This past week, Dan talked all about the chaos that ensues when competition season kicks off. Like Dan, I’m in the midst of that right now as well. We’re doing all the things to make sure our teams are ready, we’re registered on time for the best pricing and that our showcase is the most amazing thing we’ve ever hosted for our all star program. In the midst of all this chaos though – sometimes we forget about those who are new to all star and need a little hand-holding along the way.
Today, I’m going to give you three things I do to prepare new parents for competition season!
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- I have a team rep at each competition. In the past, we called these team moms, and it was a disaster. They were responsible for entirely too much throughout the season, and while they volunteered for the job, it always went one of two ways: 1. They burned out and would have been totally OK with their kid ending their all star career by the end of the season, or 2. It went to their heads and we found that they became combative to other parents and sometimes even to coaches. Last year we started doing this a little bit differently. We now have a team rep for each event to include showcase and holiday parties. The parents sign up to volunteer and we have a process or system in which they follow. The systems are simple and clearly defined so anybody can run them. At showcase and competitions, they’re responsible for taking attendance, being the “go-to” if someone is lost, missing an item or late, and as long as they have a current background check, they go with us to warm ups. After the team competes, they wait with the athletes until the parents arrive at the meeting point to sign out their child (this is how we keep kids safe in large venues.) For team parties, we set some basic guidelines and if necessary, ask them to provide us a list of items needed within their allotted budget. They are the spirit coordinators for the team and responsible for helping communicate the events and get all the parents and kids involved. This does require you to have initial systems in place, but it will save a ton of time in helping your new families. We list out who is the team rep for the event and that person’s contact info. It works beautifully when you’re running from team to team on competition day, and a new parent needs help adjusting a bow or applying make up.
- We have designated hair and make up helpers. If there is one thing that will overwhelm a new parent, it’s the hair and make up for all star. I taught a dad how to french braid last weekend, and while it was endearing, I don’t know that every parent will be up for the challenge. Instead, we gather our senior athletes who are great at this stuff, and we have them come early to the event. Parents are asked to only get this service if they’re willing to tip the athlete who is helping them. I realize that it would be better if it were a goodwill gesture, but I’m very honest with parents. Some of these athletes can’t hold down school, jobs and all star, so this is how they make money. Parents are incredibly helpful and respectful of this. With 130 athletes this year, my senior kids are going to make out like bandits, but they’re also going to build bonds with younger athletes who will learn to look up to each of them.
- Create an insider info guide. I put out a guide for the first competition that’s designed specifically for new parents. For events we’ve attended before, it’s more like “insider info”. Last season was the first time I did this because we had so many new parents. I was told by our new parents that this was so helpful in making them feel prepared and calm about the first competition. It has some mom-to-mom tips as well as insider info into the venue, parking, etc. This is not our formal competition schedule we provide to parents, which has less of “Danielle’s tips” and more “competition specific info”. It’s little things like this – and going the extra mile – that help parents build trust and help you build credibility as the expert. If you’re not a mom or dad, consider having a mom in the gym create something like this and share it to all your teams. Here is a template for my guide. Feel free to use it for your own insider info tips.
- We host a formal All Star 101 presentation. I hosted this event last month for our parents. It was a detailed presentation with everything they needed to know for the season. We went over our athlete safety policy, the role of the team rep, what happens during warm ups, which governing body my gym uses for rules and scoresheets, and what to expect after the competition. That was a mandatory presentation. I followed it with a short intermission and then a totally optional session about rules and scoring. Some parents stayed for the second half. Others weren’t ready for that yet and are just starting to understand all star. I’m never upset about that. When they’re ready to learn that stuff, I’ll be ready to teach it again.
- Post a graphic with what to pack on competition day. We use a cute picture of our backpacks (which inevitably sells more backpacks) as well as what needs to be packed inside. This helps the parents know what to pack for the day of the event (and it helps the teenagers whose parents aren’t packing for them to be prepared). I also post a checklist and reminder the day after the competition with a recommendation to repack that bag and reorganize uniform apparel. Years ago, I didn’t do this and spent half a day figuring out where my five-year-old stashed her uniform when we got home from competition. You don’t have to remember to post these things. Delegate it or schedule the posts in your groups! Here’s a template for my backpack graphic if you want to make one of your own!
Also remember – you don’t have to do ALL the things. You just have to make sure parents are prepared. If you have six new parents, reach out to them individually and see what questions they have. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to be perfect. It has taken me 11 seasons to figure out what works best for me. Don’t forget to listen to the Next Gen People & Profits podcast. Dan recently did two episodes all about competition season, and you don’t want to miss them!
