12/20/2013
Allistair McCaw bringing good stuff
Dear Parents, "Please don’t...” - Sincerely, Coach -
Most kid’s, when asked what they would prefer when it comes to their parents in sport, they simply answered that they wanted them to be parents, not coaches.
Parents, let me start with this: When we go to our kids school play, do we ‘advise’ from the audience? No, we simply encourage, clap and let them make mistakes.
When we go to the doctor with our child, do we advise the medical specialist on what medication to give? No, that’s the Doctor’s expertise & field.
So, why all of a sudden do we feel we become Coaches when our kid is playing a sport?
Parents, we as coaches DO understand and respect you only want the best for your child when we ask you to take a step back or say ’I’m only trying to help’.
But rather speak to us after the lesson and in private.
Maybe you played a sport in your younger years and maybe you even reached a decent level like college, but that still doesn’t make you a ‘coach’.
Teaching a sport is a whole different world to playing it.
There’s stages of development involved, technical elements, mindset elements and much, much more.
Just because Andre Agassi was doing something amazing at 13 years of age, doesn’t mean your kid can.
Heck, even multiple Grand Slam champion and world number 1 Kim Clijsters doesn’t coach her kid, she hands it over to the coach.
Now, I understand in tennis we have parents who do coach and know enough. Fair enough. In fact, understandably, it’s tough for some financially too. They have taken courses and followed the protocol. But, here’s the thing, if you have hired another coach, then try learn to step back and let them coach (I’m going to be writing a piece on this in the next couple of days).
Parents, please don’t comment or coach during a game or practice:
Your child is trying to concentrate amid the already added pressures of competing.
They are already under the instructions of what the coach asks of him or her.
A parent yelling out instructions hardly ever helps. More often than not, it confuses the child, adds pressure and goes against the coaches’ instruction, which undermines the player-coach relationship, the player-parent relationship and the parent-coach relationship.
Parents, please don’t hang around the tennis court and pass comments in between your kids lessons.
Again, do you do this during a school play or visit to the doctor?
Parents, please don’t come onto my court without asking while I’ m working, I wouldn’t come into your office without asking. And it’s going to have to be a damn good reason why you need to be on there in the first place.
Again, here’s the Parent-Coach roles during competition simply explained:
Parent role: Encourage, support, clap.
Coach role: Instruct, teach, support & coach.
Child’s role: Have fun in what your doing without pressure.
Let’s make it a more positive & productive relationship together for the sake of the child!
- Allistair McCaw
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