Youth and Families
Building Partnerships with Parents by Kelly K. Hill
Parents are perhaps the most
influential and powerful shapers of a child's early sport
experience, yet they are often uninformed and uninvolved.
"This year the new park sport director put all the parents on teams to help raise money to buy new sports equipment. We really had fun working together and getting to know one another while serving the needs of our kids. The director's organizational plan made all the difference in the world. We were able to raise twice the funds in half the time it took last year, when we didn't really have much of a plan." "Clarence and Mindy have been team coaching our son's baseball team this year, and I have really been impressed with the organization and activity level of their practices. Every time I stop by to watch practice, all the kids are involved, no one is sitting around, and everyone seems to be working hard—and most of all, having fun. This is a big change from the coaches he had last year." "In the coaches' preseason meeting this year, they talked about playing time, practice expectations, and emphasis on participation versus winning. The meeting was a real eye-opener for me because I never knew so much was involved in running an effective team. The coaches also told us how we could be involved in supporting our kids when they came home from a disappointing game. Even though it was nothing really complicated, just hearing the coaches' thoughts made us all feel like we were an important part of the program. It was also a great way for the parents to meet each other and get organized for our part in helping to make the season successful!" When sport directors communicate with and involve parents in their programs, they often hear comments like these from the parents. Unfortunately, far too many parents are still uninformed, misguided, and either under- or over-involved in their child's sport experience. Thankfully, with a little planning and some important tools, you can make parents your greatest allies by building partnerships that will make your job easier and more enjoyable! Youth Sports Are a Family Affair The market for today's youth sport programs is increasingly competitive. Even small towns have multiple youth sport clubs or organizations serving a variety of individual and family interests. In order to be competitive in the youth sport market, agencies are focusing on programming that brings entire families together for recreation. Competition among agencies that provide recreational services has led agencies to focus on involving families—to provide parents and kids with well-organized programs that include quality coaches, safe facilities, and allow parents and families to share in the sport experience together. Is your agency aware of this trend and preparing to meet this increasing demand today and into the future? Whether your programs are primarily recreational or competitive, involving parents and integrating families is one of the best ways to ensure successful programming. If you're short on plans, perhaps the ideas in this article can help get you started. Who Can Make a Difference? More than 20 million children participate in nonschool sport programs annually. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of these participants will not be participating by age fifteen. The reasons are varied, but "not having much fun" is near the top of most kids' lists. As a sport director, your role is to develop programs that provide opportunities for safe, enjoyable recreation to the broadest audience possible. 32 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • July/August 1996 Along with sport directors and coaches, parents assume important roles in guiding and supporting children through the quagmire of youth sport experiences. Perhaps you are working to better train your coaches, but have you considered reaching out and involving parents as well? Are there things you can do to systematically and proactively involve them in your program? Reaching Out to Parents Parents are perhaps the most influential and powerful shapers of a child's early sport experience, yet they are often uninformed and uninvolved. Some youth sport directors fear that involved parents will take over the program, and thus they hesitate to communicate effectively with the parents. Programs without a comprehensive philosophy—and policies to support it—have often left parents out, and suffer from their lack of support and involvement. Informed parents know what their role is and understand that they have a responsibility not only to their child, but to the coach and the program as well. Informed parents: • Can support the program policies because they have had an opportunity to discuss them with the youth sport director or coach; • Appreciate the scope of the program and share in the investment to make all children's experiences healthy and positive; • Are willing to assist the coach in a variety of tasks that make the program run more efficiently; • Know how to play an active role in their child's sport experience without getting over-involved; • Are able to keep competition in perspective for children and help to make it healthy for everyone participating; • Can help to promote your programs to community leaders and corporate sponsors. But how do parents learn about their roles and responsibilities to their child, the coach, and the program? Program goals and objectives vary, and certainly each parent's experience in and with sport is different. Getting everyone "on the same page" is definitely a challenge. But your efforts to lay out a plan for parent involvement will help you run a program in which parents are allies with your staff in providing the best possible recreational sport opportunities. Tools for Involving and Integrating Parents The American Sport Education Program has developed educational materials that help sport directors convey their program goals and objectives to parents in a structured and nonthreatening format. The "SportParent Course" is used by local park districts and departments to invite parents into the sport program and show them how they can be involved with supporting the program goals and objectives. The course is designed to help educate parents about their child's participation in sports, and provides information on why kids play sports, how they can benefit from participation, and ways to help kids develop a healthy sport perspective. It also helps parents understand what it means to be a responsible "SportParent" and demonstrates how to be a good role model for kids. The purpose and design of the course is threefold: • to get parents to express their feelings about the issues; • to help parents consider how they can be better SportParents; • to spur parents' interest in learning more about the issues that affect their relationship with their child in sport. Effective programming depends on active parent involvement. By meeting with parents and utilizing the SportParent Course, you take the opportunity to welcome parents into your program and give them guidelines for involvement. The SportParent Course lays the groundwork for a season with positive and committed adult leadership. Through the SportParent Course, parents get tips on: • Why kids play sports • Why kids drop out of sports • What values kids might learn through sports • Acceptable conduct for a SportParent • How to help your child choose a sport • What questions to ask your child after practice/competition • How to be involved, but not too involved • How to talk with your child after a poor performance • How to keep things in balance and perspective • Warning signs of poor coaching • How to coach your own child • Good questions to ask your child's coach • Ways to help your child's coach Working to Gain Parent Support Is Worth It! Building parent partnerships is an essential component of healthy youth sport programming. If you can facilitate communication with parents in a nonthreatening, positive preseason format, you will have taken a huge step toward gaining the support and respect of those parents. With parent support, the program will enjoy more positive public relations; the children and families will participate in a healthy and supportive environment; and parents will know how they can be involved positively with their child, the coach, and the program. Kelly K. Hill is the youth sport specialist for the American Sport Education Program. For more information on the SportParent Course and other resources for youth sport programming, contact the American Sport Education Program at 1-800-747-5698 or e-mail: asep@hkusa.com. http://www.humankinetics.com. Illinois Parks & Recreation • July/August 1996 • 33 |
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