How to create a parents manifesto

After a two and a half month break, my team began the 2021-22 season at the end of September. I was a bit nervous for the game, feeling slightly out of practice, yet I soon fell back into the matchday pattern I had been curating over the previous two seasons.

One part of that pattern for home matches was having coaching staff and players of both teams on one side of the pitch, and parents on the other. This was an away game, and our opposition hadn’t chosen to set things up that way.

Though it felt chaotic at times, being on the same side of the pitch as the parents gave me an opportunity to see, and more importantly hear, how they behave during the game.

As usual, I was quiet most of the time. I praised the girls when they did something good and encouraged them when they needed it. But, other than that, I was silent.

As the game went on I noticed the silences I was intentionally creating were being filled more and more fervently. Parents were encouraging their daughters to ‘take it down the line’ or ‘put the ball out’ – the exact thing I had trained myself not to do.

 

"Parents’ excitement translated into more instructions. I felt like I wasn’t the coach..."

 
We had lost the first half 5-0, and as we started to score goals in the second half, the parents’ excitement translated into more instructions.

In all honesty, I felt powerless. I felt like I wasn’t the coach.

I beat myself up about it for the following few days, telling myself I should have been stronger and taken control of the situation by asking the parents to be quiet.

I eventually realised two things - one: that having that conversation in the heat of the moment is a really difficult thing to do; and two; the parents had no idea why I was so quiet on the sidelines.

I can see now, looking at it objectively, that it would be easy to misinterpret my silences as perhaps a lack of interest, or maybe a lack of knowledge. Or maybe they felt I wasn’t giving their daughters as much help as I should have been.

We have a club charter, in which we ask parents not to coach from the sidelines, but I realised that, without any context, that felt like a suggestion that was easy to ignore.

So I set about creating a document that laid out my expectations while also providing some background as to why they are as they are. I called it a ’season information sheet’ and aimed to include as much as I could about the season ahead in one place.

I wanted something I could give to parents and then refer back to as and when needed – putting me in a stronger position to have those conversations on matchdays if I have to. I also wanted something that didn’t feel like a telling off, but more of a general resource.

I included information on contacts, training, equipment, competitions, matchday squads and, the key bit at the end, coaching philosophy.

Within the philosophy section, I included a whole part on coach behaviour. I offered information on:

• why I act the way I do on match days
• the kinds of things they can expect to hear me say
• the kinds of things they won’t hear me say
• the fact that often my silence is intentional, and information about how shouts from the sideline can affect, and often confuse players
• positive ways that they can support the team from the sideline, including clapping and cheering.

I also asked anyone with any comments, ideas or suggestions to come and talk to me about them.

I sent the document to all parents and asked them to read it, with no way of knowing if they actually would. I was delighted when, the following week, a new parent asked me which side the parents were on for the game, showing me he had read the document.

I have stood on the sidelines with the parents once since sending out my manifesto, and really did notice a difference in behaviour.

I’m fully prepared for sideline issues to crop up again - after all, we are all so accustomed to having an opinion on the beautiful game. But I feel much more comfortable knowing that I have been clear and deliberate in my communication.

I learned a valuable lesson: we can’t expect people to know things we don’t tell them. So communicate with your parents, tell them why and how you do what you do, and in turn give yourself something to fall back on, should you ever need to have difficult conversations.

It will pay off in the long run.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR OWN MANIFESTO

KEY CONTACTS

Who are the main figures at the club and in your team and how can parents contact them?

KEY INFORMATION

Where and when is training? Any subs to pay? What advice on here equipment/drinks/mobile phones?

COMPETITIONS AND MATCHES

What leagues/cups? How many minutes per half? Where are home matches played? Any specific rules?

TEAM POLICIES

Selection - rotation? Equal playing time? No train, no play? Any election disciplinary rules? WhatsApp groups?

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Outline training methods? Development and fun over winning? Matchday formation? Learned skills to watch out for?

SPECTATOR POLICY

How to helpfully support the players? What words should be heard? And what shouldn’t? Respect for opposition/officials