This column explores everyday questions and challenges that parents and young players often face in football. Drawing on the cultural differences I have experienced while playing in Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and other countries, I discuss each topic from as objective a perspective as possible.
Football values can look very different depending on the country—how adults support children, what coaches emphasize, and what is considered “good development” can vary widely. By comparing these cultures, I aim to explain why these differences exist and how they may influence a child’s growth both on and off the pitch.
Alongside this objective lens, I also share my personal opinions, shaped by my experiences abroad and my daily coaching at Glocal Football. These thoughts are not meant to be the “only answer,” but rather to offer ideas and perspectives that may help parents feel more at ease and broaden the way they support their children.
True to the name Glocal—combining “Global” and “Local”—this column blends international insight with the realities of football here in New Zealand. I hope it becomes a space where we can think together about how to support children’s development through the game of football.
