Sometimes, attempts as parents to motivate your children can feel like you’re losing an uphill battle. Let’s face it you can’t make your child care just because you do, your motivation push can sometimes reflect badly and make them become less motivated – which is very frustrating. Football is the ultimate team game and can be very motivating, the ethic of working together as a team allows encouragement to come together as a team and help support each other to do well and play the best game, as a team that you can play.

Try to encourage your child to play a football as it’s one of the best ways to help them to develop healthy habits. As we now live in a nation where obesity is on the rise, it is a great time to take a proactive approach to parenting, make your child aware that lifestyle choices such as regular exercise and healthy sensible eating can set them up for life.

There is a danger of taking your parenting support too far – instead of putting an emphasis on winning the football game – emphasise the taking part, as at the end of the day this is what really does count.

Here are seven important pointers to help motivate your child at football:

• Praise your child for his/ her efforts both in practices and after the game
• Encourage your child to praise one another, reflecting on team spirit
• Provide side-line support where necessary
• At times, allow individual freedom
• Make sure you speak to your child regularly to see if they still love the sport
• Set realistic and achievable goals for your child
• Highlight the positive aspects that happen on the pitch