Parent involvement in soccer is permanent, they give permission, transport their child and most importantly – pay the fees. Their intentions are for their child to attain his/her full potential. Without parents, who are the customers, there would be no teams. That said, there are parents who are overly involved in all areas of the team, coaching, training, recruiting, managing and fundraising, to name a few. As a coach, this is most frustrating when you are coaching the team, and parents who did not volunteer, are giving advice.
Mentoring Parents
Do not question parents’ decisions about ‘why’ and ‘what’, this does not help build a coach-parent relationship that benefits the team. This can lead parents to justify their actions which can become emotional and sometimes confrontational.
Appropriately using guided questions can help improve remove communication barriers, and thereby making the environment safe. For example, asking ‘How did that conversation go?’ ‘What would you do differently the next time?’ will help you to understand the thoughts behind their actions.
Actively listen to their responses and providing support helps you ascertain what they were thinking. Observe their body language and validate their contribution. In the process, don’t stand face to face, side by side is less confrontational.
Value your parents’ contributions. They can be a major asset from their relationship in the community. Organize events where you can garner suggestions and advice that you can tailor to the teams’ benefit. Have a sign-up/suggestion sheet that can gather information. Assign your parents’ tasks and roles so they can be part of the process.
Leave A Comment