We encourage the participation of all parents in the club and if you are interested in becoming more involved in the club, whether managing a team, helping with the grounds, assisting in fundraising or any such matter, please feel free to contact any of the above officers of the Club.

As you know, Park Celtic aims to help children to play football in a fun and safe environment. It’s about fair play and learning basic manners in competition. Parents and guardians have a key role in fostering this within their children and therefore your Club.

We thought it would be helpful to set out the policies of the Club so that we can all work towards this goal.

1. No child will be forced to participate in soccer.

Remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults.

2. Sportsmanship will be encouraged/fostered.

Parents/guardians can help:

• By showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game and practice. (Coaches and parents will respect the officials and their authority during games and will never question or confront officials at the game, but rather will support the official’s decisions. These individuals are only doing the best they can.)
• By avoiding such actions as booing or taunting; or using profane language or gestures.
• By encouraging their child to treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, colour, sex or ability.
• By encouraging their child to play by the rules of the game and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
• By ensuring that their child always shakes hands at the end of the game.
3. Doing ones best is more important than winning.

Children will be encouraged that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that no child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game or his/her performance. Coaches and parents aim to make all children feel like winners every time and must avoid criticism or shouting at any participant for making a mistake or losing a match and instead emphasise skill development and practice and how they benefit the player over winning.

4. Coaches will coach and parents encourage.

To avoid confusing the children, parents should refrain from coaching any child or other players during matches and practices unless they are a club appointed coach.Parents are encouraged to support not coach!

As with any Club there will be times when grievances or complaints need to be heard or addressed. We fully encourage this within Park Celtic and (while we hope you will never have to use it) the following is the complaints process.

If the issue is a serious issue such as bullying, a health and safety issue or if the welfare of any child may be at risk, the parent should immediately contact the Child Welfare Officer and he/she will proceed along the FAI guidelines to address the issue. (All parents/guardians must inform the manager of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others.)
If the issue is about interpretation of club policy etc where the child is not at risk such as match-play or team management then we recommend the following steps.

• Insofar as sensible and possible you should first discuss the issue with your child and establish whether they are enjoying their football and take cognisance of the answer. Sometimes its a parent rather than a child issue.
• If the you feel the grievance remains, you should attend and observe both training sessions and matches for the following 2 weeks and if at that point you still feel the grievance you should seek in the first instance to speak to the coach at the end of training not at the sideline during or after a match. In that way you can reasonably discuss the issue.
• The manager should address the grievance in a reasonable manner and also inform you of your right to speak to the child welfare officer or director of coaching. The questions typically in such situations are not just the specific issue but also whether the child is having fun, is progressing in their soccer skills and is enjoying him/herself.
• If both you and the manager address the issue its at an end.
• If not either you or the manager should inform the child welfare officer or director of coaching of the issue. The director of coaching may drop into a training session(s) and match(es) and watch proceedings, discuss matters with the parent and give feedback to the child welfare officer and recommend change to the manager if appropriate.
• If the you remain unhappy with the outcome, the child welfare officer will arrange and attend a meeting with you, the director of coaching and manager to resolve the issue.