Parents' Meeting

It is recommended that every coach have a preseason meeting with both parents and players. This is your opportunity to set out your coaching philosophy, explain team rules in a non-confrontational setting (before any discipline is needed), and to recruit volunteers to help you with administrative tasks. This is probably the most important meeting that your team will have for the entire season. So, plan it carefully; get organized; and do your best to make an excellent first impression.

Try to schedule your meeting soon after you get your team roster.

First off, introduce yourself and your assistants (if any) to the parents. Most parents like to hear something about your background and your philosophy of coaching, especially as it affects their own child. You may want to say something about how much playing time each player can expect. It's also a good idea to go around the room and ask parents to introduce themselves and say which player they're related to. Some of the parents may know one another well, others may not, and they'll be seeing quite a bit of one another! Some parents may be divorced, so bring extra rosters and game schedules to the meeting for the other parent. If you note that the parents are divorced, make a mental note to check with the parent attending the meeting with the child about custody problems (including who is allowed to pick up the child after practice). This can avoid an embarrassing situation.

Discuss your plans for the team. Review of practice philosophy, game day preparation, Team Rules, etc. Stress individual points that you feel are important, like attendance at practice, time of arrival for games. Make sure that your player always comes to practice with a ball; water bottle; and layered clothing (based on the weather). Discuss the League and Level of Competition the Team will be competing in that season.

Be sure to go over the Team Rules, and your expectations for parental behavior (especially at games). Remind parents that children perform worse if distracted or harshly criticized, so you really need their cooperation. Also remind them that Referees are usually inexperienced themselves at lower age groups, and often will make mistakes. Expect the parents to set a good example of sportsmanship for the team.