1. Make sure your children understand that win or lose, you love them.
2. Be realistic about your child’s physical ability. Help your child set realistic goals.
3. Emphasize “improved” performance and not winning.
4. Don’t relive your own athletic past through your child.
5. Provide a safe environment for training and competition.
6. Control your emotions at games and events. No child wants their parent to bring negative attention to them when it is their time to shine.
7. Be a “cheerleader” for your child AND other children on the team.
8. Respect your child’s coach and communicate with them in a positive way.
9. Be a positive role model.
**Be sensible and responsible, and keep your priorities in order. There is a lot more at stake than a win/loss record.
Parent/Coach Relationship
Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult vocations. By establishing and understanding each position, we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide a greater benefit to children. As parents, when your children become involved in our programs, you have the right to understand what expectations are placed on your child. This begins with clear communication from the coach of your child’s program.
Communication You Should Expect from a Coach
1. Philosophy of the coach.
2. Expectations and goals the coach has for the athlete as well as for the team/season.
3. Location and times of all practices and contests.
4. Team requirements: special equipment, strength and conditioning programs, etc.
5. Procedures to be followed if an injury occurs to your child during participation.
6. Team rules, guidelines and consequences for infractions.
7. Clear procedures for tryouts and roster finalizations for sports with roster limits.
Communication Coaches Expect from Athletes/Parents
1. Concerns expressed directly to the coach.
2. Notification of any schedule conflicts in advance.
3. Notification of illness or injury as soon as possible.
Although there are many positives about athletic competition, it is important to understand that there are times things do not always go the way you or your child wish. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged. It is the first and most integral step to understanding and resolution.
Appropriate Concerns to Discuss with Coaches
1. The treatment of your child.
2. Ways to help your child improve.
3. Concerns about your child’s behavior.
It is very difficult to accept that your child may not be playing as much as you hope. Coaches are professionals. They make judgment decisions based on what they believe to be the best for all student-athletes involved. As you have already read, certain things can be and should be discussed with your child’s coach. Other things, such as those 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
There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and player or coach and parent. These conferences are encouraged. It is important that all parties involved have an understanding of the other’s position. When these conferences are necessary, the following procedures should be followed to help promote resolution to the issue or concern:
The Procedure You Should Follow If You Have a Concern to Discuss With a Coach
1. Call or email the coach to arrange an appointment.
2. If the coach can’t be reached, call the Assistant Principal who supervises the Athletic Program, Mr. Attanasio (201 665-5560 x6012 or michael.attanasio@wwrsd.org) who will arrange the meeting for you.
3. Please do not attempt to confront a coach before or after a contest or practice. These can be emotional times for both the parent and the coach. Meetings of this nature usually do not promote positive resolutions.
What Can a Parent Do if the Meeting with the Coach Did Not Provide a Satisfactory Resolution?
Call and arrange an appointment with Mr. Attanasio so that the next step can be determined.