About ParentPlayer

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ParentPlayer exists to bring clarity, alignment and protection to youth football environments, for parents, players and clubs navigating high-pressure journeys.

Football can be one of the most positive experiences a young person has. It can build confidence, discipline and a lifelong love for the game but without the right understanding and support around it, the same environment can become confusing, overwhelming and damaging. Too often, families are left to navigate this alone.

ParentPlayer does not just offer advice, coaching or quick fixes. We act as a support network, helping people make sense of where they are, what matters at that stage and how to approach decisions calmly and responsibly. When additional support is needed, we connect families with trusted, aligned professionals who understand both the game and the human impact behind it.

Alongside families, we work with clubs to help define their environment clearly and align parents, players and staff under a shared understanding. This reduces conflict, improves communication and creates healthier, more sustainable cultures.

At its core, ParentPlayer is about people, not outcomes. It’s about protecting identity, confidence and perspective, so players and families can come through the journey with pride, clarity and a lasting love for the game.

I founded ParentPlayer to help players reach their full potential, whatever that turns out to be and if they don’t reach the heights they dream of, I want them to leave the game with something just as important, pride in who they are, no resentment, no regrets and a love for the game that never fades.

I say this as someone who has lived both sides of the system, first as a player and now as a parent of a current international and academy player in the UK. Before anything else, my role is to support my son as he navigates his journey, helping him pursue his potential while staying mentally and emotionally grounded along the way.

Academy football can be an incredible environment. It offers opportunity, structure, discipline and life lessons but when perspective is lost, when pressure replaces understanding, it can also become damaging. The difference is rarely talent or effort. It’s how the journey is managed by the adults around the child.

ParentPlayer was born from my own experience. I was offered a professional contract at a young age, but not long after, I suffered a breakdown. My identity had been built entirely around being a footballer. When that disappeared, so did my sense of purpose and there was no real support system around me that understood what I was going through.

That experience showed me what’s missing in youth sport. Not more technical coaching, but better support. Clearer conversations and a trusted network around both players and parents, especially during the moments when things don’t go to plan.

ParentPlayer brings together families, clubs and trusted professionals to create clarity, alignment and protection around the journey. Not to push outcomes, but to help parents understand the impact of their role, not as coaches or critics, but as the steady presence that protects a child’s confidence and sense of self.

This isn’t just about football.
It’s about people.
It’s about identity, confidence and coming out the other side stronger and still in love with the game.

Craig Wright
Founder, ParentPlayer
Setting the standard for responsible parent involvement in youth sport