| Coaching sports is one of the most rewarding "jobs" a | | | | diffuse any potential problems that might arise once |
| person will ever have. However, it isn't always fun and | | | | the actual season begins. If all the parents know what |
| games. Sometimes it can be very difficult and even | | | | the season will be like and what they can expect for |
| border on being impossible. Usually the major cause of | | | | their child then a coach is much less likely to have |
| a coach becoming frustrated is one or more parents | | | | problems when the season begins. |
| of one or more players on the coach's team. | | | | At the actual meeting, a handout should be given to all |
| The majority of parents are great to work with. They | | | | parents. Then the handout should be reviewed during |
| appreciate the coach's efforts and they love the fact | | | | the meeting. Having a handout serves many purposes. |
| that their children are able to play an organized sport. | | | | However, there are two major reasons why it's |
| However, there are some parents who will make it | | | | absolutely necessary to have a handout: |
| very difficult on the coach. | | | | 1. The handout can be referred to if a problem should |
| Some parents give a coach major problems by doing | | | | arise later in the season. |
| one or more of the following: | | | | 2. The handout can be given to any parent who |
| - Yelling at a child, the coach, or a referee/umpire | | | | wasn't at the meeting. |
| judge from the stands. Undermining what the coach | | | | It can also be helpful to set up a team websitewhere |
| tells a player to do. | | | | parents, athletes, coaches and administrators can |
| - Shouting directions to players from the stands. | | | | access your handouts and other documents if they |
| - Openly criticizing coaching decisions. | | | | are not able to attend the meeting in person. |
| - Not bringing the child to practices or games on time. | | | | Strategy #3: Invite Parents to Participate |
| - Demanding more playing time for the child. | | | | Another great way to diffuse any potential problems |
| For these problems and for any other problem that | | | | with parents is to invite the parents to come to |
| arise, there are some very effective strategies that | | | | practice and participate. This may sound like a crazy |
| can be used. Here are three simple tips to help | | | | idea. It may seem like the coach is inviting the fox into |
| coaches deal with a difficult parent. | | | | the chicken house. But that's not the case at all. If the |
| Strategy #1: Stay Positive at all Times | | | | players are young then the help of parents should |
| With just about everything in life it helps to be positive | | | | always be welcomed by coaches. The more adults |
| all the time. However, with coaching it's a necessity. | | | | that can help reinforce basic skills, the more beneficial |
| Now, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't lecture your | | | | it'll be to the players. For older players, parents should |
| players. It also doesn't mean that you shouldn't be strict | | | | still be invited to practice but they should only be |
| with your players. However, you do need to always | | | | allowed to participate in specific practices. |
| put a positive spin on things. Make sure you make | | | | Some coaches don't allow parents into "regular" |
| everything a learning experience and that the players | | | | practice and that's fine as well. However, all coaches |
| know that you are always teaching them. It's | | | | should allow parents to occasionally participate in |
| absolutely necessary for you to always stay positive | | | | practice. Allowing parents into an occasional practice |
| when dealing with parents. Staying positive will give | | | | can actually motivate the players to practice harder. It |
| you leverage when you deal with parents. It will also | | | | can serve as a nice change of pace when your team |
| help you show parents that you always have their | | | | has a few days off in between actual competition. |
| child's best interest at heart. | | | | More importantly, allowing parents into the occasional |
| Here's an example: A parent approaches a coach and | | | | practice makes the parent feel like they're being |
| voices his dismay with the amount of playing time his | | | | included on the team. It will also give the parent a |
| daughter gets on the basketball court. The coach | | | | chance to see your coaching style. Also, it will give you |
| thanks the parent for voicing the concern and tells him | | | | a chance to speak with the parent if you need to do |
| that it's always great to have parents involved and | | | | so. It's always better to have to deal with a parent |
| concerned about their children. (There are two positive | | | | after a practice then it is dealing with a parent during or |
| statements.) | | | | after a game. |
| The coach also explains that she has the players' best | | | | Finally, inviting parents to practice may very well give |
| interest in mind with all her decisions and she truly tries | | | | you a unique insight into how the parents and their |
| to do what's best for her players. (There's another | | | | children (your players) relate to one another. A coach |
| positive statement.) Then the coach explains that | | | | of a varsity volleyball team invited parents in to play |
| playing time is based in large part by the amount of | | | | against their children in a friendly game about a week |
| effort that's given during practice, and playing time is | | | | before the season started. One of the parents at the |
| also limited because there are 11 players for only 5 | | | | practice kept yelling at his daughter every time she |
| spots on the floor. The coach finishes by explaining | | | | made the least little mistake. The coach could see that |
| that if the daughter works a little harder in practice | | | | the young girl was flustered. In fact, she began playing |
| then her playing time will probably increase. | | | | worse than the coach had ever seen. Since this girl |
| The parent now feels good about bringing up the issue | | | | was the setter for the team, the coach immediately |
| to the coach (because the coach thanked him) and he | | | | saw that this could be a huge problem during actual |
| feels better because the coach told him how much | | | | games. |
| she cares. What's more, the coach also told him that if | | | | So, he politely asked the father to stay after and have |
| his daughter works a little harder then she may get | | | | a talk with him. After a long talk with the father, the |
| more playing time. In the example, the parent was | | | | coach got him to agree to not say anything negative |
| easily calmed down and didn't' pursue the issue further. | | | | during the game. Then when the games started, the |
| However, there will be some parents who will continue | | | | father only cheered for the team and the daughter |
| to voice their objections. In these cases, additional | | | | played very well. Inviting the parents to practice |
| strategies should be used. | | | | actually did two great things: It allowed the coach to |
| Strategy #2: Hold a Preseason Meeting | | | | stop a potential problem that would have hurt the team |
| The majority of problems between coach and parents | | | | during a game, and it also won over the father so that |
| occur because the parents have no idea about any | | | | he was willing to listen to the coach. |
| rules that might exist and the parents don't know what | | | | Overall, communication is key. Be sure to have an |
| the overall goal of the season might be. To stop many | | | | open door policy with your team's parents. Make your |
| potential problems, all coaches should hold a preseason | | | | self available by phone if they would like to discuss a |
| meeting for parents before the first practice is even | | | | specific issue with you. |
| held. Holding a preseason meeting always helps to | | | | |