From the Perspective of a Coach: How to Keep Parents Invested…And In Their Lane

Whenever you lead a team, you are not just coaching your athletes; you are also coaching their parents. In fact, part of being a coach involves finding a balance between parental investment and intrusiveness. Fortunately, this is much easier than juggling a soccer ball, scoring a hat trick, or stopping a penalty kick. To encourage parents to cooperate with you rather than oppose you, consider the following tips:

🗣️Focus on Encouragement Over Instruction

Moms who meddle and dads who scream from the sidelines can challenge even the most even-tempered coach. It doesn’t matter if you're wearing cleats: getting your toes stepped on, even metaphorically, is annoying!

Guiding parents to focus on encouraging their children rather than instructing them is a great way to enhance the cheers and eliminate the jeers (and the risk of bad advice). You can achieve this by addressing negativity (long before it gets out of control), modeling positivity and respect, and concentrating on each athlete’s strengths instead of their weaknesses.

♻️ Foster Open Communication and Involvement

One key to keeping parents invested in soccer is involving them. Open communication and shared decision-making effectively demonstrate to parents that their voices matter. You don’t need to give them a say in your starting lineup, but you can solicit their opinions on matters such as the location of the after-season party, team meals, or how to instruct their children better. 

Volunteer opportunities provide another way to keep parents involved. Consider asking parents to bring snacks for halftime, referee during practice scrimmages, or make suggestions for the team logo. 

🤝 Emphasize Fun

Competitiveness becomes more important with age, particularly for kids vying for club playing time and scholarships. When children are younger, however, sports are more about having fun. Embrace this by cultivating an inclusive, enthusiastic environment focused on skill development and athleticism growth. 

On and off the pitch, parents are wonderful allies for coaches who know how to foster positive relationships. The above tips can help you collaborate with moms and dads in the pursuit of a common goal (ideally, several per game). 

At PTJ Shoes, we strive to empower players of all levels to embrace their individuality and play with confidence. We take pride in being a brand founded on passion, driven by family values, and designed for the next generation of game-changers. Check out our elite collection of cleats here.