Sponsored Disclaimer :: Future For Football is an initiative of the National Football Foundation, created to highlight the lessons and values that football imparts. Get involved and sign up to play today by visiting Future For Football for resources, a League Locator tool, and much more.
Who are the people that make up the fabric of your lives . . . your kids’ lives? It’s fun to think about and almost always stirs a sense of gratitude. I’ve long said that kids need more influences in their lives other than the people living in their fours walls — as drastically important as they are.
Coaches can be one of those people.
Coaches support your kids to grow in focus and discipline. Coaches push kids to more maturity and stronger teamwork. Coaches help kids understand the benefits of hard work and fun. And more and more and more. This isn’t only happening for your kiddos, but for their teammates too . . . and every kid who has and will call him or her coach. That means coaches create and impact the community in rippled ways.
In the land of Friday night lights, that’s so true in our Texas communities! Sometimes the football coach may be such a part of those growing up years, we forget to think through how to show support. So many coaches are asked to do as much and more with dwindling resources.
That’s why Fort Worth Moms partnered with Future for Football and the National Football Foundation!
It’s time to celebrate that and to put just a teeny bit of extra effort into recognizing all the good your coach contributes. And hey — a little kindness goes a long way, even to ease the pain from a bad call from the official. 😉
I asked several coaches from near and far how parents could better support them. Guess what? I didn’t get much feedback because most felt too awkward to say, so I asked their spouses and partners. That’s where we found the golden ideas!
>> RELATED READ :: A Football Community :: On and Off the Field <<
1. Be a Dinner Winner
When it’s sports season at our house, it becomes a logistical challenge. What is the number one consideration? How to get everyone to where they need to go. What’s number two? Dinner. What are we eating? How much time do we have to eat said food?
Guess what? This is also true for the coach, who is often arriving early and staying late. So, how could you and other parents help?
- Ask for favorite to-go or delivery dining options, and get one gift card per family to give to the coach.
- Offer to provide a meal or a drink (not that kind of drink) for the coach. Are you stopping by Sonic for happy hour? Making sandwiches for the road? Whatever you are eating, just ask: Would you like xyz? Can I bring you something to eat? You get the idea.
- Make snack bags for the coaches based on their favorites. Help them get through practice or game day with yummy options.
2. Check the Time
Here’s one that popped up several times (pun intended): Be respectful of the coach’s time and the times he or she has asked you to drop off, pick up, and arrive for games. If you are going to be late or miss practice, let him or her know as soon as you know. Again, coaches are the first ones there and the last to leave. Respect their time and help them get home to their families sooner rather than later.
The time topic leads nicely into the next point.
>> RELATED READ :: Youth Football for All in Fort Worth :: Girls, Boys, Flag, Tackle, and More <<
3. Offer to Help
Before you spiral into “I don’t have enough time” or “I don’t know one thing about football,” this help doesn’t have to mean assistant coach title or help with drills. It could mean . . .
- Organizing a snack schedule for the team.
- Providing drinks for game day.
- Running the scoreboard or keeping notes.
- Sitting with the coach’s kids.
- Helping with emails and communication.
- Carpooling so everyone gets there on time.
It could also mean volunteering for roles that help the coach with tasks like sports banquets, end-of-season parties, awards, and fundraising. Anything you can take off the coach’s plate helps him or her focus on the kids.
>> RELATED READ :: Interview with Coach Murry :: Lady Cougars Flag Football Team <<
4. Give a Little
Whether it’s volunteer leagues all the way to club and school-sponsored sports, there is often more to manage than just practices and games . . . and that includes money. What are ways to support the coaches, so they can focus on the kids?
- Participate in the fundraisers. Donate! Or organize one!
- Pay your booster fees, and buy an extra t-shirt.
- If you own a business or are part of one, advertise with the league or team.
These monetary donations provide the equipment, the practice facilities, the travel support, and more.
Another fun idea shared was to buy team-branded gear for the coach, like a hat, shirt, clipboard, or cup.
5. Watch Your Words
The obvious support — and most mentioned in my poll — was to keep your words respectful and timely. While it stinks to even include this point, we all know it’s valid. This doesn’t mean you don’t stand up for your kiddo or are not allowed to feel spicy about a call, a game, etc. It is a suggestion to embrace respect. Here are some ideas:
- Wait 24 hours to contact the coach after a game, practice, etc. if you have a complaint or concern. That timeframe helps everyone gain perspective and calm down a bit.
- If you are yelling during a game, not only can the coach hear you, but so can the kids . . . and your own family . . . and strangers . . . and the coach’s family.
- Set expectations with your family at the start of the season. What expectations do you have for your kids — how they behave in practice, how they support their teammates, how they express sportsmanship, etc. Include in that conversation the expectations you have for yourself as the parent. What will you do if you disagree with something? How will you interact with other parents, etc.?
Words aren’t always negative, y’all! That’s how we want to wrap up this article! Use those words in positive ways:
- Cheer for the coach. Cheer for the kids.
- Send emails, texts, and/or notes with encouragement and grace.
- Talk positively about the coach in front of other parents.
Learn about more ways to engage in the positive world of sports by visiting Future For Football. Check out its League Locator tool too to find options in your area of DFW. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram!
