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BE A BETTER SPORTS PARENT. Cathedral Catholic Academy Athletic Program. Set the tone. Establish parent – coach partnership early Perception Disagreement Solve situations amiably to maintain positive relationship ENSURE A POSITIVE SPORTING EXPERIENCE for the child.
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BE A BETTER SPORTS PARENT Cathedral Catholic Academy Athletic Program
Set the tone • Establish parent – coach partnership early • Perception • Disagreement • Solve situations amiably to maintain positive relationship • ENSURE A POSITIVE SPORTING EXPERIENCE for the child. • Be a positive role model. Your actions teach children how to behave during future encounters.
HEAD OFF PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY OCCUR • Get your partnership with your child’s coach off to a good start. Here’s how:
Plan to attend your child’s initial practice and meeting. Mesh your goals with your coach’s goals. What are our goals? To develop better players and have fun or to make it to the championships? Our goals…JV (or pee wee) goals are to teach and develop skills; Varsity level athletes apply and hone their skills.
Realize that coaching isn’t easy. Coaches are volunteers. Patience and understanding will go a long way.
There will come a time when your child comes off the field upset, or you feel the coach made a bad judgment. Even if your beef is legitimate, it’s best to allow time for cooler heads to prevail, rather than head to the field with guns blazing. Remain diplomatic. The more emotion we can keep out of any situation, the better!
Don’t participate in sideline gossip. The worst thing you can do is discuss a coach’s failings on the sidelines with other parents or at home in front of your children. If you’ve got a problem, start with coach. If that doesn’t work, take it up the chain of command (coach-athletic director-principal-pastor). But don’t forget that miscommunication may be part of the problem. Give the coach the benefit of the doubt, and ask what your child can do to change the situation for the better.
Know when to intervene. Ultimately, every parent is responsible for the health and safety of his/her child. If you’ve got a terrible coach that is swearing at the children or shoving a kid up against the wall to make a point, don’t hesitate to act. But if you can remain calm and professional, you’ll show your children the right way to handle any situation they may encounter, now and in the future.
Make sure your child has what he/she needs. If your child is properly equipped, her coach can concentrate on more important matters like safety, teamwork, and skill-building.
Let the coach do the work. Nothing stresses a coach out more than having too many helpers on the field. Realize that he knows how to best support your child’s performance. Let him do his job.
Be aware of the coach’s rules. Touch base with your child and the coach about expectations. If you disagree with anything, speak with the coach privately—out of earshot of the kids.
Ask how you can help. The coach does a lot of work, on and off the field. Ask what you can do to lighten his load (without taking over).
Learn how to handle injuries. Accidents happen. Make sure that you’re prepared for them by having first aid supplies at home and in your car.
Foster your child’s fitness. The coach can only transform your child so much. Be aware of your child’s eating habits and encourage good health. Exercise with her, whether it’s a job around the block or a lap in the pool.
Notice your child’s behavior. If he acts unfairly to his teammates during the game or doesn’t give the coach his full attention, talk to him later about good sportsmanship and respect.
Have FUN! Maintain a sense of humor, even in the face of defeat. Keep the mood light. “I’m convinced a kid will play all day if it’s fun. When it stops being fun and it’s about a parent’s own dreams, forget it,” says Tom Shaw, a three-time Super Bowl winning conditioning coach.
