A grassroots football club reacts to the ‘Many hats of the modern grassroots parent’ report

We spoke to the committee at Longfleet FC to hear what felt familiar, surprising and – most importantly – what they think clubs should act on next.

The multi award-winning grassroots football club, Longfleet FC, has been operating since 1988. Hundreds of parent-volunteers have been part of the club throughout the years, looking after everything from finances to general admin.

We spoke with Beverley Bowers, Director of Finance and Administration at Longfleet, and Anna Tait, Club Secretary, to get their reactions to The Many Hats of the Modern Grassroots Parent report.

Sideline behaviour

“It reflects what we’ve seen… but it’s rarely the whole group”

The report shows that 69% of parent-volunteers have witnessed aggressive behaviour on the sidelines. How does that reflect what you’ve seen at your club?

Anna and Bev were sadly not surprised by the figure, in fact they thought the number would be higher.

“It does reflect what we’ve seen at Longfleet, although it’s not every week and often comes from a small number of individuals rather than whole groups,” they explained.

They also state that high pressure moments, tough tackles and disagreements with referees are the most commonly triggering moments for aggression throughout the games, but it’s not just shouting:

“Sometimes it’s tone, sarcasm, or body language, which can still affect players and referees and should be managed,” they said.

But despite some negative behaviour, Bev and Anna have witnessed proactivity to help reduce these incidents, including:

“Committee members visible on matchdays, reminding parents of expectations, and consistently backing our referees.”

They go on to say that “with the right culture and support, it can be managed and greatly reduced.”

What do you think makes sideline behaviour escalate, and what has helped calm things down in your experience?

According to Bev and Anna, sideline behaviour escalates when “emotions run high and people feel things aren’t being managed fairly.”

Here are some key triggers that they’ve witnessed throughout their time at Longfleet FC:

• Close or physical games where tensions build naturally
• Perceived poor referee decisions or misunderstandings about the rules
• Parents becoming overly invested in their child’s performance
• Lack of clear boundaries around acceptable behaviour
• One negative comment sparking a chain reaction

In their experience, “strong communication and a calm, confident coach who sets the tone and reminds parents of expectations early,” are all things that help de-escalate and deter aggressive situations from happening.

“We encourage referees and coaches to explain decisions briefly and respectfully when appropriate,” they explain. “Stepping in early with a quiet word to one or two individuals before it spreads can also help keep things calm. We focus on the positive points e.g. praising effort, reminding everyone that it’s youth football, and keeping the atmosphere fun.”

Volunteer Involvement & the Ask Gap

What’s worked (or not worked) when trying to get more parents involved?

Like many grassroots football clubs, parent volunteers are the heart of Longfleet FC’s operations; “we wouldn’t be able to run without them”, said Anna and Bev.

“Each parent has a different skill set and by taking the time to get to know parents we can give them a nudge for other roles. There are so many different roles parents can help with it, and they don’t need any football knowledge.”

Longfleet create a welcoming atmosphere, offering support and guidance to the parents where needed:

“We pay for the courses that are relevant to their role and provide them with a kit. We hold members meetings where we can all get together and have a chat and share any experiences and offer support,” explained Bev and Anna.

“It doesn’t work well when we advertise roles to a large audience, we think getting to know people and asking them on a personal level is much more successful.”

Belonging & Culture

What does “belonging” look like in a practical sense at your club?

Longfleet’s club ethos is Learning, Enjoyment and Opportunity (LEO) which applies to both their players and volunteers.

“We want everyone to enjoy their time at Longfleet. We try and get to know all our members by name,” said Bev and Anna.

“We celebrate all the team’s achievements – team efforts, personal achievements, and resilience, it’s not all about the score.”

Inclusivity and community are also very important to Longfleet’s message:

“Making friendships and sharing social events as a club can help make our players and volunteers feel like they belong and have a connection beyond football. Coming together for club fundraising events can help with this as well as raise much-needed funds for the club.”

Advice to Other Committees

What advice would you give other committees who recognise these problems but don’t know where to start?

Starting small and staying consistent is the key in Bev and Anna’s book; “you don’t need to fix everything at once; you just need to take the first step. We have found acknowledging the issues openly has worked for us.”

“Committees shouldn’t feel embarrassed about having problems, every club has them. Being honest builds trust. Pick one priority and tackle that first. Whether it’s sideline behaviour, communication, or volunteer support, choose one area and make small, realistic changes.”

Setting clear expectations is also important to the success of Longfleet FC, especially when it comes to “codes of conduct, simple guidance for parents, and upfront communication at the start of the season”.

But most of all, celebrating wins and highlighting the positives is an encouraging way to promote good behaviour on the sidelines;

“A positive culture grows when you point out what’s going well, not just what isn’t,” reiterates Anna and Bev.

“We would also stress never be afraid to ask for help. County FAs, other clubs, safeguarding teams, and experienced volunteers can all share what’s worked for them. We are all in this together trying to make the environment the best it can be for everyone involved.”

Key takeaways for clubs

• Step in early with behaviour. Quiet comments and body language matter as much as shouting.
• Set the tone visibly. Calm coaches, clear standards and backing referees make a real difference.
• Ask personally, not broadly. One-to-one asks work better than generic volunteer appeals.
• Celebrate more than results. Recognise effort, resilience and teamwork, not just wins.
• Start small and build. Focus on one change at a time and stay consistent.

You can read the full Many Hats of the Modern Grassroots Parent report here.