PLAYER ISSUES 1

I received a request from a North Toronto coach to provide some insight and advice on the following issues; "dealing with the parent that doesn't care, the child likes it[basketball] but the parent only brings the athlete when it is convenient” and "dealing with the parent that cares too much and is yelling over the coaches, insists that the coaches aren't doing enough, schedules "extra" practices etc.”

The next few blog posts will address these items.

I have coached basketball for 15 years and worked in a leadership capacity in several organizations.  One of the most important tools for success in either environment has been effective communication. 

We make effective communication a priority on our team.  This process starts in tryouts.  We provide each player and parent with a season schedule of practices, tournaments, team events and training camps.  We communicate the number of practices per week and the length of practices.  We provide this information in a handout, but also communicate it verbally to all athletes at our final tryout.  We share general information about the teams recent competitive history, introduce the coaching staff and discuss their experience. In addition we communicate our vision for the team and the season, our values, the culture we want to create and our “look fors” when assessing players.  We share the expectations and commitment we will demand from “families” throughout the season.  We communicate the commitment as a family one, not only an athlete commitment.

We like to do this before people make the team so they have some clarity on expectations and what we plan to deliver.  We like to communicate this information to the athletes and parents both.  We’ve always considered the athlete to be the consumer of our basketball product and the parent, the customer.   The athlete uses the product, but the parent pays for it.  Both have influence in the “buying” decision.  Anyone purchasing a product wants to be fully informed about the product so they can make an educated buying decision.  We give people a chance to pose questions to ensure understanding.

We follow this meeting up with another similar meeting with players and parents once the team is chosen.  Then we further facilitate effective communication by assigning each player an Advisor.  This is a member of the coaching staff who meets with the athlete at least once every two weeks.  The coach facilitates a discussion using executive coaching techniques to ensure that communication flows freely between player, family and coach.  In addition, this process builds relations between players and coach, where players feel comfortable opening up and sharing with coaches.  Coaches will ask probing question get things out in the open, so that issues can be addressed and athletes and parents heard.

Most decisions that need to be made throughout the season are easy. Any big decisions we run by the consumers and customers to get input, insight and participation in the decision making process since decisions can affect a player or families basketball experience.   Effective Communication can help to provide coaches with information about players and parents whom we serve.  It also provides information to players and parents about the structure of the program and what they should expect so they can decide whether to commit or not.