As with volunteer umpires and referees, volunteer coaches are a critical part of keeping youth teams intact and giving kids the opportunity to play. Unfortunately, because of poor treatment of these volunteers, many end up quitting. In fact, in the U.S. in recent years, whole seasons have been put in jeopardy because of a lack of volunteers.
If your child is on a team that’s coached by a volunteer, it’s even more important that as a parent or guardian, you support the coach and help them keep the team moving forward. So, how can you help them out? Read on.
Do: Set A Good Example For Athletes And Other Parents
Behaviors tend to be imitated: If you’re expressing irritation at how a coach is handling the batting lineup in the big game, you’re likely to be joined by other irate parents. And the same is true in the opposite direction. By celebrating the team, cheering for the players, and telling the coach what a great job they did, you’re helping create a positively-charged team environment.
If you see other parents exhibiting negative behaviors on the sidelines, try to gently nudge them towards a more positive mindset (or at least a quiet one). The athletes on the team will also see how you interact with the coach. If they sense that you don’t respect the coach, it’s likely that they will develop the same mindset.
