Parent Contract - Policy

Schurr High School Men’s Soccer - Parent’s Contract

(The Bigger Picture)

All adults involved in sport need to do their part and provide the athlete with the help and assistance he really needs to perform well (support, nutrition, education, real expectations). As such, parents need to address the following critical issues:

• Ask their children questions about why they play, what their goals and roles are, and then accept young athlete’s reason as their own.

• Once parents know their children are safe physically and emotionally, they should release them to the experience (the game, the team, and the coach).

• During the game, parents should model poise and confidence and keep their focus on the team.

• After the game, parents should give their children space and time, and leave them alone.

• Parents should be confidence builders by maintaining a consistent perspective and not saying or doing anything that will have their children feel like their self-worth is somehow tied to playing time or outcome of a game.

When parents stop and analyze the athletic experience for their children, the reasons they want their kids to play sports, (ex. Providing an opportunity to develop physically and emotionally, and to have fun) they have the opportunity to advice their children in a stage in their lives that they are trying to create their own path. The side benefit of playing sports is that kids are given a good opportunity to learn how to work and get along with others, to take good risks in a public arena and survive, to learn to set and achieve goals by developing positive work habits, to learn how to succeed and fail with dignity, and to develop friendships outside the family unit that can last for a lifetime.

Relatively speaking, being an athlete in school last a short time. Kids want their parents to be part of their positive athletic memories. Parents need to be the individuals who see the big picture and bring their children back to reality when necessary. If young people are making good decisions about drugs, friends, and academics, THEN sports are just dessert. On the other hand, if a child is not making good decisions about those kinds of things, no amount of athletic success by a young athlete will justify allowing a parent to overlook his child’s other choices.

Parent’s Role

· Attend as many games as possible

· Be a model, not a critic; model appropriate behavior, poise, and confidence

· Attend preseason team meetings

· Do everything possible to make the athletic experience positive for your child and others

· View the game with team goals in mind

· Attempt to relieve competitive pressure, not increase it

· Encourage multi-sport participation

· Release your children to the coach and the team

· Look upon opponents as friends involved in the same experience

· Accept the judgment of the officials and coaches; remain in control

· Accept the results of each game; do no make excuses

· Demonstrate winning and losing with dignity, integrity and grace

· Dignify mistakes made by athletes who are giving their best effort and concentration

· Be and encourager – encourage athletes to keep their perspective in both victory and defeat

· Be a good listener

· Accept the goals, roles, and achievements of your child

Parent Game Day Guidelines

• Remain in the spectator area

• Let the coach be the coach

• Provide only supportive comments to the coaches, officials, and players of both teams. Avoid any derogatory comments

• Do not coach your son during the contest

• Do not drink alcohol at practices or contest or come having drank too much

• Cheer for your team

• Show interest, enthusiasm, and support for your child

• Be in control of your emotions

• Help when asked by coaches or officials

Parent to Coach Communication Standards and Expectations

I don’t expect all my decisions as a coach to be liked or agreed upon. Soccer is a sport were only 11 individuals on a team participate at a time, and in a group of 25 players dissatisfaction with roles is to be expected. Add to the vastness of tactical interpretations and views from every individual (parents included) in how soccer is best played, well then disagreements are foreseeable. We ask our athletes to constantly reflect in their performance and ask questions to get a better picture of the areas they need to focus on to meet their goals within the program, but not at the expense of the team’s goals. I asked you, the parent, to help them in that reflective process and treat them like adults in finding solutions to THEIR problems.

We have an open-door policy that extends to you, the parent. My mobile phone (text or call), email, and schedule meetings are ways of communicating with me to talk about any questions or concerns you may have. I do ask you to consider the timing and location if you feel the urgent need to talk to me. I would not engage in conversation if emotions are not under control or the time and the place is not the appropriate one. I have a policy that I must have one of my coaches with me when having any kind of meeting. Topics not up for discussion: playing time, player position, or the change/modification of rules and expectations.

The success we plan to have every year requires discipline, hard work, commitment, and sacrifices. Not only from me as the coach, but from the student-athlete and you as a parent. The role as a parent/guardian in this program is to support the decision made by the player to participate in this program and aid in his commitment to the program by advising him to follow through with his commitment, challenge himself, and guide him in finding solutions to problems (not solve them for him).

Your child is the one that made the commitment to the team, not you necessarily, hence, achievements, setbacks, awards and consequences are their responsibility and their doing not yours. Accountability (good or bad) for ‘their own actions’ is a perspective I hope you as a parent can help me maintain throughout the season. It would be a morale booster to have you present at every game during our season. I would also appreciate your support in making sure your son is meeting his responsibilities in the classroom.

If at any time you wish to talk to me know that my doors are always open and would gladly hold a meeting at the appropriate time. By signing this document, you adhere to reading and understanding this document and adhere to the expectations of this document. Thank you for your understanding and I cannot wait for your overall support.