Enabling coaches and parents to work together to produce winning character on and off the sports field.
When the home and coaching environments are united an athlete is given the best possible chance to excel greatly in all areas of life.
The challenge comes in engaging parents effectively because optimising the immense influence parents is not simple or because often there is an uneasy relationship between coach and parent. Without a synchronicity of approach between parents and coaches potential is easily missed.
Richard Shorter (The Non-perfect Dad), uses evidence-based strategies to engage with parents.
His creative and pioneering work enables coaches to:
- help parents manage their expectations in the nonlinear process of talent development.
- help parents reinforce the character, mindset and culture of their team.
- reduce parent & coach conflict.
- support the parents in shaping the resilience and mindset athletes need to navigate the highs and lows of talent development.
Non-Perfect Dad website
I have worked with parents for 20 years across a broad range of contexts. Directors of sport will know the pain of the challenging parent and will also know the hope that parents will be supportive of their goals, coaches and school culture.
I’ve supported national U16, U18 & U20 teams to help managers and coaches work closer with their parents using solutions which are workable, affordable and realistic. I have also had the privilege to serve many of the countries top independent school doing the same work. In the last two years, I have had the opportunity to speak to over 6000 parents. Parent engagement support is either non-existent or far too simplistic for the dynamic relationships which schools have with their students and parents.
The directors of sport attending your conference want methods which work in the real world. I can’t promise to fix all their parent issues with one session, but I am confident I can inspire them with practical ways to overcome the challenges and maximise the potential support from parents.
Further below is what some others have kindly said about my work.
Richard spoke at our recent Parent Seminar on ‘Supporting your Child in Sport’ evening. He provided an entertaining but thought-provoking and supportive insight into the values we hold and how we communicate them to our children. It was a unique evening that was packed with great ‘take-away’ conversation starters, activities that brought every day scenarios to life and showed a deep understanding of the pressures of being a parent of a sportsplayer. His messages and challenges to parents were immediately visible and audible on the side-lines the very next day!
Headmaster
Alasdair Kennedy Trinity School, Shirley Park, Croydon
“We have used Richard across the academy pathway. He has been excellent in engaging with our parents from U15s up to the U18s. as a governing body, I think there are always difficulties in humanising your programmes. Richard has provided a very personal, rounded and engaging route to bring the parents of these young people on their journey. He also helps provide some check and balance to make sure that we are reviewing ourselves in line with good practice… we know the parents are key to these young people!”
Don Barrell, RFU
“Richard delivered entertaining and powerful presentations to our staff and parents. The messages were hugely valuable as we strive to establish a positive, supportive culture around our sports provision. Without question our most successful ever parent talk.”
J Morgan-Hughes Director of Sport Millfield Prep.
The engagement and support of parents is becoming an increasingly important topic for national governing bodies of sport. Richard is not only a subject-area expert, but possess a rare skillset to captivate a large audience. During a recent session with 60 regional Under 15s parents, he employed innovative approaches to promote engagement, and crucially land key messages.
Alun Powell, EBC
