Padua Franciscan High School

Parent-Coach Communication Guide

Padua Athletic Department strives to develop a competitive spirit in each student-athlete who also embraces our Franciscan values. The coaching staff takes great honor and great responsibility in that mission. Good communication between coaches, student-athletes and parents is key to successful relationships built on trust. The relationship between the coaches, student-athletes and parents is a vital part of the growth of the student-athlete. Together, the coaches and parents can help student-athletes strive to reach their full potential.

What communication should you expect to see from your child’s coach?

1. Coaching philosophy
2. Expectations for team members
3. Team rules, guidelines, and procedures
4. Schedules or calendars outlining contest and/or practice/training dates; including locations and times
5. Possible discipline enacted for rules infractions or team violations

While other items might be included, the majority of content will be grounded in the information above.

Appropriate topics for discussion between parent and coach:

1. Treatment of your child
2. Strengths and weaknesses of your athlete
3. Opportunities for your student athlete to enhance skills
4. Scheduling conflicts

Discussions between coaches and athletes, or coaches and parents should always focus on your son or daughter, the issues you have concerns about, and a pathway toward alleviating those concerns.  While a resolution is always the goal, it may not be achievable without similar expectations from all parties.

Inappropriate topics for discussion between parent and coach:

1. Other team members
2. Playing time
3. Coaching strategy
4. Game planning

We entrust our coaches with the ability to make decisions that they feel are in the best interest of the team as a whole.  It is always difficult if your child is not playing as much as you had hoped.  However, playing time is left to the discretion of the coaching staff.  Other team members, coaching strategies, and playing time are not appropriate avenues of discussion.  

Appropriate steps when there is an athlete or parent concern:

1. Schedule a meeting between athlete and coach
2. Schedule a second meeting between athlete and coach
3. Schedule a meeting between athlete, parent, and coach
4. Schedule a meeting between athlete, parent, coach and athletic director.

Our vision of education-based athletics is rooted in the idea of preparing our student-athletes to be successful beyond the walls of Padua Franciscan High School.  This preparedness comes through such strategies as teamwork, accountability, hard-work, collaboration, commitment, and time management, to name a few.  Part of that growth also includes problem-solving.  Typically, step one of the process should be filtered through the athlete communicating with the coach.  We understand that on occasion, there may be sensitive issues where a parent may need to talk with the coaching staff without the student athlete; however, we encourage families to allow their student athletes to always approach the coach as a first step, when possible and appropriate.

General timelines for coach’s response:

1. Email response in season – One to two (1-2) business days
2. Email response out of season – Up to five (5) business days
3. Voicemail or phone message – Up to three (3) business days

Many times, questions posed through email may take additional time for coaches to gather information.  Other times, less complex responses can be more immediate.  In season and out of season response time may also vary.  A high volume of emails, or group of questions, may also take up to a week for response time.  If there is a breakdown in communication and/or this timeline, it would be appropriate to include and/or involve the athletic director, as needed.

24-Hour Communication Rule

Before, during, or after a contest is not an appropriate time to confront a coach with concerns as the timing does not yield the most positive outcome for parties involved.  We ask that meeting requests or concerns take place the day after a contest, to allow time for reflection and processing.  Thus, providing a more opportune time to reach a desired outcome.  

Social Media Platforms

It is not expected, nor required that teams manage social media accounts.  Those that do, choose to do so at their own discretion.  They may be as active as they choose. Common uses for social media include, but are not limited to:

1. Results
2. Schedule changes
3. Team updates
4. Announcements
5. Supporting others
6. Promoting their program
7. Relaying school district and community news or highlights

While content, activity, volume, and frequency will vary greatly from team to team, the only uniform social media guideline is that all behaviors will remain in accordance with the school social media policy.  It is not appropriate to contact a coach in an effort to dictate their social media content.

Expectations of Parents

A supportive parent relationship is critical in fostering a positive climate relating to your son or daughter’s experience on the team.  We encourage all forms of positive communication and ask that you and our coaches follow the guidance above.  Without the support of our parents and families, we could not achieve our goals as an athletic department.  Thank you for all that you do.

Additionally, the OHSAA released the following guidance for parents and their role in high school athletics:

https://ohsaa.org/news-media/parents-and-adult-fans-the-biggest-challenge-facing-high-school-sports-today

Expectations of Coaches

A consistent means of communication from coaches to families will provide guidance and structure throughout the season.  Coaches will keep parents informed on relative criteria that has been outlined in this document.  We are thankful for the work that our coaches do to foster an environment that includes clear expectations for all.