Getting the word out - Coaches letter to the parents

Some teams are already practicing but the bulk of our coaches will receive their rosters and begin to practice in the next week or so. The following are just a few things I have learned in the last few years about communicating with your team and your parents.

You will receive email addresses for all parents and this is by far the easiest method of communicating. Couple of important points however:

• If you are provided with an email address for each parent - send all messages to both parents until they tell you otherwise.
• Especially when announcing your first practice, asks the parent’s to confirm they have received your message and will be attending practice. If you have families that do not confirm receipt - please call them. You must establish your line of communication and confirm that all players remain committed to playing and can still practice on your given night. Players that decide not to play must be replaced.

Once you have the lines of communication established take the opportunity to communicate fully with your parents to start the season. This communication should include everything you might want to know as a parent, including; 

• ...the schedule for practices and games
• ...your practice plans
• ...your coaching philosophy
• ...what is important to you as a coach? 

Something I took from Coach Pat O'Rourke was to put this season starting message into an attachment to an email that parents can print and keep and I also print a few to bring to practice to handout.

What should definitely be in this message:

Expectations, such as;

• Be on time - talk about the importance of the structure of practice and warm-ups
• Come dressed to play baseball...baseball pants, hat and a cup.
• Behave like you are at school....respect coaches, teammates and umpires.
• Players should at least play catch between games and practices- Parents must encourage that.

Coaching Philosophy -  

• Will you strive to win or will you not emphasize winning at all - Be Honest 
• Will practices be very drill oriented or will you run a lot of scrimmages?
• Do you yell? Parents may want to know that.
• How do you want parents to support the team? Depending on your level of play that could include; 
• Snack/Drink Duty
• Helping with stations during practice
• Cheering, but not coaching, during games (Batting is hard enough without a half dozen different voices yelling "Elbows up") 

This might seem like a lot but I think over communicating is certainly preferable to under communicating. Get to know your parents and kids, let them get to know you and go from there.

Here is an example of the letter I used this year: http://bit.ly/YyFXYx

Good luck with your drafts!

-Paul Legere