WHAT EVERY PARENT WANTS EVERY COACH TO KNOW

Source: Coaches’ Quarterly (Spring 2001), Author Unknown

• Cut as few kids as possible
• Structure practices so that dancers can handle them. Consider their academic load and physical capabilities
• Treat dancers with respect. Recognize their desire as well as the sacrifices they make for the team
• Never put down a team member in any way, and never physically hurt a dancer
• Never tell a student that she can not improve. Encourage and teach
• Emphasize improvement—not just winning—as a sign of success
• Try to have personal contact or talk to every team member every day. Just a quick “good effort today” can do wonders
• Be careful not to direct excessive coaching interest towards an exceptional dancer
• Stress the importance of academics. Dance team is a co-curricular activity
• Organize and initiate team activities for the purpose of developing loyalty to one another as individuals as well as team members
• Remember that all coach/parent communication should start with the best interest of the student-dancer
• Do not tell parents all of your problems
• Don’t create an “in” and “out” group of parents
• Remember that most supportive parent you have may belong to the student who is not the most talented
• Teach students specific ways to interact with their parents after a game or event
• Never swear
• Continue to learn as a coach
• Always be  the last person to leave
• Notify your administrator immediately if there is a problem
• Call parents to check on an injured or sick dancer
• Instruct dancers on a strict code of conduct for dance team activities. Follow it yourself
• In any situation, if you try to take the blame, people won’t let you. If you try to blame others for the whole problem, they will not accept it