Wednesday, June 16, 2010

How to Deal with Coaches

It is important that, as a parent, you have clean open lines of communication with your player’s coach. All coaches are not created equal, so this can be a challenge at times.


Use these tips to get along with any coach.

1. LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

Volunteer Youth Coaches are just like you.

They have busy professional and personal lives. Just like you.

They are pressed for time. Like you.

They have worries. Like you.

They do not have enough time in the day. Like you.

When you are busy and rushed, how do you want people to approach you with questions?

2. DO NOT COACH.

If you want to volunteer coach do it.

Otherwise, do not coach.

To be effective, every coach needs the “authority” to coach. In volunteer coaching, that “authority” is granted by you, the parent, by not coaching.

Coaches are not high and mighty, but they are the adults in charge. When children hear competing adult voices, they can become confused and will begin to shut out all adult voices.

Imagine, in your house, while you are trying to instruct your child, multiple adults begin talking to your child at once and all saying different things.

Not a pretty image.

Do not coach.

Cheer.

Your player will benefit and the coach will appreciate it.

3. SAY THANK YOU.

No matter what you think about your coach, all coaches do a ton of things that no one realizes.

But the biggest thing coaches do is make the time to coach because they think it is important. Without them, in many cases, your child and other children would not have a chance to play.

Remember to thank them from time to time. It will be appreciated.
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This article was written by Barry Thompson, FPYC Football Commissioner and Basketball Coach. For more articles, visit his blog at: http://ffxsportsparents.wordpress.com/about/

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