Things All Coaches Want to Say to Parents

Coaching is an extremely rewarding job. We make a lasting impression on student athletes, we help them get better, and we are there to celebrate their victories. With all the great things that come with coaching, there are a few uncomfortable moments. Overactive parents make a coach’s life difficult and can even have a negative effect on the outcome of the game. In the spirit of educating, I wanted to share some gentle words of encouragement to some of the more enthusiastic parents.

Please don’t coach from the parent’s section

In the thick of a game, there is a lot of hustle and bustle, but nothing compares to the unofficial assistant coach shouting indistinguishable plays out onto the field. I have a hard time getting the kids to listen to me and an even harder time yelling over you. If you feel the need to start shouting from the sideline, please come over and talk to the coaches. You may have a great idea or we may politely tell you that we’ve got this.

Never yell at the referees, ever

This is the worst offense on this list. Yelling at the referees is never okay. Mainly because it doesn’t end well for anyone. The three scenarios that normally play out in this instance are as follows:

• Parent causing ruckus is ejected from the field area. It’s a huge embarrassment for their child and more than likely affects their performance the rest of the game.
• The referee decides that it’s the coach’s job to calm the screaming parent. If we can’t get you under control we may both be thrown from the game.
• A screaming parent’s onslaught of the referee results in some sort of team penalty.

Life doesn’t begin and end with sports

This may be hard to hear, but there is much more to life than sports. Again, don’t get me wrong, I love sports and coaching, but there is a line. If you find yourself criticizing and rehashing every play after every game, it’s not going to have the desired effect. Learning proper boundaries and knowing when it’s appropriate to talk to your young athlete can help unblur the lines where your sports obsession begins and ends.

Your attitude affects your kid

I hate to say it, but you poor attitude can rub off onto your son/daughter. Overreacting, screaming at the ref’s, yelling at coaches – it all makes you look silly, but more importantly, it has a profound effect on your child. They either play poorly or adopt a similar attitude. When that happens everyone loses.