Getting Buy-in from Parents to Education-Based Athletics

The three most obvious groups associated with a high school athletic program are student-athletes, coaches and officials. This is totally logical because you need these essential segments in order to play a game. There is another group, however, that may also be connected and involved – parents of athletes.

This does not necessarily mean, however, that all parents understand what is involved with high school athletics, or for that matter, the value and purpose of education-based athletics. There could be a few reasons why some parents don’t grasp and appreciate what is involved and why it is important. It could mean that parents may not have participated when they were in school, or if they did, the foundation of the program may have been all about winning and not the education-based concept.

For this reason, athletic administrators may have to present, guide and provide logical reasons why education-based athletics is the foundation of their program. In essence, you are educating your parents, and this is very much in keeping with the primary purpose of schools. Also, the term “education” is the distinguishing aspect of this philosophical concept. It makes sense that this instructional approach is what you have to take with the parents of student-athletes.

The following are a few important steps and considerations for your effort to get parents to buy into education-based athletics:

• Start by supplying the simple, concise definition of the concept. In education-based athletics winning is not the only or ultimate goal. The growth and development of student- athletes with respect to gaining lifelong values and qualities has to be the No. 1 objective.

• Provide a list of the values and qualities that you hope your student-athletes gain. There are a great number that you could include, and they might be: leadership, respect, honor, perseverance, teamwork and many others. But do highlight many of them so that this is not a nebulous concept and that there are legitimate goals for the growth and development of your young people.

• Go beyond the list of values and qualities associated with education-based athletics and provide concrete examples of the initiatives and techniques that you and your coaches use to develop these traits and approaches. For example, provide an explanation of your leadership workshop program, how your coaches use teachable moments during and at the conclusion of practice sessions, and all of the other efforts, mentoring and educational programs that you actually employ with your student-athletes.

• Highlight all of the success stories that are involved with your program beyond winning seasons and championships. This would include stories and photos of community service projects in which your teams organized, led and participated; outstanding examples of sportsmanship; and the recognition of athletes and coaches for ethical leadership to name a few.

• Utilize testimonials from former graduates of your program in which they detail what specific values and qualities they gained from being a team member and part of your athletic program. These statements and illustrations are not a platform to highlight athletic accomplishments such as earning all-state honors, or setting school scoring records, but rather how these individuals grew and what they learned that they carried over into their career and life.

• Use every opportunity and medium at your disposal to explain the concept and highlight the value and purpose of this critically important philosophical approach to high school athletics. Beyond a presentation at your preseason parents meeting, and this is a good place to start, also post articles and write-ups on your website, include pertinent information in all of your handbooks and materials that are distributed to parents, and use social media to send out reminders and updates. The effort to get parents onboard has to be constant and continual, and not a one-time effort.

• Answer questions that parents may have and provide new, additional information when it becomes available. Once you encounter the same basic question from more than one parent, consider adding a section on your website labeled “Frequently Asked Questions,” and then provide a clear, concise, and easily understood answer for all to see. This will efficiently get the message out and reinforce it.

• Look for additional opportunities and means to explain the purpose and value of education-based athletics. This may necessitate thinking outside the box and being a little creative at times. Consider providing a brief write-up for the parent-teacher association newsletter, write a brief piece for the local newspaper, arrange for a session at your local radio station, present a brief PowerPoint presentation at civic groups such as the Rotary Club, Kiwanis, or the Chamber of Commerce, and get on the agenda for your school’s open house when families visit to learn what is offered.

• Host individual mentoring or guidance sessions with parents who may be a little misguided and need a little help. After all, for many student-athletes to have a great, productive and growth opportunity in an education-based athletic program, they need supportive parents, and it may take a little intervention to get parents onboard.

• Spend time explaining the role of parents in an education- based program. In order for student-athletes to amass the full benefits of their involvement in your program, it is imperative that parents are positive and supportive. In addition, they should not live through their child’s experience, avoid being judgmental, never be critical of the coach in front of their offspring, and always be respectful of officials to mention just a few expectations. Tackling and utilizing this step will pay huge dividends.

Without a doubt, parents are part of your program, and you shouldn’t assume that they understand how and why your program operates in the manner that it does. The more effective and proficient that you are explaining the purpose and value of education- based athletics, the better opportunities, experiences and outcomes that will result for everyone involved.