As the long winter sport seasons progress into their second half, it is now more than ever that your coaches and kids need your support. They are or will be dealing with the stress and anxiety that accompanies one of the following: being on top and attempting to stay there, chasing the teams or individuals that are at the top, or accepting the fact that they won't be able to get to the top. Through it all, the life lessons of success, failure, resiliency, teamwork, dedication, loyalty, and so many more will be taught and learned. Unfortunately, an undesirable by-product of the natural cycle of a sport season can be parental discontent based on issues surrounding playing time, wins/losses, or other factors. In some cases, this discontent appears as negative comments and can manifest itself into berating attacks through social media, derogatory "anonymous" letters, or personal attacks on the character of the coaches. Whatever shape it takes, the result is the creation of a toxic culture that is detrimental to everyone in the athletic community - kids, coaches, fans, administrators, and other parents. Before becoming "that parent", please consider the following: -Will your words/actions open a respectful dialog with the coach that can help you resolve/accept whatever you are unhappy about? -Will your words/actions help create an environment that is good for all kids, not just your own? -Will your words/actions create a positive environment in your athletic community or create a division between the stakeholders (kids, coaches, fans, administrators, and other parents)? -Will your words/actions allow you to enjoy the gift of watching your child and his/her friends play a game they love? As a coach myself, I welcome an open dialog to ensure that everyone is on the same page, but I strongly believe that there is a right and wrong way for that communication to occur. If a potential conflict arises, here is what I suggest and the order in which I believe it should occur. HAVE YOUR STUDENT-ATHLETE SPEAK WITH THE COACH - this teaches self advocacy, a valuable and desirable life skill SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH THE COACH AND YOUR STUDENT ATHLETE - if there is still a concern after your child and coach meet, this would be a great next step SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, COACH, AND YOUR STUDENT ATHLETE - should a concern still exist after the second meeting, your AD should be the next link in the chain of command Parents, please believe me when I say that as coaches, we love your student-athletes and want them ALL to have a season/career of lasting positive memories built upon fun with teammates, success through hard work, and the acquisition of lifelong skills that will help them develop to their potential. We will continue to invest in your kids through our coaching, guidance, and mentoring. In return, please support our efforts by encouraging us and supporting our decisions. Thank you!
|