subject: Positive Coaching Tips To Maintain Positive Parents [print this page] Most negative experiences in athletics are caused by tension between coaches and sports' parents. Issues arise because athletes and/or parents feel like the coach is being unfair. It is human nature for athletes and their parents to overrate the athlete's skills and potential. This over-rating leads them to feel that they deserve better treatment from the player's coach.
Unfortunately, parents and players are not always objective in their analysis and this is often the source of the tensions. Of course, there are times when athletes and parents are correct with their opinion and coaches are wrong with player assessment. Either way, unfortunate youth sports situations occur between coaches and parents.
Part of what makes an athlete is their desire to play so coaches should not hold that attitude against them. Coaches should be sympathetic towards players who do not play as often as the regulars.
On the other hand, young players are often content with just being part of a team and are not upset with limited playing time. Usually, these players only become discontented after mom or dad start grumbling about the way the coach is treating them. Players only become upset with their coach after parents develop this negative attitude in the player's mind. Players feel like they have to adopt the same negative attitude towards the coach.
Many negative parent/coach situations can be minimized with the following positive coaching tips. Most of these suggestions, when done at the very beginning of the season, can keep parents positive towards the coach throughout the season.
Positive Coaching Tips to Maintain Positive Parents
1. Provide team parents background information about all team coaches, especially about their playing and coaching experience related to the particular sport. Honesty about coach's background is mandatory, of course.)
2. Express philosophy of coaching. The three ultimate objectives are winning, player development and fun. Specifically state where coaches stand on these three objectives. All coaches should have developing skills and fun as an objective. Having to deal with winning and losing will create many teaching moments that will be important for kids to learn.
3. Team goals and individual plans for player improvement should be mapped out. Good coaches will detail how they plan on achieving these goals.
4. Discuss philosophy about playing time and positions played. For example, will players have to earn their position on the field or will coaches rotate players equally? Give parents a chance to ask questions, and make sure answers are clearly understood. Be sure to recognize and discuss the objectives of the league and level at which the team is playing.
5. Listen and discuss the parent's objectives for their own kids. Sports parents who have obvious differences in objectives than the coaches may have to look for another team for their kid, if they cannot come to an understanding.
6. Discuss when and how coaches can be approached during the season so there are no public confrontations. Encourage parents to discuss any concerns away from others, especially out of players' view. There will be issues that arise from time to time, but letting parents know that disagreements will be handled in a civil way, away from the players, is crucial.
7. Coaches should have a set policy when players miss games and practices.
8. Effective communication is the key to averting problems - make sure parents inform their kids about the coaches' philosophies.
9. As mentioned, tensions only develop after parents begin to express discontent in front of their sons and daughters. Insisting that parents approach coaches before getting upset and expressing that displeasure at home is essential to keeping players from becoming unhappy about their coach.
Finally, it is important that coaches fulfill his or her philosophy that was initially expressed. Changing philosophy in the middle of the season will create problems. If a coach feels a philosophy change is totally necessary, they must discuss possible change with all parents first.
by: Jack Perconte
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