Thanks Coach, you’re doing a great job!  This is Positive Feedback!

I read a great post a while back about encouraging coaches.  It was an outstanding article, well written and once again, got me thinking.

What can we do as parents to help and encourage our kids’ coaches?

We hear horror stories about confrontations between well meaning parents and their child’s coach all the time.  It’s to the point where sometimes it makes the front page of USA Today and at the same time; it is so common that it doesn’t surprise us anymore.  Well we at Team mom-n-dad are all about the positive things in sports parenting and coaching.  We always write from a proactive point of view.  We are all about the good stuff!

Since it’s fall and there are lots of activities starting as the school year is in full swing, let’s be positive from the outset.

That starts with telling the coach how much you love him… or her!

But how?  What can we do as parents to make the coach’s life easier, more fun and really productive and positive?  Start by asking yourself these questions.

Are you a parent who is just mildly involved?
Are you a parent that is really super supportive who is kind of like an (untitled) assistant coach?
Are you a parent who is super supportive, heavily involved or an assistant coach?

Number one:

You are a supportive parent, but only mildly involved.  That’s great!  That means you love your kids and help them any way you can with equipment, paying the fees, helping with rides, and play with them in the yard… a lot!  If that’s your role, perfect.  As a matter of fact, that’s the group most parents fall into.  Think of it this way.  If there is a Little League team with 15 kids and ALL the parents were coaches, it might be borderline mayhem!  So supportive parents like you are great.  You go to all the games, root loud and buy McDonalds after the game.  How can you encourage your coach?  A simple phone call to tell them thanks.  If you have an email address for the coach, an email every couple weeks to say, “Thanks and good job,” goes a long way.

Number two:

You are between mildly involved and an untitled assistant coach.  You help with car pooling, come to the preseason meetings, throw out some ideas and maybe even help run the concession stand during games or help with cleaning up the ball field before or after practice.  The way you can encourage the coach is by asking if there is anything else that needs to be done.  You will be surprised how many coaches drive to the sporting goods store to pick up the new jerseys because they assume it’s their responsibility, which it might be.  But how thankful would they be if a parent like you simply offered to do it.  One little trip will really show your appreciation as well as free up the coach to do something else.  And knowing you asked shows them YOU CARE and you believe in them.

Number three:

If you are an assistant coach and parent, you are already in the mechanism that makes all team (and even individual) sports possible; but make sure you stop and tell the coach, “You are doing a great job and I enjoy helping you.”  It really is that simple.

Lastly, if you are a coach, we at Team mom-n-dad are going to give you the best ataboy (or atagirl) we can.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU…….

and GREAT JOB!

Did we mention the Thank you?

We could not do it without you.

Remember, “We’re all in this together.”