"If I could write "hate" on every grain of sand in the desert, it wouldn't be enough." - from an Anonymous Comedy Routine
Coaches need concrete approaches to common complaints.
"What makes you qualified to coach?"
This is a corollary to "any idiot with a whistle can coach." I know that "experience is the best teacher, but sometimes the tuition is high" and "good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment."
Fifty plus years around the game as a player, parent, and coach have allowed me to make almost every mistake available. And often to learn from them. I will make more mistakes, but always do what I believe is in the best interest of the team.
"Why didn't Susie make the team?"
In The Politics of Coaching, Carl Pierson shares a partially quantitative approach. Included in his evaluation are objective comparisons of speed, strength (lifting), and jumping. He could tell a parent that your child finished last in the entire group on the individual and group measurements of athletic performance.
That won't satisfy some.
"Susie isn't happy with her playing time/role."
First, I encourage players to come to their coach if they are dissatisfied with their minutes or role. Helicopter or snowplow parents can't help you at your future job. Years ago, Coach Shawanda Brown chose to integrate a city AAU program, asking my daughters and other suburban white girls to join. Not all parents were happy. Coach Brown answered that this was for the good of all the players and that their college coaches wouldn't care what the parents' opinions were. It was one of the best experiences I've been able to share.
"We're paying good money for this program."
I absolutely agree that you're investing in your child's future. Likewise, I am, as a volunteer coach, sponsoring entry into multiple tournaments, and working as an anteambulo for your child with future coaches, future programs, and writing letters of recommendation, contacting coaches on their behalf, and so on.
I'll help empower your daughter to be her best, to become a better teammate, and do so without usurping your role as parent and primary educator.
"Susie's better than Joanie and Joanie plays more."
I'm happy to engage you with discussion about your child's basketball strengths, weakness, and ways to improve. If she does x, y, and z then she can increase her role and playing time. But I won't discuss other players on the team.
Lagniappe.
