You’ve Signed Up as a Team Parent, Now What?

Some Tips To Make This Season’s Journey Easier And More Fun!

One of the most vital, yet sometimes underappreciated, volunteer positions in AYSO is the Team Parent.

A Team Parent does more than just bring orange slices or protein bars to the game. Every coach needs help arranging snacks and water for games, making phone calls when rain or snow makes practice impractical and keeping an energetic team in line on the sidelines. You’re making a difference for a whole team—a team that includes your child. It’s a great way to make your child’s team a family experience!

And dads, this isn’t a position just for the soccer moms. AYSO encourages team dads to become Team Parents, too. Your first step in becoming a Team Parent is to register as a volunteer at eayso.org.

As a Team Parent, you’ll have to obtain a team roster and verify contact information with each family.  Team Parents are usually the top of a team phone tree for getting critical messages and reminders out to team members.

Go to Team Parent Orientation.

Check with your Region to see if there will be a Team Parent Orientation. This will be the perfect opportunity for you to learn what is expected from you, but more importantly, you will have the chance to meet other Team Parents. These other Team Parents will be able to give you suggestions and advice should the need arise.

New Team Parents may feel overwhelmed initially, but don’t be afraid to delegate some of your duties to other parents and team family members who are willing to help. Remember, you are the main organizer for your team, not the only organizer. Inform your coach and other parents before the start of the season that you will need help. Keep a list of team members who are willing to assist—this will help you in those emergency moments!

Team Parents also serve as the link between the coach and the team families. Coaches will often turn to you to make sure players and families know about changes in the schedule and other information your coach wants to pass on. Keep up the communication with your coach. Meet before the season to determine the team’s needs. You and your coach should continue to meet throughout the season to guarantee a smooth journey for both of you, the team and the families.

Some Team Parent Responsibilities.

You may have to help with distributing uniforms; to make it easier and run more smoothly, here are some things you can do:

• Make sure every family knows when uniform distribution is.

• Have other parents help! Assign a different parent to be in charge of jerseys, shorts and socks.

• Verify that each child had received her uniform.

You are a representative of your team.

It is important to remember that as a Team Parent, you are a representative of your team, and your conduct should reflect that. Team Parents should be responsible for maintaining sideline etiquette, and for ensuring other parents and players do so as well. But above all, remember to have fun! Team Parents are also team cheerleaders and should encourage a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone involved.

It may not seem like a glamorous role, but the Team Parent position is vital to making your team’s season a great one. How much time you commit and the tasks you elect to be responsible for is largely up to you. The position is what you make it, but the more involved you are as a Team Parent, the more rewarding it can be for you, your child and the team.