Role as Team Parent

Understand your team specific role:  Coach needs vary by team.  Below are some things the coach may like you to be responsible for (and most teams will have a few parents willing to pitch in!)

• Act as a liaison between coaches, team captain, team families and IBBC

• Create an email list for the team to be used for communication outside of SportsYou

• Distribute Roster  

• Coaches are required to only communicate with the team using SportsYou, FamilyID or school-issued email; you can determine best way to communicate with parents whether that is SportsYou or simple email chains 

• Help manage parents expectations on location of practices and games, schedule, practice times (dropoff and pickup), practice during breaks and expectations

• Help coach with any team events, money collection (preferably electronically Venmo/Zelle), end of season events.  

• With Coach and team captain(s), coordinate team building activities and events for example: fundraising or end of season dinner.  See more info on fundraising here: https://sites.google.com/view/ibbcteamparent/fundraising

• Communicate resources to team families like district discounts or information about Bulldog Family Fund. For player equipment or finance needs: the Bulldog Family is here to help. Reach out to IUFSD upper grade Social Worker, Katherine O’Sullivan katherine.osullivan@irvingtonschools.org or 914-746-0969.

• Build for the future, invite the Youth, Modified or JV teams to attend big games and escort the Varsity team to the field, explore mentoring opportunities etc.

Introduce yourself to the team:  HERE IS A SAMPLE EMAIL.  FEEL FREE TO PERSONALIZE

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Hello parents of xxxxxxx team,

My name is xxxxx and I am the team parent this season.   

First it is important that you sign up for the team SportsYou so you do not miss any communications from the coach.  You can adjust your notification settings depending on whether you would like email or text notifications when a new message is posted.  Our team code is:    xxxxxxx     and the link to SportsYou is  SportsYou  or you can download the app.

Another useful app for the team schedule is called RST Scheduler. It will update for rescheduled games and cancellations.  RST Scheduler Apple Store  RST Scheduler Google Play 

[ Feel free to add information on any money you need to collect, fundraisers the team will be doing, team store information, etc]

I also wanted to let you know that the The Bulldog Family Fund is available for any family that  may need financial assistance with team costs such as equipment, team dinners etc.  For confidential assistance, please reach out to our social worker, Katherine O’Sullivan katherine.osullivan@irvingtonschools.org or 914-746-0969.  Here is more info on the Bulldog Family Fund  Bulldog Family Fund Information 

Please contact me if you should have any questions as the season progresses.  I look forward to a great season!

Thank you,

YOUR NAME

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Coordinating with IBBC: 

• Share team photos and send to IBBC Marketing team: irvingtonbbc@gmail.com  (some teams designate a parent as team photographer)

  • Encourage team instagram and tag IBBC @IrvingtonBulldogs

  • Let us know when your team is in the news, when an athlete receives any awards, recognition or commits to college

• Forward messages to parents about IBBC events and concession needs, engage families in volunteering/donating at games/matches

• Senior Day: IBBC provides roses for each senior to present to their parents. The Team Parent Liaison will provide more information on dates

For combined teams, please communicate how we can support if team does not do a rose ceremony

• Help engage team in IBBC fundraisers 

  • Separate communication on discount card sale

  • Car magnets

  • Other fundraisers TBD