Parents & Supporters
Their sport. Their goals. Your support.
Be the person they can turn to after a great day, a difficult day and every ordinary training day in between.
01
This is their time.
Bring your encouragement, but leave room for your child's own ambitions. They do not have to fulfil a sporting dream you had for them.
Your reactions matter. After a difficult result, make your support clear before analysing the performance. Give them space to feel disappointed without feeling they have disappointed you.
- I'm glad I was here with you.
- Would you like to talk about it, or would you like some space?
- What would help you right now?
02
Support their development, not a deadline for stardom.
A child's sporting future does not need to be decided today. Leave room for learning, different interests and ambitions that change. A medal can be exciting without becoming the measure of their potential.
Ask what they want from sport. Help them identify achievable next steps with their coach, while keeping school, friendships, rest and enjoyment in the picture. Their journey does not have to look like another child's.
03
An easier session is not a failed session.
Every training session is not a competition. Watching your child move below their fastest pace can be uncomfortable when you want them to improve, but the session may have a different purpose.
Ask about that purpose before asking for more effort. Keeping the intended effort controlled is part of following a plan. Discuss concerns with the coach rather than adding instructions or pressure from the sidelines.
Rest is part of the plan too. Avoid treating time off as a lack of commitment or adding extra work to compensate for an easier session.
- What was today's session working on?
- How did that effort feel to you?
- Is there anything you would like us to ask your coach together?
04
Listen before you push.
Encouraging a challenge should leave room for your child to speak honestly. Mental strength should never mean hiding pain, distress or fear of disappointing you.
Take concerns seriously. If your child is hurting, unwell or persistently exhausted, seek appropriate health advice rather than treating it as a motivation problem. Ask questions with curiosity, not as a test of toughness.
05
Be there through the highs and lows.
A medal is one moment. So is a disappointing result. Neither should change how supported your child feels.
When they want to reflect, ask what went well, what was difficult and what help they would like. Sometimes they need a listener more than a solution.
06
Make room for a journey they choose.
Help make sport something they want to return to. Notice enjoyment, friendships, learning and teamwork alongside results. Let ordinary days count too.
Support includes listening when they want a break or a different direction. Your relationship with your child matters beyond any sporting goal.
Sources & further reading
These guides use original A2TK wording. Jack Daniels' published running principles inform our discussion of individual differences, session purpose and reflection. Youth-sport sources inform the recovery and family-support topics. These references do not imply endorsement or affiliation.
- Australian Sports Commission: Nurturing a child's sporting development
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Preventing overuse injuries in young athletes
- Jack Daniels: The basic laws of running — Human Kinetics
General education, not an individual training plan, diet or medical advice. Discuss individual needs with an appropriately qualified professional.
The A2TK approach
Methodology first. Athlete centred.
A2TK is a kid-focused training methodology built into an easy-to-use application that helps young athletes understand their training and work towards their goals. These guides bring that focus to everyday conversations about purpose, progress and support.