About Us
Hi, I’m Nat, founder of Champion Parents Academy.
I’ve spent over 30 years in youth sport as an athlete, coach, and now a parent, which has given me a unique, 360-degree view of the sporting journey. Throughout that time, my mission has always been simple: to help keep at least one more child in sport for longer.
My journey began as an athlete on the Great Britain Judo team, where I experienced the excitement of success alongside the pressures, setbacks, and disappointments that are part of competitive sport. Those early experiences shaped my understanding of confidence, resilience, motivation, and the powerful role adults play in a young athlete’s experience.
As a coach, I’ve worked with children from the age of four right through to representing England. I’ve coached the South of England girls’ team, supporting athletes through selection and non-selection, managing squads, and working closely with parents who all wanted the best for their children sometimes in very different ways.
Those years showed me just how important the parent–coach relationship really is. I’ve seen how supportive, informed parents can help young athletes thrive, and how well-meaning pressure can unintentionally take the joy out of sport. I understand the challenges coaches face when opinions clash with long-term development, just as I understand the emotions parents feel when they’re trying to do the right thing.
Today, as a parent of a child in youth sport myself, I experience those same emotions pride, worry, excitement, and frustration and I know how hard it can be to find the right balance between supporting and stepping back.
Champion Parents Academy was created to help parents feel more confident in their role, reduce unnecessary pressure on young athletes, and create positive relationships between parents, athletes, and coaches. My work is about helping families build confidence, enjoyment, and resilience so children don’t just stay in sport, but thrive in it.
If even one child stays involved in sport because a parent felt better supported and better informed, then that one child makes it all worthwhile.
