Welcome Guest Blogger Janis Meredith!
A few weeks ago I was hopping around on the internet and reading blogs, when I came across one called jbmthinks.com. When I started reading Janis’ blog I knew that I wanted her to be a guest for my “Thriving In Today’s World” Thursday post. I asked her and she said “yes”! I feel honored to have Janis Meredith as a guest blogger for me today! She writes many great articles that will help you on your journey of sports, family, faith and life.
7 Ways to be nice to your child’s coach
Do we really need a reminder to be nice to our kids’ coaches?
Apparently so. With new stories almost daily of parents physically attacking and verbally assaulting coaches, it has become very clear that some sports parents are just slightly out of control.
I would never hit my child’s coach, you say. Or cuss him out.
Maybe not. But sometimes parents who seem apathetic and ungrateful are more discouraging to coaches than the crazy ones. Here’s a thought: try being nice to your kid’s coach. I mean, really nice.
1. Say thank you. Coaches put in hours and hours for little or no pay and often for little or no appreciation. Most kids’ coaches coach because they love the kids and the sport. They sacrifice family and sometimes job time. Take a few minutes to thank your coach for the way he sacrifices to work with your child; it will mean a lot to him
2. Be honest with your coach. If you or your child has a problem with the coach, do it the day after a game, not immediately before or after. Approach him calmly and rationally. Most coaches will gladly discuss issues with you when you come as a concerned—not angry or controlling—parent.
3. Don’t blame the coach for your child’s mistakes. Players choose on their own to have bad attitudes, and often that is encouraged by the parents. Players perform on the field or court, not coaches. Yes, he drills or teaches in practice, but during the game, the player often makes choices that displease the coach. Many times I have heard my husband, who’s coached for 27 years, say that a kid did NOT do what he was told in the game.
4. Let the Coach do his job. He is the coach; you are the parent. He may not be Bear Bryant or John Wooden, but he is the one spending hours preparing your kids in practice and unless you are willing to do the same, you probably do not see all that he does.
5. Support the team. Coaches need parents who help, whether it be in the snack bar, as a driver, or fixing a team meal. No coach can get through the season doing it all alone.
6. Cut the coach some slack. If you meet a perfect coach, I’d like to meet him. No matter how good a coach is, he cannot be perfect and please everyone.
7. Let your child fight his own battles. There will be times when you will want to storm up to the coach and demand answers. I understand that when your child is younger, it is more appropriate and step in to help your child’s cause, but when he gets to middle and high school, it’s time to teach him to fight his own battles. WHY is my child not playing more? WHY did you change her position? WHY do you treat her like you do?
Coaching is mostly a thankless job. Every coach knows that someone will always be mad at him for one reason or another. As a coach, you know this comes with the job. That’s why parents who are supportive, instead of antagonistic, are a delight to any coach.
Janis Meredith writes a youth sports blog for sports parents, stressing character building in sports. She’s been a coach’s wife for 27 years and a sports mom for 17 and sees life from both sides of the bench. Check out her blog at http://jbmthinks.com.
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