making youth sports parents your partners
DESCRIPTION
All too often a negative light is cast on youth sports parents. Yelling from the stands, fights, threats, and gambling, we have heard it all! That does not have to be your program. Setting expectations, keeping open communication, and empowering parents will ensure that instead of being potential problems, parents serve as valuable and essential partners in your youth sports program. This session helps youth sports organizers establish plans and tactics to make the most of their program's parents. www.nays.org www.nays.org/parentsTRANSCRIPT
SUCCESSFUL SEASONS START HERE!
MAKING YOUTH SPORTS PARENTS YOUR PARTNERS
TODAY’S SESSION NAYS Introduce Topic of Youth Sports
Parents Undesirable Parent Behaviors Reactive Measures for Dealing
with Parents Desirable Parent Behaviors Proactive Measures
Parent Orientation Behavior Agreement Accountability
NAYS Tools to Assist Wrap up!
Education & Membership Programs-Coaches-Parents-Officials-Administrators
Youth DevelopmentPrograms-Start Smart-Hook a Kid on Golf-Ready, Set, RUN!
Youth Sports Parents
Youth Sports Parents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_8Cn6jw_5I&t=19s
Undesirable Parent Behaviors
• Rage• Abusive• Over-involved• Pushy• Living vicariously through child• Overly critical• Yelling (players, coach, officials)• Competing with other parents• Selfish dreaming• Too serious• Not involved • Bragging
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Why do parents sign their
children up for organized sports?
What happens?
“The Sport-Parent
Paradox”
Negative Role
ModelsToo often, professional sporting events have become venues for aggressive, bottle-throwing fans, who vent their frustration at officials and players.
Photo source: Flickr dklimke
Jerry Springer Show
• Parent must complete training program• Remove parent from game/event • Suspend parents from attending events• Parent yellow/red cards• Meet with parent• Require parent to sign behavior contract• “Silent Saturdays” no cheering at all
Reactive Measures for Dealing with Parents
Desirable Parent Behaviors
• Supportive• Show encouragement• Be a positive role model• Compliment all players, coaches, officials• Leave coaching to the coaches• Volunteer• Treat young athletes like children, not mini-professionals• Be realistic about child’s future in sports• Emphasize enjoyment, developing skills, and team play• Friendly with other parents• Knows the rules of the game
THE ROLE OF THE RECREATION
PROFESSIONAL
• BE PROACTIVE!!!
• It is your duty to ensure that the activity is conducted in a safe manner
Proactive Measures
• Parent orientation
• Behavior agreement
• Accountability procedures
• Trained coaches and officials
Parent Orientation
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
WHY?!?
Parent Orientation
• Expectations for proper behavior• Acquaint parents with the coaches and administrators• Educate parents about the objectives, goals, and rules of the program • Get parents to understand and reinforce the coaching philosophy that will be used• Establish clear lines of communication• Help coaches and administrators understand the concerns of parents
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Parent Behavior Agreement
Code of Conduct – very useful but not "the solution" to the problem
of parental misbehavior
Parent Behavior
Agreement
What happens if a parent
violates the code?
ACCOUNTABILITY• Agreement must be explicitly
worded and clearly identify the penalties for potential violations
• Tell parents up front what the consequence will be if they do not uphold the behavior agreement (Suspensions, removal)
• Evaluate behavior violations as part of a formal hearing process
• Include mechanism for violators to demonstrate evidence of behavior improvement (written statement, meeting with administrator)
Follow through with what you say you’re going to do!
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TRAINED AND COMPETENT COACHES
AND OFFICIALS Trained to utilize techniques that tone
down confrontations among players, coaches, officials and spectators
THROUGHOUT THE SEASON Open communication Opportunity for parents to provide feedback Recognition – Be sure to recognize positive
parent behavior. Say thank you! On-going education – keep parents up to date
with relevant information
PARENTS ARE COACHES AND
ADMINISTRATORS, TOO!
TOOLS TO ASSIST FROM NAYS Parents Association for Youth Sports Rate Your Coach Let’s Talk Sports National Youth Sports Coaches Association National Youth Sports Officials Association National Youth Sports Administrators
Association
PAYS PROGRAM
• 40 minute orientation
• Educational video and code of ethics
• Nationally recognized
•Developed by professionals
• PAYS online option
• Member Area
PAYS Content
Sportsmanship
Cheering
Playing time
Developing Sport Skills
Nutrition
Parents are part of the team
Model behaviorOfficials
Supporting the Coach
Winning
FUN!!
Video Clip
ONLINE PROGRAM
MEMBER AREA
How to get involved?
•Easy for recreation
departments to offer PAYS
to parents
• Parents can sign up as
individual members
RATE YOUR COACH
Provide an avenue for parents to give feedback about coaches
Online system
View All Results:Historical results can be exported to a spreadsheet for management.
View Individual Results:Results can be used to follow-up with coach complaints or to reward coaches for great service.
“Rate Your Coach” Evaluations
View Categories:You and coaches will be able to see the areas where they need to improve their coaching.
LET’S TALK SPORTS – NEW! Program is focused on helping parents and
their children understand and encourage the development of life skills through sports
Free, easy to sign up online Parents complete the program along with
their child and receive a certificate of completion.
Helps parents understand the real value of playing organized sports is not winning!
letstalksports.nays.org
OTHER TRAINING & MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS
National Youth Sports Coaches Association How to deal with parents Coaching your own child
National Youth Sports Officials Association How to deal with parents
National Youth Sports Administrators Association Managing parents
WRAP UP Review Questions? PAYS Program Giveaway
Leave us your email to receive slides and notes!
Kate Dilworth - [email protected] Pearson - [email protected]
Thank you!