If there is something specific that you want to talk about, it’s a good idea to make an appointment. Head coaches have their own preferences, but often the best times to talk are well before practice, after practice, or by phone or over coffee. Don’t expect a coach to hold a conversation within 15 minutes before or after a practice, or at any time on tournament day. Coaches have responsibilities during those times that you might not be aware of.

Appropriate Topics of Conversation between Parents and Coaches

• Your child’s health and well-being – Let us know if you have any health or learning concerns about your student athlete, e.g., a stress that might be affecting her performance; an injury or health condition; any history of concussions.
• Your positive experiences with the club/team/coaches – We are always happy to have our emotional tanks filled!
• Fun information about your athlete – We care about your kids, too. We want to get to know them on and off the court. Feel free to get to know us.
• Your willingness to help out – If you are interested in being the Team Manager, coordinating food or transportation, taking video, or providing some other service for the team or the Club, please speak up! Each team also has a designated Chaperone.
• Your constructive criticism – CHAVC provides formal opportunities for evaluations through player/parent surveys at mid-season and end-of-season. You can also offer ad hoc suggestions for improving the club, the team, or our coaching, by writing to your head coach and/or director@chavc.net. If you have a complaint or issue about the team or the coaching, discuss them with your daughter first. She might disagree or have some information that may clarify the situation that concerns you. After that, follow the grievance procedure outlined in Section 2 under “PROMOTE COMMUNICATION.” We all have the same goal—a successful CHAVC experience.
• If something serious is wrong – Please tell us IMMEDIATELY. Your child’s well-being is our No. 1 concern. If there is anything going on to threaten that, we need to know.

Inappropriate Topics of Conversation between Parents and Coaches

• Playing time/role on the team – If your daughter is receiving playing time consistent with CHAVC norms (i.e., some playing time in each match, not equal playing time), and she hasn’t discussed her playing time or her role on the team with the coach, it is inappropriate for you to do so. Encourage your daughter to talk with her coach about what she can do to help the team and to earn more court time, or encourage her to ask the coach to more clearly define her role on the team. If there are still concerns, a conversation with the coach, parent, and player may be appropriate. Request a meeting with the coach. The coach must be told the topic beforehand, and the player must be present at the meeting unless there is a very good reason for her not to be. If this meeting is not productive, only at that time is it appropriate for the Club Director to attend a meeting with parent, coach, and player.
• Coaching strategy—In general, player rotations, coaching tactics, match strategies, etc. are the coach’s decision and parents’ opinions on these subjects will not be discussed. We understand that everyone will not always like the decisions we make; however, for the good of the team we ask that you accept them.
• Other people’s children — Your opinion of another player’s attitude, skill, performance, or conduct is typically not an appropriate topic of conversation with the coach. That is not to say that parents can never bring concerns about other players to the coaches. Please do let us know when you have a genuine concern about team dynamics — e.g., your daughter and another player are not speaking, and you think it important for the coach to know; or if there is a health or safety concern. Please use your best judgment here.