As a proud, football-loving parent, it is only natural that you’d want to instil your love of the beautiful game in your children. But being too pushy too early can sometimes have the opposite effect. Any fan or player’s love of the game starts with the element of fun, and if it’s missing, falling in love with football is a...

Participation in football at grassroots level is declining in England, and children in particular simply aren’t playing the game anything like as often as they used to. One of the reasons for this decline has been the increasingly competitive nature of youth football. Pushy, aggressive parents and an unhealthy obsession with winning can cause stress and fear amongst kids, and...