Parents | somo

Athletic Parent Guide

Thank you, parents, for allowing our athletics staff to coach your student. Many individuals contribute to the success of each individual student-athlete and program at Southern Missouri Volleyball Academy. It is one of our goals that we work together as partners to provide the best of opportunities for our students. Our mission is to promote participation and sportsmanship while developing good citizens through equitable opportunities, learning experiences and positive recognition for students while maximizing the achievement of educational goals. It is my hope that this will answer some of your questions regarding your student’s eligibility as well as provide you with some tips to enhance your student’s experience as a student-athlete

Tips on Being a Good Sports Parent

BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COACH

In front of your student be supportive and positive of the coach’s decisions. If you have problems with what the coach is doing, it is best to talk directly with the coach.

TEACH RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY

There will be times when you disagree with a coach or official, but always remember they are trying their best and are trying to be fair. Show good sportsmanship by being positive.

LET THE COACH DO THE COACHING

When your student is competing, let the coach do the coaching. You can teach sportsmanship and how to deal with success and failure. Develop your student-athlete’s character and teach life skills that athletics bring to the forefront.

LET YOUR STUDENT CREATE THEIR OWN SPORTS MEMORIES

Separate your sports life from theirs. Let your student discover their own sports successes. Help to calm the stormy waters, but let them handle the navigational problems. They will be their own person which will most likely be different than you.

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN THROUGH FAILURE

The way your student handles failure can help them to face the certain failures life will throw them in the future. The worst time for you as a parent to give advice is immediately after a disappointment. Let your student cope in their own way, then, at some later time they will be much more receptive to words of correction or advice from you.

GET TO KNOW THE COACH

Since the coach has a powerful influence on your student, take the time to attend the preseason parent meeting and get to know the coach’s philosophy, expectations and knowledge.

FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL

Focus on what your student does well and where they need to improve. Forget about the progress or success of other athletes.

LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD...BUT STAY RATIONAL

Always listen to your student, but remember to stay rational until you have investigated the situation. Remember, students can exaggerate their woes and heroics.

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR ROLE AS A ROLE MODEL

Take a good, honest look at your actions and reactions in the athletic arena. These actions are a big cue to your student and to others around you.

SHOW UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

The most important thing - show your student you love them, win or lose.

Parent/Athlete Expectations

Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult vocations. By

establishing an understanding of each position, we are better able

to accept the actions of the other and provide greater benefits to

our student-athletes. As parents, when your student becomes

involved in our program, you have a right to understand what

expectations are placed on them. This begins with clear communication from the coach of the student’s program.

Communication you should expect from coaches

• Basic coaching program philosophy

• Locations and times of all practices and contests

• Team requirements; e.g., practices, special equipment, lettering

policy, awards, team rules

• Procedure followed if student is injured

• Discipline that may result in a period of ineligibility

• Sportsmanship

• Squad determination

• Transportation expectations

• Attendance at school on practice/game days

• Junior Olympic rules

Communication coaches expect from parents

• Specific program concerns expressed directly to the coach

• Notification of any schedule conflict well in advance

As your student becomes involved in the programs at Southern Missouri Volleyball Academy, they will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. It is also important that they understand that there may be times when things do not go as they wish. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged.

EXAMPLES OF THESE SITUATIONS:

• Treatment of your student-athlete, mentally or physically

• Ways to help your student-athlete improve

• Concerns about your student’s attitude

• Academic support and college opportunities

It is very difficult to accept your student’s not playing as much as or in the role you may hope. Coaches are professionals. They make judgements based on what they believe to be best for all students involved. As you have seen from the list above, certain things can be and should be discussed with your student’s coach. Other situations should be left to the discretion of the coach.

EXAMPLES OF THESE SITUATIONS:

• Team strategy

• Other student-athletes

• Playing time

Sportsmanship is Everyone's Responsibility

At its best, athletic competition can hold intrinsic value for our entire So-Mo community and society as a whole. It is a symbol of a great ideal: pursuing victory with integrity. Everyone (administrators, officials, coaches, parents, student-athletes, and fans) involved in athletic competition has a duty to treat the traditions of the sport and other participants with respect. Disrespectful behavior involving verbal ill-treatment of opponents and officials, profane or belligerent trash-talking, taunting and unseemly celebrations do not have a place at high school competitions and will not be tolerated in So-Mo program. Your admission to a competition is not a license to practice poor sportsmanship!

Tips for Practicing Good Sportsmanship

• Keep your emotions and attitudes balanced.

• Appreciate a good play, no matter who makes it.

• Remember that Southern Missouri Volleyball Academy and your

sports program will be held responsible for or receive the praise for

YOUR individual conduct at games!

• Fans may not remember the final score, however, they will

remember the fan in Section 3 who made a fool out of him or

herself.

• You want others to treat you the way you want to be treated. How

many of us want to be treated with disrespect?

• We believe participation in sports is an extension of the classroom.

Would it be OK to harass students in a math class for their

performance on a test?

• When you witness others practicing poor sportsmanship, help them

to be more successful in the future by role modeling a positive

attitude. All of our behaviors will collectively reflect upon

the So-Mo Volleyball program and help to form our reputation in the

community.

• Sportsmanship begins with you!

Conflict Resolution

There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parent. These are encouraged. It is important that both parties involved have a clear understanding of the other’s position. When these conferences are necessary, the following steps should be followed:

• Conflicts should be resolved between the student-athlete and the

coach. Parents are welcome to provide support for the student-

athlete through conversations with the coach after the initial

player/coach discussion.

• Contact the coach to set up an appointment. The contact should be

directed to the coach’s school phone number or email.

• Meetings should be held in a professional setting in the school

building during school/professional time.

• It is inappropriate to approach a coach immediately prior to, during,

or at the conclusion of a contest or at any other unscheduled time.

These can be emotional times for both the parent and the coach.

Meetings of this nature do not promote resolution.

• If, after a good faith attempt to discuss a situation or resolve an

issue without reasonable satisfaction, the next step is to contact

the Club Director to further discuss the situation.