Parent/Coaches Communication Guide

As parents, when your child becomes involved in a Central Regional Athletic Program, you have accepted a role in the program as well. Your child will listen to you and watches your actions. Though you may not agree with coaches in game decision, strategy, usage of players, or overall coaching knowledge, by having a negative attitude towards the coach you may be unintentionally creating a bad atmosphere around your child and the program. In order for a program to be successful the support of the parents is vital.

Parents Code of Conduct

1. Make sure your child understands that win or loss, good game or bad game, you still support them

2. Be realistic about your child’s physical ability

3. Help your child set realistic goals

4. Emphasize improving, not winning

5. Have a positive attitude about the program, coaches, and team

Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult jobs. By establishing an understanding of each position, we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide a better atmosphere that will benefit all especially the student athletes.

Communication You Should Expect from your child’s coach

1. Coaching Philosophy

2. Location and time of all fundraisers, practices, scrimmages, and games.

3. Team Requirements

4. Procedure should your child be injured as soon as possible.

5. Changes to the schedule

Communication Coaches Expect from Athletes/Parents

1. Concerns expressed directly to the coach

2. Notification of any scheduled conflicts in advance. (Please do you best to schedule vacations, medical appointment, and any other controllable occurrences during the off season if possible)

3. Notification of illness or injury as soon as possible.

As your child becomes involved in a Central Regional Athletic Program, they will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. It is important to understand that there also may be times when things do not go the way you or your child wishes. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged. It is the first and most integral step to understanding and resolution.

Appropriate Chain of Command to Discuss Concerns Regarding Your Child

1. Sub Varsity Head Coach (If child is on sub varsity team)

2. Head Varsity Coach

3. Athletic Director

4. Building Principal

5. Superintendent

6. Board of Education

Appropriate Concerns to Discuss with Coaches

1. The treatment of your child

2. Ways to help your child improve

3. Concerns you have about your child’s behavior

4. Expectations and goals the coach has for your child as well as the team/season

It is difficult to accept that your child is not playing as much as you would have hoped. Coaches make judgment decisions based on what they believe to be the best for all student athletes involved with in the program. Certain issues can be and should be discussed with your child’s coach. Other issues such as the listed below must be left to the discretion of the coach.

Issues Not Appropriate to Discuss with Coaches

1. Playing time

2. Team Strategy

3. Play calling

4. Other Student Athletes

5. Selection of Captains

6. Practice organization

There are situations that may require a conference between coach and player, or parent and coach. These are to be encouraged. It is important to all parties involved have a clear understanding of the other’s position. When these conferences are necessary, the following procedure s should be followed to help promote resolutions to the issue of concern.

24 Hour Rule

Coaches are instructed not to meet with parents after a game or practice, please respect and follow the procedure to set up and appointment by the athletic office.

If you have a concern to discuss with a coach, the following procedure should be followed

1. Contact the coach to set up a meeting. This can be done via email to the coach or phone call to the Athletic Department 732-269-1100 ext. 234. The athletic department will contact the coach in order to set up a meeting. Please do not call the coach on his cell phone or at home, that number is only intended for emergencies.

2. If you have troubles contacting the coach contact the Athletic Director via email jscran@centralreg.k12.nj.us or message at Athletic Office.

3. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONFRONT A COACH BEFORE OR AFTER A PRACTICE OR CONTEST. These can be emotional times for both parents and coaches. Meeting of this nature usually do not promote positive resolutions.