Christchurch Football Club eNewsletter

To Morne’ and Sienna serving over 220 people from behind the bar, to Edward & his team in preparing and serving the awesome buffet meal, to Allana & Katrina for helping getting the clubrooms ready, all of you were outstanding in ensuring we got everything right and as a club we are so proud of each and every one of you!!

To everyone that contributed on the night by putting so many awesome items on the raffle/auction tables, to buying raffle tickets and to bidding on auction items we are sure that Sean and his family are forever grateful for what you have done and how much was raised on the night.

Can AI help us identify patterns we would otherwise miss. Challenge assumptions? Improve decisions? Expose blind spots? Help us focus attention on what matters most?

Courtesy of Belinda from Oxford Edge I attended a function hosted by XERO last week where they talked about the influence and impact of AI – calling it “accountability intelligence”!!

The organizations that gain the greatest advantage from AI won’t simply work faster. They’ll think better!

All of the above has got me seriously thinking about myself, my role at the club and what am I doing for all the members of the club and all who I interact with outside of the club. Am I focused on doing all things better at the expense of the critical few that matter the most – tough question to answer as I can’t please everyone so I will begin to review what the critical few are that will see the biggest impact achieved by myself and as a result for our wonderful club!

Subscriptions 2026 – Keep up the great work – thank you so very much!!!

Any questions regarding subscriptions please contact accounts@christchurchpark.co.nz in the first instance

Senior Div. 1-6 & Women’s $240.00
Colts and any Under 21 player $160.00
General $50.00
Social $20.00

Junior Family Member –

1 player (first child in the family) $115* includes team photo payment
2 or more players (same family) payment $230* includes team photo payment
3 or more players (same family) $300* includes team photo payment
*includes a Family Membership of $60

Coaches & Managers of all teams will now be following up to ensure all subscriptions are paid as soon as possible”

Regards

Shu

But there is a line that can be crossed — when a parent stops supporting their child’s sporting journey and begins living their own dreams, identity, or unfinished ambitions through them.

When this happens, sport can slowly shift from being a place of growth and enjoyment into a source of pressure, anxiety, and conflict.

The Impact on the Child

When children feel responsible for their parents ’emotions, several things can happen:

They become afraid of making mistakes.
They stop taking risks and trying new things.
They play to avoid disappointment rather than to enjoy the game.

The best athletes are not those who feel they must perform to earn approval. They are often the ones who feel secure enough to learn, fail, adapt, and grow.

The Damage Beyond the Child

The impact does not stop with the athlete.

When parents become emotionally invested in outcomes, it can affect teammates, coaches, officials, and other families.

A parent who believes their child’s success is the most important thing can unintentionally:

Criticise coaches who make decisions they disagree with.
Compare their child to teammates.
Create tension within teams.
Undermine confidence in others.
Turn a positive environment into one focused on winning at all costs.

Sport is a community. Every person involved — players, coaches, volunteers, officials, and families — contributes to the environment children experience.

When adults prioritise personal ambition over the collective experience, everyone loses.

The Role of the Parent

The greatest gift a parent can give a young athlete is perspective.
Your child’s sport is not your second chance.
It is not a reflection of your parenting ability.
It is not a measure of your success.
It is their journey.
Your role is to create the environment where they can discover who they are, what they enjoy, and what they are capable of becoming.
That means celebrating effort.
It means allowing them to struggle.
It means letting coaches coach.
It means understanding that development is not a straight line.