Every coach needs a little help now and then.  The demands of running a team are numerous, yet most parents would hope that the coaching staff would devote the greatest amount of their effort to teaching the players and managing the games.  This is where the Team Parent can become a great help to the coaching staff.  The Team Parent assumes some of the organizational responsibilities of the coaching staff, freeing the coaches to focus on coaching.

Some of the Team Parent's responsibilities might be:

1. Set up a schedule for refreshment responsibilities for each game.

• Using the team roster and season schedule, assign the game or games for which each player/parent is to be responsible for supplying snacks (e.g., oranges) and drinks for the end of the game.
• If the assigned player/parent cannot bring refreshments on the day for which he or she is scheduled, he or she must contact another player/parent and switch dates with them.
• The Team Parent should call the player/parent prior to the game for which he or she is scheduled to bring refreshments, as a reminder.

2. Act as a liaison between the coaches and the parents.

• Coaches are often too taxed and it is important that the team parent be a conduit between them and the other parents on the team.
• Address any concerns or questions you or your team may have.

3. Help ensure that Picture Day is well attended.

• Picture Day has always been a very important day for the morale of any team and full attendance at this event important.  An extra reminder from the Team Parent is usually a good idea.

4. Distribute Forest Glen Newsletters.

• If you have ever coached, you know that handing out newsletters to players often means a letter that gets put in a bat bag and forgotten.  The Team Parent should give these directly to parents to ensure that they are read.

5. Collect vacation schedules of players.

• It is very important that coaches know when players will be away and a Team Parent can be of great assistance in gathering this information for the coach.

6. Recruit next year's Team Parent.

• It’s always a good idea to look for your own replacement so as to ensure that the responsibility of Team Parent can be shared form year to year.

7. Working with the coach, organize the end-of-year activity for your team.

• The party needs to take place no longer than a week after the last game.
• Players/parents should recognize their coaches at this event along with a team memento from the players: trophy, special T-shirt, etc.

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