I've been fortunate to have great sports parents. They sacrifice for their children and reinforce the message that the team comes first. Surely they experience frustration at times, and my least favorite part of coaching is substitution. Balancing development and competition can frustrate anyone. Just keeping track of minutes is tough and we're lucky a parent helps track minutes and data.
Coach Mac shares an outstanding framework for sports parenting. Yes, I've yelled at my daughters, "don't reach in" and "no stupid fouls." You can't help the team (as much) with foul trouble. The message speaks for itself.
Communicate expectations. My goal is child development first within the context of their family, academics second, and a comprehensive exposure to basketball theory and practice. My "perfect" player becomes an exemplary youngster, process-focused student, and loves basketball and wants to share the game with others someday. You don't have to be a 'great' player to succeed with those goals.
Be transparent. Players and families may not agree with every aspect of the process, but it exists and continually evolves and improves.
Basketball 'vocabulary' embraces commitment, discipline, effort, energy, perseverance, sacrifice, and sharing.
When we engage players with those values, they succeed in.
Value relationships. At a workout last week a former player (high schooler) came over, encouraged the girls, and gave Coach Labella and me a greeting hug. Basketball and life begin and prosper with relationships.
I'm neither Doctor Pangloss nor Pollyanna and won't sugar coat reality. All relationships in any basketball program don't work. Control what you can control. Maybe that's what you get when your coach studied "The French Philosophical Novel" in college.
