Parent meetings

Kevin Hettig

We hold our parent meeting in at the start of Spring football in order to make sure we are all on the same page going forward for the next 6 months. The meeting allows us not only to communicate general themes for the year, but also gets us a head start on administrative headaches like athletic clearance, physicals, summer registration, fundraising efforts, etc.

We pass out a parent handbook and a player handbook. This is a mandatory meeting after the first or second day of Spring Football depending on availability of on-campus theatre.


1) Introductions

2) Coaching Staff

- Every coach is present and introduced.


3) Football Calendar

- January through December (even though meeting takes place at the end of May) - to give parents the whole scope of year round program before we bring up summer registration fees.

- Practice, passing schedule etc.

4) Program Philosophy

- WE, US, OURS - Clearly communicated with parents which transitions into parent expectations.

5) Team Goals

- On and off the field

- Beat Harbor, PCL, CIF

6) Team Focused Programs:

‐ Leadership and Creating Accountability

‐ Nutrition and Athletic Training

‐ Academic Accountability

‐ Character Development Program

7) Player Evaluation & Expectations

- Pre/Post season meeting forms

- Clearly defined rules/expectations


8) Player Handbook (sign and return last page)

- Separate Handout (Detached from parent handout, includes expectations)


9) Health Clearance Packet and Physicals

10) Player Expense for Football

11) Touchdown Club Presentation (Coaches Exit)

‐ Role of The TD Booster Club

‐ Volunteer Opportinities

‐ Facilities: Existing and the Future

‐ Summer Camp Registration (Huge sales pitch here for "Donation" that funds our program)

Zachary Sweeney
Parent Meeting Outline


Present as a Power Point – in an auditorium for parents & players grades 9 – 12. Thereafter it will be posted on the football website under the school districts url.

The meeting sets the tone for interactions within the program and allows the parents to see what can be expected from and within the program. Slide organization follows:


Introduction & Welcome
Thank you for attending and allowing us to coach your son
List Coaching Staff and responsibilities
Recap the summer and preseason camp
2-3 slides on leadership
Referencing our off-season leadership classes
2-3 slides to describe learning and teamwork – what we believe
Discuss the need for rules and only really need one
Golden Rule
Slide to direct parents to school handbook online and football page
Openly accept the schools code of conduct
Openly accept No Pass No Play Laws
Openly accept Football Guidelines
If you are part of the team
Slide on Chain of Command procedures
Slides covering our football guidelines
Academics
Attendance
Attire
Buses - Travel
Character
Curfew
Equipment – 1
Equipment – 2
Injuries
Locker Room
Practice Format & Plans – 1
Practice Format & Plans – 2
Practice Format & Plans – 3
Practice Format & Plans – 4
Practice Format & Plans – 5
Weights – Philosophy & Plan
Alternate Sports Plan
The Husky Way
Philosophy
Attributes
Pledge
Inherent Risk
Injury Reduction – 1
Injury Reduction – 2
Concussions
Captain Criteria
Year Theme
Motivation
Homecoming Activities
Booster information
Field painting help
Concession help
Senior Parents
Time to Present
Meals
Travel Meals
Cloth
Scrimmage Plan and Format
Team Schedule
Post Season Schedule
Info on how to access Website and team info.
Suggestion for Parents
To enjoy the season and child
Quote to Close on Football being the most important class of the day.
From Dorothy Farnan
Thank you – we know you are sending your best
Close


Opportunity for questions and comments follow and sign-up for parent and booster items will occur within the facility or outside the entrance point.

Joel Sienicki

Posted Date: December 6, 2015 12:42 PMStatus:PublishedArguably, one of the most important meetings that any coach will have with regard to a football season is the pre-season parent meeting. Parents are and integral and important part of the success that any coach can have at an educational institution. In high school settings, especially in a public school, the attitude of participation in a football program is one that can be seen in as many different and unique ways as there are players with sets of parents on the team. Some players and their parents may feel as though football is the most important and influential reason their child participates in high school. Though this reality is sad, it is still quite true. While still other parents and students may feel like participation in football may have nothing to do with winning and have everything to do with joining a team and having fun. This makes it difficult for the head coach to know how to approach a team, which is why a parent meeting is essential to set a tone and give expectations of behavior as a parent of a player on this football team.

Parents need to know what is and is not acceptable behavior. Ideally, this meeting will occur sometime prior to the season beginning so that there is no amount of time that a player's parents will not know the expectations of the head coach with regards to the role of their child on the football team.

The meeting should be held in a central location, such as the school's auditorium or cafeteria, that will allow all parents to attend. It is the goal of the coaching staff to promote this meeting in such a way as to receive 100% attendance from parents. 100% attendance is key as delivery of the expectations that follow will be essential to the team's success.

In addition to parent attendance, it goes without saying, that attendance from all coaches is essential. In addition to coaches attendance, the head trainer and the athletic director should attend this meeting and will be given time during the meeting to state their job and their approach to parent relations as an extension of this football team.

This football program desires parent participation in positive and effective ways. Parents should feel a part of the team. In order for parents to feel like a part of the team, they need to be taught what is effective and appropriate participation. As the head football coach, desired parent behavior will be taught just as desired player behavior is taught. Parent expectations are as follows:

Know the Game

Parents should learn the game and the way fundamentals are taught to their sons. As a parent of a player on this team, you are encouraged to ask your son what techniques are being taught. Ask your son how they are improving their skills and how those skills are being taught to help their son improve. In addition, we want our fans, which all of our parents will be, to know the game and how to participate in one of our games appropriately. Parents need to learn how we will teach the game and help their sons learn the game. Talk about the game at home and be participants in this great game.

Respect the Game

Just as we teach to players and coaches alike, respect for the game is key. This respect means that parents speak positively, act positively and respresent this team positively in the community. The players are the players, let them play and help them be better players. Referees are referees, let them do their job and let the coaches deal in referee relations during games. Finally, coaches and school personnel are in their positions for a reason. Act positively and encouragingly and let the coaches do the job that they work very hard to do each and every week. Make all your actions that which will help this team improve. Yelling at referees, berating players and questioning coaches is not helping the team improve, instead it brings negativity and questions to what should be such a hugely positive experience for all your sons.

Love this Team

Encourage your sons and challenge them as to how they can improve. If your son is a large contributer to the team in playing time, then encourage them to improve their skills. If your son is a role player, encourage them to play their role to the best of their ability to help the team be more successful. If your son is not yet a contributer on the field, encourage them to find ways to improve their game. Overall, understand that loving the game means loving the team and being a fan of the success of the team, in addition to the success of your son, not in spite of the teams success. Questions about playing time are going to occur and should be a concern of the player certainly. When these questions arise, ask. Coaches on this staff will be able to provide justification for decisions made on playing time. Our desire is that you as parents understand the game and how we put together a winning product on the field. Any questions should first be directed to the head coach. Bring your good questions and thoughts for the betterment of the team.

Our goal is to create raving fans out of the parents of the players on this team. Our vision is that parents will be an integral and influential part of our success and that their energies, as ours, will be directed toward the success of the team as a whole in helping us reach our team goals.

Scott Uppleger

My parent meeting consists of ten topics. The goals of these topics are to make parents aware of what goes on at football, gain parental support for the program, and eliminate some issues or confusion parents might have before they become a problem. Those topics are, Introduction and greeting, description of eligibility guidelines, attendance policy, player expectations, positions and playing time, character related outcomes, parent to player interaction suggestions, question and answer, and opening lines of communication. During the introduction and greeting, it is important that I establish credibility by giving my background first, followed by making every parents' importance to the program very clear. I will thank them for making the whole thing possible.

 Next, parents need to know what it takes for their student to become eligible to play, as well as maintaining their eligibility. It is important that parents are very clear on the attendance policy also, because many times the parent is ultimately responsible for their child's attendance. Player expectations include things such as; taking care of their own equipment, communicating for transportation if necessary, being involved in fund raisers, taking responsibility for their personal conduct, and so on. Positions and playing time is the topic that causes the most issues during the season with parents. When I address this, I make it clear that we do not play favorites or politics. We simply do our very best to position the athletes where we see them having the most success, and putting them on the field in the best way for our team to have success. I invite these decisions to be questioned appropriately and promise to respond with our justification. The character related outcomes topic is where I show parents what the ultimate goal of the program is. I will touch on the character traits we hope to build and how those get accomplished. I also share my theme of the week system. For the parent to player interaction suggestions, I like to encourage the parents to be a positive support system for their athletes. Hopefully, our athletes care deeply about the results of their season and invest emotionally. Parents should be the leveling factor that keeps them grounded in good times, and makes sure they know that there is more to life and the sun will rise tomorrow during difficult times. I always forget things along the way, and many parents find importance in issues that I do not touch on, so I open up a question and answer session for any parent to take the floor. Before the conclusion of the meeting, I will post my phone number and email for all parents to have. I also pass out a blank sheet of paper for any parents to give me any additional contact information if they wish. My goal is for the parents to leave the meeting with a sense of pride, excitement, and enthusiasm for the program that rivals my own. I also hope that they walk away feeling as though they can trust our staff with their child to their fullest potential.

Steven Lozano

Parent meetings are a very valuable tool if conducted in a controlled, informational environment. I have seen these get out of control and turn into a "town hall style" question and answer session. When holding I make sure I have an organized, stream lined agenda that delivers the information I want out there.

3 main areas to address as a new coach taking over a program - regardless of the condition of the program.

1) Player expectations: Deliver to the parents a calendar that outlines your schedule for the Spring, Summer and in season practices. Discuss the importance of attendance to learn all aspects of the program, strength training and conditioning. Players must make an investment in the program with their time, work and commitment.

2) Introduce Staff members: Hold this meeting at a time when you can introduce who will be assisting you with the program. It is important for the parents to know this and understand the role of each staff member. There can only be one head coach, but this is not a "one man show" either.

3) Vision for the program: Lay out in presentation style what direction you will be taking the program in. Show them you have a plan and a philosophy on how to execute your plan. Whether your taking over a program that is successful or struggling you should demonstrate you have what it takes to move forward regardless.

Miscellaneous stuff to possibly discuss: Schedule changes, fundraising calendar and/or booster club organization.

Questions? This is where things can get dicey depending on the program. If this was a coaching change that was unpopular with the public than this might not be the time or place for open forum questions. If it was a popular move or expected change (i.e retirement of a long time coach) than proceed as you see fit. But, either way, have a clear idea in your mind of what you will and will not discuss. That way if a question arises that is on your will not discuss list you have an idea in your head how to answer/re-direct the questions.

A final piece to consider: After introductions, break the meeting down into smaller groups if possible. Freshmen parents meet with the frosh head coach, JV etc. That way a few questions and/or concerns that are level specific may get answered and satisfy some parents concerns.