Summer Sanders: Respecting Boundaries In The Parent-Coach Relationship
Summer Sanders (@SummerSanders_), a PCA National Advisory Board Member, made a splash at Stanford University by winning six national titles in her two years. She then went on to win two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Since retiring from the sport, Sanders has serves as hosted sports and entertainment shows on TV and is heavily involved in Right to Play, promoting the use of sport and play as a tool for positive childhood development.
In this clip, Sanders explains the importance of parents playing an appropriate role in their communication with children's coaches. When parents feel the need to intervene in the coach-athletes relationship, they should only address developmental issues, such as whether the athlete is having fun and what might help their children enjoy the sport more (short of addressing technical coaching issues and strategies). Within those bounds, Sanders is all for parents feeling empowered to talk with coaches about what will help their kids benefit most from sports.