Parent Contracts In Youth Football

Getting parents "On Board" is key when you are coaching youth football and want to keep your sanity.

Some Parents Don't "Get" Youth Football

Many parents just don't understand what is acceptable and unacceptable fan behavior. Remember your program will always be judged by the aggregated actions of your coaches, players AND parents. If you choose to ignore managing this very important group your season can end up being a disaster. It's never fun having to police your parents during a game or get an angry call from the league commissioner because a parent was acting foolishly. Worse yet, your players often use the actions of others as cues for their own behavior. If you have poorly acting parents, the players follow.

Limits

Most people respond fairly well if they are given limits at the outset and told they can accept the limits and participate or ignore the limits and play elsewhere. What doesn't work and isn't very fair is if the limits are not defined or are given out piecemeal and arbitrarily. That's why we came up with our Parent or Spectator Contract that is required in order that anyone play in our program. It clearly states what is and is not acceptable behavior and what the penalties for choosing not to follow it is. I've found it is much more effective to be proactive about this issue and address it head on day 1. On page 58 of my book "Winning Youth Football a Step by Step Plan" is my Parent speech I give out word for word before every season. I've never had a player on one of my teams ejected or had a single significant parent issue by using this approach.

Below is the Contract:

Screaming Eagles Spectator Contract

The Screaming Eagle Program has a history of being the best, in providing a positive
Sportsmanship Environment for our players. Our program is bigger than any one player,
coach or spectator.

1) Encourage members of both teams.

2) Keep all comments positive.

3) Only players and coaches allowed on field, no exceptions.

4) Leave the coaching to the coaches

5) Criticizing the officials, coaches and opponents will not be tolerated at all. The
same goes for abusive language or cursing. This is youth sports, everyone makes
mistakes, referees do too.

6) You are responsible for all family members and friends attending the games to
watch your child.

7) No open alcoholic beverages on fields or parking areas.

8) Help make this a positive and fun experience for all.

9) Report any violations to head coach or board member, get involved.

10) Playing Time is not to be discussed with any coach unless
the player plays less than the minimum and then only by phone at least 2 hours after the game has concluded.

Enforcement:

1) Individuals will be given one warning for inappropriate activity.

2) Individuals that continue; will be asked to leave the fields and the player will be
removed from the game until the spectator has left.

3) Other sanctions as deemed necessary by the president or board may be enforced,
including permanent ban.

4) All decisions are final, there will be no hearing or appeals.

THIS MUST BE SIGNED AS A CONDITION OF YOUR CHILD'S PARTICIPATION

Agreed Guardian
Signature................................................................Date.......................

Guardians Printed Name
...............................................................................................

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Youth Football Coaching Copyright 2007 Cisar Management. Republishing this article is allowed if this paragraph and links are included.

Dave Cisar-

Dave has a passion for developing youth coaches so they can in turn develop teams that are competitive and well organized. He is a Nike "Coach of the Year" Designate and speaks nationwide at Coaches Clinics. His book "Winning Youth Football a Step by Step Plan" was endorsed by Tom Osborne and Dave Rimington.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience as a youth coach, Dave has developed a detailed systematic approach to developing youth players and teams. His personal teams to using this system to date have won 97% of their games in 5 Different Leagues. His web site is: Football Plays