The
foundations of our coaching philosophies are critically dependent upon healthy
and productive relationships with our players' parents. We HEAVILY encourage
maximum parent participation at practices and matches. However, experience has
taught us some harsh lessons. We have taken the list of guidelines below from
USA Volleyball and, respectively, ask that our parents follow them.
1. Cheer your son on, be supportive of him,
console him, but do it without judging him, his coach, or his teammates.
2. Many things will aggravate you that do not
even faze your son. Do not make something into an issue if it is not an issue.
3. Encourage your child to seek his own
answers. Coaches respect players who come to them and privately question their
playing time or role; it immediately indicates they want more.
4. Understand the rules of the game, and the
coach's philosophy. Substituting in volleyball has consequences.
5. Do your physical part as a parent. Get your
child to practice on time and pick him up promptly. Demonstrating
responsibility and commitment can be incredibly effective. When attending out
of town tourneys, do not ask for your child to be excused from all team
activities until after all players are excused following the completion of the
tourney.
6. Positions and talent sometimes do not match
up. Coaches attempt to do what is best for the team, putting the best physical
mix and the best "chemistry" on the floor. That may mean that
sometimes your son may be playing out of position in an attempt to strengthen
the "team." A positive spin by you can go a long way in helping him
adjust to a new role. Stay positive, and maybe he will flourish.
7. If you have real concerns, and your son has
unsuccessfully attempted to work things out with his coach on his own, schedule
a meeting with the coach, and have your child attend with you (you may not be
hearing the whole story - a common occurrence). If you are trying to resolve a
problem, help your child by being a role model in the problem solving
procedure.
8. Never approach a coach with complaints
after a tough game. Wait, and schedule a visit after everyone cools off. Most
coaches are highly competitive and, just like players, do not like to be
confronted after tough games.
9. Please think before criticizing anyone
connected with your son's club or team. Criticism is contagious and often
hurtful. The damage you do could be irreversible.
10. Visibly show that you enjoy watching your
son perform; this will make him feel better about his participation, no matter
what his role is.
Lastly, please remember that you are paying for your son’s training time, not playing time. It is solely the discretion of the coaches to determine playing time.
I have read and understood the above guidelines and agree
to partner with the coaching staff as outlined.
______________________ ___________________________
Player Name Parent
Signature