Parents:

  1. Positive Support: We encourage parents to provide positive support during matches and training sessions. Cheer for all players, not just your child. Remember that every player contributes to the team’s success.
  2. Respectful Behavior: Avoid shouting instructions from the sidelines. Instead, let the coaches guide the players during the game. Respect decisions made by referees and officials, even if you disagree.
  3. Emotional Control: It’s natural to feel passionate about your child’s performance, but emotional outbursts can affect everyone. Stay composed, and remember that football is about enjoyment and development.
  4. Model Sportsmanship: Be a role model for fair play. Encourage good sportsmanship, whether our team wins or loses. Teach your child to respect opponents, teammates, and officials.
  5. Team Unity: Recognize that our team is a collective effort. Support all players equally, regardless of their abilities. Celebrate victories together and lift each other up during challenging moments.

The Impact of Parent Behavior:

When parents exhibit positive behavior, it creates a supportive environment where players thrive. Conversely, negative behavior can hinder a child’s enjoyment and development. Let’s work together to ensure that our junior football club remains a place of encouragement, growth, and camaraderie.

Parent Code of Conduct

By registering a child with Priory Pumas you are commiting to commit to adhering to the following principles:

  1. Sportsmanship: Always exhibit good sportsmanship. Never condone violations of the laws of the game or engage in behavior contrary to the spirit of those laws.
  2. Child’s Enjoyment: Remember that children play football primarily for their own enjoyment. Avoid putting undue pressure on them.
  3. Player Well-Being: Prioritize the well-being and safety of each player above all other considerations.
  4. Encouragement and Praise: Encourage your child and others, or simply be quiet. Focus on praising effort and performance rather than just results.
  5. Guidance and Responsibility: Guide players to accept responsibility for their behavior and performance on the field.
  6. Spectator Etiquette: Stand well back when watching matches and stay behind designated barriers or lines. Avoid standing behind the goals.
  7. Respectful Communication: Refrain from making offensive, abusive, or insulting remarks toward players, officials, or other parents.
  8. Supportive Relationship: Develop a supportive relationship with both the manager/coach and your child, based on mutual trust and respect.
  9. Expectations and Clarification: Seek clarification on what is expected of you as a parent and what you can expect from the coach.
  10. Private Discussions: Discuss any concerns about training or matches with the coach or manager privately.
  11. Respect Referees: Always respect the decisions of referees and avoid words or actions that may mislead match officials.
  12. Timeliness: Ensure your child arrives at the designated location for matches or training on time.
  13. Medical Updates: Inform the manager if there has been a change in your child’s medical condition.
  14. Appropriate Kit: Ensure your child wears suitable football kit.
  15. Facility Care: Help keep club facilities, including kit, in good condition.
  16. Timely Payments: Pay fees promptly, including payment of any FA fines relating to Yellow or Red cards issued.
  17. Coach Support: Support the coach’s decisions and address any concerns directly with them. Remember that adhering to these codes of conduct is essential. Failure to do so could result in actions being taken by Priory Pumas Football Club or the County FA against players or parents.

 

As of the 2024/2025 all leagues which Priory Pumas enter are introducing the FA Traffic Light system to highlights teams with poor behaviour. Priory Pumas support this system and all parents should make themselves familiar with it.

 

Thank you for being an essential part of our football family!