Number of coaches at good high school programs?

open practice

My practices are open but, at the mandatory parents meeting, after try outs, I try to be very up front with the parents about the girls getting frustrated because they are trying to do it the coaches way but daddy thinks she's better doing it his way. I also tell my parents that if they can't sit and enjoy their dd without yelling at them, I will ask them to leave. Guess I'm a jerk, but I haven't had to ask anyone to leave yet. The returning parents also do a great job keeping the new parents occupied. LOL. The other thing I do is after a game, whether we win or lose, when we go down the foul line to talk, I BRING the parents with me. I tell the girls that I don't want them to misunderstand or mis-quote anything I say. The parents have responded very well to this. They say it helps them feel like part of the team, which they are to me. I'm not sure how smart I am to do it, but, it feels right.

 

I've always included the parents in pre and post game talks. As you say, it makes for clear communication and I've found that virtually all of the parents will readily reinforce what you are saying, good or bad. Great team building tool.