Most parents think they’re helping their child. Their coach sees it differently. Here are 9 things coaches want parents to understand. 1. We care about your child. Even when playing time is limited, nothing is personal. Every player has a role. Every role matters. Help us celebrate theirs. 2. The time commitment is real. Only two people truly understand a coach’s schedule: the coach and their spouse. We are always on. We sacrifice family time to invest in your child. We don’t need a pat on the back. Just respect that fact. 3. We love this job. But it is a hard job. Don’t steal our joy. Our passion. Our commitment. We are losing too many coaches. 4. We want to win more than you do. We are competitive. We put our heart and soul into this. Strategy matters less than you think. We are at every practice. Trust what we see. 5. Everything is earned. Don’t blame the coach. Encourage your child to do the work. The weight room. The driveway. The gym. You get what you earn. 6. Trust the process. Team sports are the ultimate lab for life. There will be bumps. That is guaranteed. Accept it. The life lessons will last long after the final score. 7. Winning is hard. Other teams want it too. Learning to win and lose is part of it. 8. Your child gets it. They are at every practice. They know their role. Don’t feed their insecurities by questioning the coach. It hurts them and the team. 9. This is your child’s experience, not yours. Let them enjoy it. Don’t judge. Don’t be critical. Just be there. Tell them you love watching them play. Be a fan of the team. Share this with a parent who needs it. Follow me for ideas on coaching, leadership, culture, and teams. Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Great Teams Better Leaders. Link in bio.