Let’s be honest. If you have team drama, it probably doesn’t start with a player. In most cases, the source is unruly parents. Your team needs a parent contract to outline rules and expectations.
You should have contracts for the following (click links to view these other samples):
The youth baseball parent contract is a bit more sensitive and complicated. The majority of coaching stress is typically traced back to parents, not the kids themselves.
But I also understand and appreciate how difficult it is to be the parent. If you aren’t coaching, all decisions are out of your control. That is by no means easy.
It’s important, though, to have a list of expectations in writing for the parents. The key is not to make it threatening or confrontational — that starts the tone on the wrong foot. We need to be on the same page, and we need to do this together.
By having a written contract, the parents are then clear about expectations up front and they need to commit to them. That way, there should never be surprises about something that is or isn’t allowed — they signed off on the rules!
You can view and download a template of the parent contract below.
Every youth baseball team needs a parent contract with expectations in writing. Here's a sample... Share on XParent Contract Summary
There’s a lot here, and for good reason. Not every team is run the same way. Parents needs to understand what is expected of them from the beginning. In fact, I encourage you to go over a parent contract and have it signed before a player joins your team. That way, you can catch potential issues early and address them.
I won’t go through all of the details of the parent rules here. Many are self-explanatory. But, here are the primary themes:
- Team fees and refunds
- Subbing for other teams
- Arriving on time
- Arriving fueled and with proper equipment
- Stay away from the dugout!
- Respect for the umpires and other team
- No coaching from the stands
- Positive attitude and good behavior at games
- Support the coach’s message
- Embrace my child’s role
- No public complaints about players or coaches
- Child will address concerns about playing time and roles
- Volunteer my help
- Proper channels of communication with coach
The Sample Contract
View and download a sample parent contract below…