Sports

Bad Blood: game planning for parents

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published June 12, 2007

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Through the years, several bay area veteran coaches have devised some creative approaches to dealing with disgruntled - or even unruly - parents. Here are some of them:

- In addition to employing two security officers for all of his home games, Shorecrest football coach/athletic director Phil Hayford has a police cruiser purposely parked at his stadium's front gate. "I want to make people know for sure that this is out there, " he said. "If people are just reminded of that, the moment you snap or lose it, you see that cruiser and it makes you think about it."

- Hillsborough football coach Earl Garcia says any of his parents wishing to meet with him are free to make an appointment on Saturdays during the season from 10 to 11 a.m. Those who want to talk during practice? Forget about it. Garcia has an assistant designated for politely escorting spectators from Terriers practices. "They'll think absolutely nothing of inconveniencing you while you're trying to work, " Garcia said.

- Current River Ridge (and former longtime Brooksville Central) boys basketball coach John Sedlack annually distributes a five- to six-page outline of his program's rules, philosophies and expectations. Prospective players and their parents must sign every page. Additionally, parents are invited to one practice a year to observe how Sedlack - admittedly an intense, old-school coach - operates.

 

[Last modified June 12, 2007, 02:42:53]