3 Ways to Maximize Team Communications

Most youth sports are fueled by many volunteers, a few underpaid coaches and perhaps one part time admin person trying to hold it all together. No one is getting rich off of coaching our kids.

The parent team manager is a critical role. As the liaison between the coach and the families, this key role is the communication life line of the season.

We want our coaches to focus on the technical skills they bring to the table. An important job of the parent manager it is to build systems for clear, frequent and simple lines of communication. It may sound obvious, but teams that don't have a clear way to keep everyone in the loop around training times, game locations, tournament dates and fees quickly become dysfunctional. Good communications really is the life line of a successful season.

Here are 3 ways to maximize your team communications:

1. Have a single "source of truth" communications channel. Pick one and stick with it as the central source of information so that everyone knows where to go for the info. There isn't a "right one", but having more than one leads to broke telephone and missed details. Whether it's email, a platform like TeamSnap, Instateam or TeamEngine, or a WhatsApp group, pick one and let everyone know that's the place to look.

2. Have one person as the lead on sharing the communication details. As the saying goes, having more than one person accountable means no one is accountable. It's easier when there are clearly delineated volunteer jobs sitting with specific people.

3. Have some sort of calendar in place. Whether it's a free central Google Calendar everyone can add to their personal calendar, or one of the many team sport platforms out there, the central Calendar can help everyone know what and when to expect next. A well run Calendar automates and eliminates a big piece of the communications day to day work.

Clear communication channels also help maximize your collective fundraising efforts. Everyone can build on each other's ideas, rise to goal challenges and build a sense of team community that motivates and inspires.

Here's to all the parent volunteers out there!