Parent Expectations Program

Parents can undermine what you are trying to accomplish OR become your strongest allies in creating a positive culture. The key to an effective Parent Expectations Program is to:

Appoint a board member to manage the Parent Expectations Program. This person may want to ask several parents who are not on the board to work with him or her in communicating the PEP to the larger group of parents.
Clearly set expectations for parental behavior at games and practices. It sounds silly because we tend to assume that adults can figure things out for themselves, but the reality is that people need to be told what is expected of them.
Provide parents with examples of behavior you want from them. It's not enough to just ask parents to refrain from bad behavior. You want them to exhibit positive behavior that will reinforce the positive culture you are trying to establish and help their children get the most from youth sports. Ask them to help create and uphold a positive culture.
Make sure every parent receives the PCA Parent Letter and an Honoring the Game card before the season starts. Make sure each reads and signs the PCA Parent Pledge.
Hold a "Positive Play Day" early in the season, ideally on the first day of games. By having every coach read a proclamation about Honoring the Game, having every player wear a sticker that says "We Honor the Game Here," and having every parent and spectator given an Honoring the Game button and card, you will send an unmistakable message about what is expected of adults at your organization's events.
Establish a procedure for intervening with parents who step over the line. If which parents who engage in abusive behavior are called on that behavior in a timely manner, the behavior of all parents will shape up. Recruit board members to be "Culture-Keepers" who will talk with parents on the sidelines about the kind of behavior that is expected. Give each of them a copy of the "How to Intervene" guidelines.
Offer a PCA parent workshop to help them understand how to help their children get the most out of the youth sports experience and to highlight the important roles they can play to reinforce a positive culture in the YSO.

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