Parents & Coaches Working Together: Establishing a Healthy Parent-Coach Relationship

Fall sports are getting underway across the country, which means parents and coaches alike are gearing up for a busy season. For parents and guardians of youth athletes, the start of any sports season offers an opportunity to set new expectations and form—or strengthen—your relationship with your child’s coach.

While it might be tempting to think that the parent and coach roles are independent of each other, in reality parents and coaches are arguably the two most influential adults in a young athlete’s sport experience, and the relationship matters.

When parents and coaches come together to build a relationship defined by trust and respect for one another’s expertise and care, athletes benefit—both on the playing field and beyond it.

Tips for Creating a Positive Relationship
Forming a strong parent-coach partnership with your child’s coach goes beyond volunteering to bring a half-time snack, organizing team uniforms, or coordinating transportation. By acknowledging that you each play an integral role in your child’s sport experience, you can find ways of honoring each other’s position, feelings, and perspective.

Coaches offer expertise and leadership in the sport, and they help develop young athletes’ skills. Parents understand their child’s individual personal development and are invested in their growth and well-being. Parents and coaches each bring strengths to the equation. When these strengths are used in a positive, healthy way, they can help youth athletes thrive.

Here are 5 effective ways to establish a cooperative relationship with your child’s coach.

1. Keep lines of communication open and clear. Check in regularly to find out how your child is doing and/or to offer the coach your support.
2. Stay engaged without overstepping boundaries. Attend your child’s practices and games but be respectful of the coach’s leadership and position.
3. Reinforce team rules and expectations at home. Talk about and practice team values, like what it means to be a supportive teammate.
4. Model good sportsmanship in practice, competition, and conversation. When interacting with your child’s coach, another parent, or an official, always remain calm, even when you are raising a concern.
5. Recognize the coach’s responsibility to coach everyone on the team. Be understanding and patient with coaches. Remember that they are balancing the needs of many athletes.

Parents occupy a unique position in a child’s sport experience. While respecting the role of the coach is important, equally important is knowing what a safe sport environment is—and being prepared to step in and intervene if you witness a coach, parent, or another individual behaving inappropriately. By holding each other accountable, we can all work together to promote a kind and inclusive athletic atmosphere for kids.

Key Takeaways
Being involved in your child’s youth sport experience in a positive way allows you to be a source of support for your child. When you’re able to collaborate meaningfully and respectfully with your child’s coach, it creates an opportunity for each side—parents and coaches—to learn and improve together and create the ideal environment for youth athletes to learn, grow, and play in.

Discover more ways you can support your child in sport. Download our Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport and check out additional abuse prevention resources.