The Parenting Playbook: When sport and family law collide
With Wimbledon and the UEFA Women’s EUROs taking place in recent weeks, 2025’s ‘summer of sport’ continues to drive countless headlines.
Yet, just as athletes must often spend a large proportion of their time away from home (whether through training, travelling for tournaments, or even relocating to maximise opportunities), how does such an international lifestyle impact their standing in family law matters when it comes to their children?
Where a relationship has broken down and consideration is being given to how much time a child will have with both parents, an athlete’s demanding training and fixture schedule can present a palpable hurdle when viewing how they will spend time with any children of the family. It is therefore imperative to ensure that an element of flexibility is built into any child arrangements order so as to maximise the time the child can spend with their athlete parent when they are home and, where possible, provide that any time away is made up for, rather than simply missed.
In this same vein, over the course of an athlete’s career, the family might relocate to different countries when seeking new opportunities. Whilst this relocation may be exciting, it can lead to additional complexities should the relationship ultimately break down. Whether the primary carer of the children wishes to return home once the relationship has ended, or the broader need for a strong support network, concerns are only compounded where the athlete parent remains frequently absent through work. It is therefore vital that both parents give detailed thought as to how the children will continue to maintain their relationship with both parents, not only if the children are permitted to relocate, but also, if it is determined that they should remain in situ.
In all these scenarios, early advice is essential. Proactively seeking tailored guidance will not only help secure the best outcome for your family, but also lay a solid foundation for anticipating and resolving even the most delicate issues.
Subcribe to news and views
