Parent Complaints & Suggestions - Page 2

davjam · #11 03-12-2007, 12:22 PM

This seems to be a great thread. I believe it will help many parents realize that coaches are parents too and we have feelings and that we are approachable. The only thing I would suggest(to the parents) is that if the coach is not willing to listen openly to your concerns, look for another coach, There must be constant open lines between coaches and parents. The parents must feel comfortable in asking questions of the "professional" working with your children. I would rather deal with the upset parent then watch them walk out the door angry and ready to leave the program. In another thread I stated that the coach should know the gymnast better then they know themselves (gymnastically speaking).

The coach should know the parents well enough to be aware if there seems to be a concern. Oftentimes,parents do not want to rock the boat or cause problems. If the coach is aware of this they can ask simple question and the parents open up and can often be given solutions to those concerns. This also makes the individual coach look better as well as the overall program. win-win for everyone.

Like anything else this is a interaction skill that takes time to learn and become comfortable with. After all we are dealing in people

Thanks for the chance to speak out on this important topic/area. By the way, Thanks to JBS for creating the Chalckbucket, good stuff

davjam · #12 03-12-2007, 12:40 PM

To Gymnasticsconnections:
I am sorry to hear that your coach treated you this way. It makes all of us(coaches) look bad

. I wold never take that kind of comment from anyone. I hope that you took it up with the owner, head coach or director in charge of this person.

You should always have a third party there to mediate or listen to both sides. Hopefully it can resolve the issue. No matter what it should be dealt with. I often think how I would deal with staff if I were the owner

.

Monkeygirlsmom · #13 03-13-2007, 09:02 AM

our gym we watch if we want to!! I love seeing them and they love to show me what they are doing! I thinkwhen they know parents are watching they know we care! and I feel more involved with them!! plus I only have soo much time with them each day so I want as much as I can get!!

**hammy** · #14 03-13-2007, 10:33 AM

The gym I grew up in did not allow parents to watch classes for the very reason that the kids would be distracted by them. We did this for both the recreational and team kids. We would have an open house certain times throughout the year to show the parents what we've been working on, and we also sent home calendars explaining what we were doing each week.

The gym where I am now coaching (because I moved) allows parents to spectate, and I've had instances, especially with the little ones, where they are distracted and just want to see what mom/dad is up to. I guess I kind of go both ways on the whole parents watching a class.

gymbabisMom · #15 03-13-2007, 11:53 AM

We have a big sign that says " Parent, Please do not coach from the sidelines!" but apparently some people can't read. Usually the same parents that have to be told that they are not allowed on the floor, despite the signs that decorate every entrance onto the floor. They think they are helping by calling instructions to their child, when really, they are undermining the coach they are paying for and distracting not only their little one but other kids as well. I usually will move my group away if a parent does this. When I'm working with the little ones I do like to work close to the lobby area so Mom and Dad can watch though.

**audra** · #16 03-13-2007, 03:31 PM

Of course their will always be those parents who will coach their children at any age. I agree with gbm- and try to move my class away and keep them entertained. As a parent and manager of a gym I think it is very important that parents be able to watch.

As a coach it is hard to know when a gymnast is truly injured, but any complaint should be brought up to the parents after practice. If it is a consistent complaint the parents should be urged to go to the doctor.

Communication between coaches and parents is a very important part of a gymnasts success, a closed gym (no viewing) creates a closed line of communication.

medic3188 · #17 03-18-2007, 04:27 PM

Our gym has an open viewing policy although they recently sent home a letter stating that they would rather not have parents watch. They claim it is distracting. People still watch. I live less than .5 miles up the road, but I still want to watch my kids do gymnastics. I find that watching keeps misunderstandings from happening.
An example of this was a few weeks ago. I arrive at the gym 30 min into my daughters 2 hour practice. I see that while all the other kids are doing their level three routines, she is doing a level 1 routine. (You see she takes two class and her second class is just a rec class because she wanted 2 classes and they did not have any other advanced-pre team classes.) Her rec class does some level 1 routine and some level 2. I went to speak to the coach after class and found out that she did this so that my daughter would not have to memorize 8 routines. I guess she asked my daughter which one she wanted to do so she picked the one she has done for the last 2 years. The coach said that she could do the level 3 routines in both classes.
My point is that if I was not there I would not have realized this until June.

MomChefKathleen · #18 03-23-2007, 09:56 PM

Our coach doesn't mind parents staying to watch, but would prefer that we be in an area where the kids can't be turning to look at us all the time. Her point is that during a meet, we can't be on the floor and if they are upset or there is a problem, they need to look to her at that time. And she's right. I always feel welcome to stay and watch, but I also know better than to try to say something or call out to my daughter during practice. I also know that I can ask the Coach anything after class.

Kathleen

**audra** · #19 03-25-2007, 11:36 AM

Great Point! Gymnasts need to depend on their coaches and not always for Mom and Dad to fix the situation.

gym law mom · #20 03-25-2007, 03:48 PM

Our gym allows parents to watch whenever they want. There is an area on the 2nd floor with chairs that looks down on the gym. Occasionally, I do see parents waving at their child or applauding some skill that was just learned. Since rec classes only go for 1 hour, many of those parents stay. Team parents are told we are welcome to watch, but they would prefer we not be there when most of the rec classes are going on--4:30-7:00. I usually drop in for the last 20 min of practice during one of the weeknight practices and maybe watch longer on Sat(nobody else there).