For Parents

BBC Sport has launched Academy Parent a new initiative to drive parents to get involved in their kids's sport.

The Academy Parent website has been set up following a BBC survey which found that 83% of parents would like to see their children do more sport and that 99% of parents think that their role is important in encouraging children to participate in sport or physical activity. The findings also showed that 55% of all adults would like advice and information on how to encourage their child to be active.

Academy Parent aims to help parents become better informed about the sporting needs of their children. Site highlights include:

Nightmare Parent: A fun, interactive quiz. Find out if you are getting it right, or are a nightmare parent!

Jonny Wilkinson's parents reveal how they set the England World Cup hero on the path to glory. Olympic bronze medallist Katharine Merry and England netball captain Olivia Murphy talk about how their parents influnenced their sporting careers.

Faking it: Get rapidly up to speed on a variety of sports and gain credibility with your kids.

What's your game? Guides providing details on junior and adapted versions of sports, tips on choosing clubs, equipment needed, what to watch out for, plus useful links to find out what's on in your area.

Play it Safe: Every parent's nightmare - safety - is addressed. Topics covered include how to protect your child against abuse, what to check to ensure the environment is safe, the low-down on injuries, the efffects of burnout, growth spurts and questions to ask when finding a new club.

Kick Start your kids: Find out how to help children get the most out of sport, the benefits and how to get your kids to lead active and healthy lives.

Parental Behaviour: 'It's only a game' when it comes to kids playing sport. Motivating, encouraging and supporting children to the right level is key; saying the wrong thing in the wrong way can have lasting negative effects.

Get involved: Sports clubs and schools are always looking for parents to get involved with a variety of things, from organisation to catering, coaching to fundraising. Acadmey Parent has helpful contacts, volunteering advice, ideas on ways to contribute and how to get started.

Thinking of coaching? Find out handy tips on how to get started, the importance of warm-ups and cool downs, how to manage a session, what makes a good coach as well as the latest on qualifications.