Developing the parent/guardian and coach partnership
Both the parent/guardian and coach play a significant role in creating a positive team experience for student-athletes. An understanding of each position will help the coach and parent/guardian accept each other’s actions. Parents/guardians have a right to understand the expectations that will be placed on their student and how those expectations fit into the goals for the team.
Communication you should expect from your student’s coach:
- Expectations the coach has for your student, and how those fit into the mission of the team
- Locations and times of all practices and contests.
- Team requirements
- Procedure should your child be injured during participation.
- Consequences as a result of violating team rules
Communication coaches expect from parents/guardians:
- Encouraging their student to communicate directly with their coaches throughout the season
- Notification of any schedule conflicts well in advance.
- Special medical needs for your student
- Procedure should your child be injured during participation.
- Discipline that results in denial of your child’s participation.
Appropriate concerns to discuss with the coaches:
Our goal is to provide a positive experience for all members of the team while trying to provide lessons that will best prepare the student-athlete for life after high school.
- The treatment of your child, mentally and physically.
- Areas where the student needs to improve and how they can make those improvements
- Concerns about your child’s behavior.
It can be difficult to accept your student not playing the role you anticipated for them. Coaches are professionals. They make decisions based on what they believe to be the best for all students involved. As you have seen from the list above, certain things can and should be discussed with your child’s coach. Other things, such as those following, must be left to the discretion of the coach.
Issues not appropriate to discuss with coaches:
- Playing time (students should communicate with their coach on how they can earn more playing time)
- Team strategy
- Play calling
- Other student athletes
Procedure to follow to discuss a concern with a coach:
As with any partnership, there will be situations that require a discussion between the coach and parent/guardian. Coaches should not be contacted immediately before or after a practice or contest unless it is an absolute emergency. Coaches’ email information can be found on the district Athletics page to help initiate conversation between the coach and parent/guardians.
Please call to set up an appointment:
If the coach cannot be reached, call the athletic director and they will arrange the appointment.