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Everything You Need to Know to be a Team Parent What’s a Team Mom?
She’s the champion of after-practice snacks, the goddess of pre-season
organization, the bigger-than-life hero to every kid and parent involved
in the league. The Team Mom is the anchor and administrator to every
youth sports team in America—and can even be a dad. These days, the more
politically correct term for this vital role is Team Parent, since this
position isn’t dependent on gender. Whatever the title, this person is
bestowed with the role of being head of the team family with
responsibilities and authority second only to the coach and league
commissioner. Do you have what it
takes to be an effective team parent? Find out. Here’s everything you
need to know about becoming a Team Parent and some tips to help you made
the grade. Organization is number
one. You will likely be expected to collect and record various
information and fees from youth and/or parents that relate to emergency
contacts, permission slips, fundraising events and so on. You must be
effective at wielding the mighty pen, keeping track of essential
information, and ensuring that appropriate deadlines are met. Being
proficient in the use of spreadsheet programs is a big plus. You get to play banker.
You should be good at handling money as well as being able to stick to a
budget. In fact, it’s a good idea to open a special bank account to
deposit collected funds into. In addition, there may be times when
you’ll need to gather price quotes from vendors for various services,
whether it’s for a team pizza party, ordering uniforms, or arranging
for lodging to an event out of town. You must be a good role
model. Not only is your behavior and attitude a reflection on the
league, but the kids will also learn to model their behavior after your
own. Therefore, you must consistently set a good example, especially
under stressful situations. You must be a team
leader. You will likely play a key role in basic management of the team,
from organizing and facilitating the first pre-season meeting with
players to post-season celebrations and award ceremonies. It will likely
fall upon you to engage other parents to become involved in these
activities, as well leading the pack when it comes to implementing
schedules and procedures. Don’t be afraid to
delegate, but avoid micromanaging. One of the essential duties as a Team
Parent is to keep everyone involved. That means recruiting volunteers
from the parental ranks to assist you in running various activities and
events. However, once you assign a task to another parent, be available
for guidance but let them do their job. Be ready for
emergencies. It’s always a good idea to have a contingency plan in
place in the event that a practice or game is cancelled or postponed.
You should also be prepared in case of an accident or injury and have
accurate contact information available at all times.
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