Over 36 years of coaching, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: relationships are the foundation of every successful program.
Early in my career, I believed relationships with parents didn’t matter because they weren’t on the court. I couldn’t have been more wrong. As a coach, you will deal with parents—how you approach those relationships will define your program’s culture.
When I became a parent myself, with four children participating in various sports, I realized how vital communication is to a parent’s experience. A strong coach-parent relationship doesn’t just help the parents; it strengthens the entire program by building trust and alignment.
That’s why we’ve made communication the cornerstone of our approach. From weekly emails to team meetings with players and parents, we prioritize keeping everyone on the same page. This open communication ensures parents feel included in their child’s journey while supporting our shared goals.
We view the coach-player-parent relationship as a triangle, where all sides are equally important. Our mission is not just for players to have four meaningful years in our program but for parents to enjoy the experience as well.
Every coach will face the challenge of parent relationships—it’s unavoidable. The question is, how will you handle it? We choose inclusion, transparency, and collaboration, transforming those four years into a journey both players and parents can cherish.
