It Takes a Village to Raise a Sporting Child

It Takes a Village to Raise a Sporting Child

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It Takes a Village to Raise a Sporting Child

This National Day, as we celebrate progress on the track and off it, it’s worth pausing to ask: Who’s really behind every young athlete chasing a ball, chasing a dream, or simply trying again after a tough loss?

Spoiler: it’s not just Mum and Dad.

We often picture sport parenting as a solo journey — ferrying your child from training to tournaments, keeping them motivated (or at least awake), all while managing school, meals, and meltdowns. And when things go sideways, it’s easy to feel alone. Or worse, like you’ve failed.

But here’s the truth: no one gets there alone. Nor should they.

The Real MVPs of the Sporting Village

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“Parents, respect, support, and cheer for kids — your kids and other kids.”1 

That’s not just pep talk. It’s a mantra shared by many youth sport organisers emphasising that visible encouragement from any parent can shape the positive environment that keeps kids in the game.

PE teachers and coaches embody this, too. As one volunteer leader put it: "It's incredibly heartening to see our young ones cheering on Team Singapore and discovering the joy of giving through sport."2 It’s a reminder that setting aside competition and putting your energy into support can grow a child’s love for sport.

Siblings also play their part. Take the example of Singapore powerlifter Matthew Yap, who credits his elder brother Marcus with igniting his passion: “I wanted to be an exact copy (of him)”, Matthew reflects on following in Marcus’s footsteps and finding his own success.3

And even those who are not physically active, like grandparents, contribute in quiet but powerful ways. Whether it's making breakfast before a game, driving support behind the scenes, or grounding the athlete through routine and care.

It’s easy to overlook these quieter contributions. But together, they form the scaffolding that keeps a child’s sporting spirit upright. Especially when their confidence takes a hit.

 

See the Bigger Picture It Takes a Nation to Raise a Sporting Child - Image 4

And yet, some parents may still carry the weight of thinking they have to do it all. It’s not because they don’t value help. Often, it’s because they see sport as a personal parenting responsibility rather than a shared community effort. 

In the moment, it’s easy to focus on logistics, performance, and problem-solving, rather than stepping back to see how much richer a child’s sporting experience becomes when more people are invested in it.

 

Sharing the Load Without Losing Your Role

 
So why do some parents hesitate to involve the “village”?
 
Part of it may be cultural. There’s a deep-rooted belief that if you delegate, you’re somehow less committed or less present in your child’s journey. But in reality, clinging to every role is not just exhausting. It can be counterproductive.
 
Whether it means letting a coach handle the tough pep talks, leaning on another parent to take your child to training once a week, or simply trusting that their teammates’ families will model good sportsmanship — you’re not slacking.
 
You’re showing your child what a healthy, interconnected community looks like. 
 

The Village That Carries Us Forward

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This National Day, while we honour how far Singapore has come, let’s also honour how far we carry each other.

Because behind every child who dares to try, fall, and rise again, is a village that made it possible. Here’s to the volunteers who bring snacks, the teachers who clap the loudest, the younger siblings who wait at the sidelines, and the grandparents who keep routines steady behind the scenes.

You’re not just supporting sport. You’re shaping the next generation of confident, compassionate Singaporeans.

And that might just be the most meaningful victory of all.

 

Sources:

1https://www.facebook.com/acoachsdiary/posts/parents-respect-support-and-cheer-for-kids-your-kids-and-other-kids-championship/639150874887897 

2https://www.asianleisure.biz/news/sport-singapore-nurtures-and-strengthens-volunteer-engagement-from-an-early-age/ 

3https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/strength-runs-family-record-breaking-brothers-raising-bar-singapore-919866?