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A high school basketball team typically has between one to three all-stars depending on the team’s success during the season. What does it take to be all-star basketball player? Hard work, discipline, competitiveness, and amazing attention to fundamental skills. It is clear to any fan how the all-star player separates himself from other players on the court. But what makes an all-star basketball parent?
A parent can be an all-star in the eyes of their child or their child’s coach. Some truly amazing parents can be an all-star in the eyes of both. This post will focus on a coach’s perspective on how to be an all-star parent.
Be Early and NEVER Be Late: The majority of youth basketball coaches, volunteer their time to coach your child and the team. Be on time, or even better, be early for all drop offs and pick ups. This is especially critical at the end of a practice. Youth coaches have busy lives, full-time jobs, families, and many other commitments. Do not waste one minute of their valuable time being late for pick up. Most youth coaches will stay until the last player has a ride. It is a simple courtesy that so many parents neglect. Coaches will appreciate your efforts to respect the value of their time.
Be Supportive: It is important to be supportive of all the coaches and players. It is best to follow the advice of Thumper’s mom from Bambi – “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” Many times parents can be frustrated with the child’s play or a coach’s decision. Do your best to refrain from sharing any negative comments in public and always cheer positivity for all players.
Remember the Big Picture: Basketball and other youth sports help a player grow physically, socially, and emotionally. Having an opportunity to be with a committed adult and other players the same age is awesome. It is a strong possibility that no players will be going on to play professional basketball. And believe it or not, very few will play at the high school varsity level, so enjoy the opportunity that a child has to have some fun with basketball.
Volunteer to Keep the Scorebook or the Clock: Youth sports are driven by parent volunteers. If you are comfortable learning how to do the scorebook or run the game clock, the coach will be able to focus on game strategies, substitutions, keeping the bench involoved and encouraging the players to play to the best of their abilities.
Be a Basketball Buddy: If your child is passionate about basketball, do all that you can to foster that passion at home. Most basketball careers are short lived. Youth basketball is typically grades 3 – 8. Speak with the coach about what drills would help your child improve the most. Reinforcing what is being taught in practice will make your child a better player and will help the coach teach additional skills throughout the season.
Bring Snacks and Drinks: Many youth teams provide snacks and drinks either before, during, or after a game or practice. Volunteer to bring water, gatorade, or snacks. It will help the coach and make the players happy.
Write a Hand-written Thank You Note at the End of the Season (MVP points if you include a gift card): Parents often do not understand the time commitment of a youth basketball coach. To gain a better perspective, keep track of your child’s practice dates and times. Also keep track of games and pre-and post season tournaments. Be sure to Include travel time too. Do this JUST FOR YOUR CHILD! At the end of the season, tally the total hours. I am sure your will be amazed at the amount of time it takes to be a youth coach.
Remember, you did not including the time spent preparing for a practice or a game or the time spent composing and responding to emails. Some coaches also keep track of stats or breakdown film. The additional time spent outside of practices and games will vary, but in most cases this time is substantial. I
A very generous gift for a coach would be one dollar per hour. Pick a local restaurant or Dunkin’ Donuts and purchase a gift card for the coach or coaches. Cash also works very well. Your child’s coach has given a great deal of time and energy to your child and the team. It is important to acknowledge the effort. Most parents will not thank the coach at the end of the season, even thought it is easy and the right thing to do. This simple act will separate you from most other parents.
Unlike being an all-star player, it is fairly easy to be an all-star parent. It does not take talent or even that much effort. All a parent needs to do is remember the basketball season is a great experience for a child. Be kind to other players and parents. Do what you can and remember, the coach is a volunteer doing his / her best to help children have fun and learn a little basketball.
To be the MVP parent, you could host or organize an end of the season celebration. Bring all the parents together for a simple pizza party or cookout. Whether the team finishes as champions or are defeated at 0 -15, a gathering will create many great memories and will create stronger bonds with the players, families, and coaches.
While the all-star parent is a hypothetical award. You will not be awarded a plaque, trophy, or certificate. However, your child’s coach and hopefully your child will realize how helpful you have been to make the season a very positive and enjoyable experience for everyone .
Coach,
Here is my article for your magazine. The word count is 962 words. Sorry it took so long, busy with the start of school. Let me know what you think. I know you are busy, but if you feel the need to edit, please do. Also if you feel like it is not up to your standards that is fine too.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark