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How Parents Can Support Coaches Without Interfering

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Jerry York, Head Men's Hockey Coach at Boston College and PCA National Advisory Board Member, has coached for over 40 years, winning over 1,000 games. At BC, he won NCAA Championships in 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2012. He also won the 1984 title at Bowling Green University, making him one of only three coaches in NCAA history to lead two different schools to national titles.

Parents should always be supportive of their kids, but according to York, there are also ways that parents can support a coach. For example, parents can tell coaches how much their kids enjoyed yesterday's practice and how excited they are to compete every day. In doing so, parents can help coaches stay positive without putting pressure on the coach about playing time or game strategy. Of course, as York explains, sometimes a coach might be negative no matter what, but words of support from parents can go a long way.