"Parents are the problem." It's sport's biggest myth—and we created it. For decades, we've treated parents like enemies, then complained when they became demanding. We excluded them, refused to educate them, then criticized their expectations.
Three Key Points:
Parents are sport's greatest untapped resource, not its biggest problem
Most "difficult" parents are simply scared and uninformed, not malicious
Excluding parents creates more problems than including them
Most "difficult" parents aren't difficult—they're scared. They love their kids desperately and don't understand how sport works. When you educate and include them, they become your greatest advocates, volunteers, and fundraisers.
The best sporting communities share regular parent education, clear communication, and meaningful involvement opportunities.
Self-reflection question: How are you turning the scared parents in your program into informed allies?
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