Start by knowing what you offer

Before you invite anyone, you must be able to answer concretely what the team actually does. Write down training days (Tuesdays and Thursdays 17:30–18:45), where you train (the grass pitch by the school or the sports hall in winter), number of matches in the season, and what it costs (membership, licence, kit). A parent who asks "what does this involve?" should get a clear answer the same evening.

If the team has an age group where the Norwegian Football Federation requires equal playing time for everyone – that applies up to and including age 12 – say so immediately. Refer to the federation's rules. A family who believes their child will get most of the time on the pitch because they're good needs to know this before they sign up.

Invite one at a time, not in a group

When you get a tip about a player – from another parent, from the school's PE teacher, from a neighbour – contact that family directly. Don't send a general message to the whole class. A personal invitation shows you actually want this particular child on the team. Write: "Sara mentioned that Emma likes football. We need one more in the age group, and thought Emma could try a training session with us on Tuesday." That's a concrete offer, no obligation.

Give your name and phone number, or another member of the coaching staff, so they can ask questions before they come. A parent who has never had a child in football may have no idea what "trial training" means, whether the child needs football boots right away, or if you have kits to lend.

Make the first training simple

The player who comes to try out should not have to deal with 15 strange faces at once. Ask one player on the team to look after the new one during warm-up, show where the bag can go, explain what you do in each drill. You as coach: check in after ten minutes, ask if everything is okay, and avoid big ceremony. The best first sessions are those where the child simply gets to play football.

Parents who are on the sideline need to know where they can stand, whether coffee is available, and who they can talk to about practical matters. If you have a team coordinator or team manager, introduce them by name and role.

Clarify expectations before signing

A family who wants to register their child on the team must have been told what is expected of them – not just of the player. Is there a work duty twice a year? Should parents referee matches at under-11 level? What happens if you have a match during the school's winter holiday? Say this before anyone signs, not in an email three weeks later.

The Norwegian Football Federation requires signed consent from guardians for all players under 15. This must be in the system before the child gets their player registration. If your club uses MyTeams, you can send the invitation digitally to the parents, who sign with BankID. Then everything is ready when you register the player for league matches. If you do it on paper, ensure that both parents – if they have joint parental responsibility – are informed about and approve the membership.

Follow up after the first three weeks

When a new player has been with you for three weeks, have a chat with the parents. Don't wait until something goes wrong. Ask concretely: Do the training times work? Is there anything the child is struggling with? Anyone who doesn't say hello? Things that seem small to you can be big for a family that is new.

If the player quits after two training sessions, ask why. Not to persuade them back, but to know what didn't work. Perhaps the level was wrong, perhaps no one welcomed the child, perhaps someone said something unkind in the changing room. You won't fix everything, but you learn what your team actually is to join.

Remember that saying no is also okay

You don't have to take in everyone who asks. If your team already has 18 players for 7-a-side football, and half of them stand on the bench each match, the honest answer may be: "We don't have room for more right now, but I can give you the number for another team in the same age group." A family who gets an honest no and an alternative is better off than one who is taken in and never plays.

When you really need more players – because the team risks being shut down without them – say so. People help when they understand it's urgent, but they need to know what's actually at stake.