In the event of conflicts, concerns or miscommunication between coaches and athletes, athletes should engage in conversation directly with coaches. Geneva coaches are professionals and have a sincere desire to excel in their job. Athletes should also communicate directly with coaches regarding concerns about team dynamics, locker-room issues, team philosophy and team culture. Direct communication between the coach and athlete must take place before involving the parents.
If the conflict is not resolved by communication between the coach and athlete, a meeting should be set up with the student-athlete, a parent and the coach. Please call or email the coach to arrange a convenient time for a phone conversation or meeting. Parents should exercise the 24-hour rule – wait 24 hours before placing a call or sending an email. Too often our emotions get the best of us. And remember, before or after practices or games is never an appropriate time to approach a coach with a complaint or criticism. Coaches are happy to meet with you, but it may be a few days before a convenient time can be arranged.
A meeting with the coach is an opportunity to exchange information and respectfully discuss any concerns or questions that you may have. The meeting should promote better understanding and communication but should not be a forum for trying to convince the coach that your student-athlete should be playing more, playing a different position or that the coach should be employing a different strategy.
If there is a significant issue that a parent believes requires additional discussion, then the athletic director should be contacted to meet with the parents, coach and the athlete to resolve the issue. If issues cannot be resolved after the meeting with the athletic director, then a meeting involving the HOS, along with the Athletic Director, coach and parents should take place. Any unresolved or escalated issues should then be taken to the HOS.
When contacting a coach regarding conflict resolution, parents and athletes must use the coach’s Geneva issued email address (@genevaschooltx.org). It is never appropriate to contact a coach on his personal email or phone device. Special care and attention should be applied to respect the coach’s private and personal time. Parents should never approach a coach during or immediately following a game and should respect the designated coaching spaces at all times. It is never appropriate to yell instructions or voice disagreements to a coach during or immediately following a game or in the open public.