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 Getting
Parents On Your Side
(This is an article from the coaching tips book -“Reach
For The Stars”. For more information contact Angela Lund of
S.T.A.R.S. Leadership Training www.starsleadershiptraining.com)
We all know how important it is to have parents support your team
and the decisions you make regarding their daughters. For the most
part, a parent will support a coach and her decisions as long as
the parent understands the reasoning behind the decisions being
made. However, sometimes this support can be very difficult to receive
from a select group of parents. Here are some ways you can get those
parents on your side!
First, open the lines of communication! Before you even begin tryouts
send a letter home with all of the girls who are interested in being
on your team. Include any information you feel is important that
a parent understands before their daughter tries out. Some things
you may want to include are financial information, academic expectations,
physical requirements, and any information about additional tryouts
to be held during the year for state routines etc... Then have the
dancer and the parent sign the letter and return to you so that
you know they understand the regulations of your team.
After tryouts call a parents meeting to acquaint parents. Exchange
telephone numbers and get them involved with your booster club.
Discuss your goals and your philosophy. Tell them why it is so important
that they become involved and the chances are the will, in a positive
way. Finally, meet on regular intervals (monthly, seasonally, etc.)
to keep them up to date with any important information regarding
your team.
Second, build trust and respect. Once a parent trusts and respects
you, it will be much easier to deal with their questions and concerns.
They will come to you in a very professional manner instead of a
condescending manner. Start this process with honest information
about you and your schools policies. Remember to keep policies fair
and reasonable. You are working to promote personal growth in these
dancers both in their athletics and their personal lives. Policies
should work for the benefit of the whole team and should not be
impossible to follow. Then set realistic expectations for the dancer,
the team, and the parents. Do not set impossible expectations. It
only causes frustration and a sense of failure in the girls, which
lowers self-esteem. Once self-esteem falls so does the dancers confidence,
and without confidence, the dancer will have a difficult time dancing
at her best.
Third, develop achievable goals. Set team and individual goals.
Write them down! Once a goal is in writing, the dancer is more likely
to work harder to achieve it. Encourage goals that need to be strived
for, but allow enough time to reach them. A goal cannot be reached
in a day or even a week in most cases. Set monthly goals and check
back at the end of the month to see if you/they have met the goal.
Then write a new goal. Continue the process throughout the year.
Also set goals for your booster club, or let the president of the
club do it. Let them know of deadlines for payments that need to
be met. You may want to encourage them to send you to Nationals
and the financial goals that go along with the honor. Many times
parents do not know the benefits that come from competing or traveling
nationally with your team. Fill them in on the information and they
will probably be eager to help your team meet those goals.
Forth, share your successes as well as your setbacks. Invite parents
to practices as well as performances and competitions. Get them
excited about you teams successes and encourage support from them
on your team setbacks. Start social events like picnics for the
parents. They will look forward to them every year! Most important...keep
it fun for everyone, including yourself!
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