Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport 2025 - a parent case study

How do you see your role in your child's volleyball journey?

Obviously, practical things such as transport and funding for example play a big role, but more importantly we have always been our daughter's biggest fans!

Our role is there to support so we can allow them to participate, develop and succeed, but most importantly enjoy it!

What does supporting your child in volleyball mean to you?

Just the same as being there to support everything else in their lives. 

Being there to celebrate the ups witht hem, but also to help them accept and grow from the downs. 

Being able to be part of our child's volleyball journey is hugely rewarding and a privilege. 

It's fulfilling to see them not only develop as athletes and grow to love the sport, but even more special to watch them mature and develop great life skills and make true and lasting friendships.

How do you talk to your child about their experience in volleyball?

It's been such an important part of all of our lives for many years, so we have talked a lot about volleyball. 

It's always easy and wonderful to discuss the excitement of winning games or tournaments, being selected for something or recognising improvements, but it's also knowing when not to talk or to change the subject to try and regain some perspective when things haven't gone well!

Any top tips you can share with other parents?

"Just try to be 'present', interested and involved, but also try to strike a balance by not overdoing it or getting 'too involved!'