Enhancing Coach-Parent Relationships in Youth Sports: Increasing Harmony and Minimizing Hassle

The so-called “athletic triangle,” consisting of coach, athlete, and parent is a natural element of the social system comprising youth sports. With respect to the coach-parent dyad, a coach's role in relating to parents critically affects the consequences of participation for young athletes. The objective of this article is to assist coaches in working effectively with parents by fostering better understanding of i) the difference between youth and professional models of sport, ii) the goals of youth sports, iii) parental responsibilities and challenges, iv) how to achieve effective two-way communication with parents, and v) how to organize and conduct sport meetings with parents.