Defusing parent-coach dissidence. (advice to sports coaches on how to deal with parents)

HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ARE always muttering such adages as, "The best coaching jobs are in orphanages because there are no parents there," or "If it isn't one thing it's a mother."

Ask virtually any coach to name the least desirable aspect of coaching, and the response will usually be, "Dealing with parents."

Social psychologists have problems trying to explain the phenomenon of parents in education. While you cannot get them to participate in the academic lives of their children, you cannot keep them out of the athletic lives of their kids.

As obvious and perplexing as this contradiction is to professional educators, the published research on it is scarce. It is generally believed that the problem has its roots in Little League Baseball and the many youth programs spawned by it. Unprecedented numbers of parents have suddenly become "coaches" and "authorities."

Result: conflict between coach and parent, parent and child, and coach and child.

Whatever the cause, the problem requires a great deal of understanding and extremely sensitive handling. Dr. Thomas Tutko, in his excellent video, Tom Tutko's Coaching Clinic, offers several sound suggestions on defusing the parent-coach conflicts:

1. Hold a pre-season meeting with parents.