Anonymous
Post 11/18/2020 06:27     Subject: Re:Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Parents want a sounding board. Just listen, refer them to the coach.


This is good advice. I've been the team manager for a high level youth hockey team for the last 6 years, and there are always parents who want someone to talk to. Just let them talk, assuming they aren't being abusive, and try to avoid agreeing or disagreeing ("I can see why you feel that way" or "I'm not crazy about the yelling, but that's just a coaching style" (again assuming its not abusive), and then tell the parent, if they ask you to intervene with the coach, "That's not something I can really do for you, because I don't have any involvement in coaching, playing time decisions, etc." If you have a good relationship with the coach (and hopefully you do), you can talk with him or her and just say "I've had a lot of parents talking to me recently about game management issues. It might be helpful for you to remind them about your philosophy on playing time, discipline, etc."


This is exactly what I do. Most parents just want to talk these things out and once it’s off their chest don’t feel the need to speak to the coach. Then again, haven’t had a yeller for a coach.


OP here. Yeah, the coach is a yeller for sure. The thing that is sad is that, when he speaks to the kids one on one, he is fairly normal and supportive, but when they are in a group, he just screams. I suggested that we all talk to him together, but no one wants to do that. When I spoke to him individually he pointed out that he yells at my kid less, which is true, but that's not the point. Anyway, the conversation was unhelpful, but I still think people need to take these complaints up with him/the club, since I have already tried.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 19:31     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Parents want a sounding board. Just listen, refer them to the coach.


This is good advice. I've been the team manager for a high level youth hockey team for the last 6 years, and there are always parents who want someone to talk to. Just let them talk, assuming they aren't being abusive, and try to avoid agreeing or disagreeing ("I can see why you feel that way" or "I'm not crazy about the yelling, but that's just a coaching style" (again assuming its not abusive), and then tell the parent, if they ask you to intervene with the coach, "That's not something I can really do for you, because I don't have any involvement in coaching, playing time decisions, etc." If you have a good relationship with the coach (and hopefully you do), you can talk with him or her and just say "I've had a lot of parents talking to me recently about game management issues. It might be helpful for you to remind them about your philosophy on playing time, discipline, etc."


This is exactly what I do. Most parents just want to talk these things out and once it’s off their chest don’t feel the need to speak to the coach. Then again, haven’t had a yeller for a coach.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 15:50     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Anonymous wrote:Parents want a sounding board. Just listen, refer them to the coach.


This is good advice. I've been the team manager for a high level youth hockey team for the last 6 years, and there are always parents who want someone to talk to. Just let them talk, assuming they aren't being abusive, and try to avoid agreeing or disagreeing ("I can see why you feel that way" or "I'm not crazy about the yelling, but that's just a coaching style" (again assuming its not abusive), and then tell the parent, if they ask you to intervene with the coach, "That's not something I can really do for you, because I don't have any involvement in coaching, playing time decisions, etc." If you have a good relationship with the coach (and hopefully you do), you can talk with him or her and just say "I've had a lot of parents talking to me recently about game management issues. It might be helpful for you to remind them about your philosophy on playing time, discipline, etc."
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 14:47     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Parents want a sounding board. Just listen, refer them to the coach. Why this drama?
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 11:58     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
You’re just there for administrative function. No parent should complain to you unless you’re not doing your job. Nothing in your job is about technical development, game management, etc.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 11:54     Subject: Re:Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Tell them the coaches contact info is available on team snap.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 11:53     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
You guys are lucky. Our TM is a wanna be coach and "helps" during our practices and stands on our sidelines yelling at our kids while they are playing.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 10:10     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:make them go through the coach. ideally, you are dealing with getting hotel blocks for tournaments (not this year), jersey color, and maintaining the binder of player cards. The parents are adults- make them take any concerns to the coach themselves. If they are too embarrassed to discuss little Johnny's playing time, then, perhaps, it's not something they should be asking you to deal with either

+1


+2 this isn't even a fraction of the worst i've seen. Count yourself as lucky.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 09:27     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Anonymous wrote:make them go through the coach. ideally, you are dealing with getting hotel blocks for tournaments (not this year), jersey color, and maintaining the binder of player cards. The parents are adults- make them take any concerns to the coach themselves. If they are too embarrassed to discuss little Johnny's playing time, then, perhaps, it's not something they should be asking you to deal with either

+1
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 09:13     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
make them go through the coach. ideally, you are dealing with getting hotel blocks for tournaments (not this year), jersey color, and maintaining the binder of player cards. The parents are adults- make them take any concerns to the coach themselves. If they are too embarrassed to discuss little Johnny's playing time, then, perhaps, it's not something they should be asking you to deal with either
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 09:06     Subject: Re:Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Just tell them that all coaching related matters should be taken up directly with the coach. I find that some parents like to talk to me first, just to get assurance that they have a good point to bring up with the coach, but ultimately there is nothing you can do about coaching decisions. As team managers, we are basically just administrators.


Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I don't really know whether or not they have a good point about some of the coaching decisions. I'm not really a big soccer person, just a random mom who filled in because no one else wanted to do this.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 09:05     Subject: Re:Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
I'm really frustrated with how this year is going. I was the team manager last year, which was a shorter season, and it was fine. This year has been noting but drama. I am getting constant complaints from parents to pass on about the coach yelling, not playing their kids in the positions they want, the amount of playing time etc. I don't view this as my job. I thought it would be, as it was in the spring, scheduling, getting guest players set up, making sure we have a sufficient roster for games, communicating field locations and jersey color. I know the season is winding down, but am hoping for some feedback about whether these other issues are normal, or if not, how to draw a boundary.


You must be with Bethesda Soccer Club.


No.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 08:58     Subject: Re:Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Just tell them that all coaching related matters should be taken up directly with the coach. I find that some parents like to talk to me first, just to get assurance that they have a good point to bring up with the coach, but ultimately there is nothing you can do about coaching decisions. As team managers, we are basically just administrators.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 08:56     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
Anonymous wrote:I'm really frustrated with how this year is going. I was the team manager last year, which was a shorter season, and it was fine. This year has been noting but drama. I am getting constant complaints from parents to pass on about the coach yelling, not playing their kids in the positions they want, the amount of playing time etc. I don't view this as my job. I thought it would be, as it was in the spring, scheduling, getting guest players set up, making sure we have a sufficient roster for games, communicating field locations and jersey color. I know the season is winding down, but am hoping for some feedback about whether these other issues are normal, or if not, how to draw a boundary.


You must be with Bethesda Soccer Club.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 08:55     Subject: Is this what team manager is supposed to be?
I'm really frustrated with how this year is going. I was the team manager last year, which was a shorter season, and it was fine. This year has been noting but drama. I am getting constant complaints from parents to pass on about the coach yelling, not playing their kids in the positions they want, the amount of playing time etc. I don't view this as my job. I thought it would be, as it was in the spring, scheduling, getting guest players set up, making sure we have a sufficient roster for games, communicating field locations and jersey color. I know the season is winding down, but am hoping for some feedback about whether these other issues are normal, or if not, how to draw a boundary.