Introduction

Thank you for volunteering to be a Team Parent.  We hope you enjoy being a vital member of our NJB season.  Being a Team Parent allows you to be involved with your child and the success of the league.  Your efforts are appreciated by your team’s coach, fellow parents, and the Chino Valley NJB Board.  It is imperative that each Team Parent read this document as important information is presented which will help you handle the many questions that arise throughout the season.

Here are a few helpful hints:

Involve as many parents as possible.

It makes your job easier and helps parents become part of the team while encouraging volunteers for future seasons.

Don’t try to deal with too much yourself.

Talk to other Team Parents or e-mail the Team Parent coordinator who is available to answer all questions or assist you in handling any dilemma.

Check the website.

The answer to many questions can be found on our local website at www.chinovalleynjb.com.  Please use it as an information tool.  Refer parents and players to it.  E-mail the webmaster if you find errors or if there is additional information which you would like to see posted.

Don't get discouraged!

This should be a positive experience for you, your child, and the rest of the team.  Yes, some seasons are more discouraging than others but trust me, the effort which you are putting forth is truly appreciated.

Remember that the things you do now will remain with our kids forever.

Thank you for volunteering!

Team Parent Responsibilities

The Team Parent’s main responsibility is to facilitate communication between the coaches and parents.  Here is a list of activities which fall under that function:

• Volunteer to create and distribute a team roster.

• Create an after game snack schedule.

• Order the team banner if your team decides to purchase one.

• Remind parents/players of dates/times of games and other team events.

• Organize your team on Picture Day.

• Promote and organize “pizza parties” or similar gatherings.

• Collect monies and purchase year end coach’s gift(s).

• Help remind parents to keep food and drink out of the gymnasiums.

Communication

Ask the Head Coach on a regular basis what information needs to be communicated to/from the parents.  Communicate with the parents via phone, e-mail, or face-to-face at practices and/or games.  Remember that information given to the players does not always make it home to the parents.

Team Roster

 A team roster is helpful when parents need to contact one another.  At a minimum each parent needs information for the Head Coach and Team Parent.  It should be emphasized that parents are to notify the Head Coach if they cannot attend practice or a game.  An effective roster, one with each player’s name, jersey number, phone number, e-mail address, and parent’s first name(s), helps families get to know each other.  Please check your team's on-line roster for misspelled names.  Send corrections or comments to our Webmaster.

Snacks

It is customary to provide players with a small snack and drink after each game.  Snacks give the team a way to celebrate a great win, a sweet taste after a tough loss, or just something for the players to do while announcements are made.  The Team Parent should coordinate a schedule for families to take turns bringing snacks and drinks after each game.  Prepare and distribute the snack schedule as early in the season as possible.  Give a reminder to each family prior to their scheduled game.  Nothing is worse, especially for the younger kids, than to have someone forget to bring snacks.

Please ensure that snacks are distributed outside the gym.

Help enforce the “No Food & Drink in the Gyms” policy.

Pizza Parties

Pizza parties are a great way to celebrate victories, play down defeats, build team spirit, and help develop lasting friendships.  Kids love pizza parties!  Get with your coaches and decide how many pizza parties they would like to have.  To help keep costs to a minimum, pizza party coupons have been included in each coach's team packet.  Many vendors, even without a coupon, offer team discounts where uniformed player’s pizza and drink are free while parents/siblings “pay as they go”.  Ask the restaurant’s manager before scheduling your party if they have any team discounts.

Participation Awards

Participation awards, usually medals or trophies, are included in the basic registration fee and will be distributed to the coach before the season’s end.  Please check your team roster on the website to verify that the league has each player’s named spelled correctly.  Corrections can be conveyed via an e-mail to the Webmaster.

Coaches Gift

At the end of the season the Head Coach usually receives a gift or award from the team.  It can be a plaque with the team’s picture on it or another gift.  The Team Parent should collect money from the team to pay for the gift.  Assistant Coach gifts can either come from the Head Coach or from the team.  Check with the Head Coach during the season to see what he/she wants to do about Assistant Coach gifts.

End of Season Party

Traditionally teams have a pizza party, BBQ, picnic, or other fun gathering to celebrate the end of the season.  The Team Parent usually arranges the end of season party with the help of coaches and parents.  Player participation awards and coaches gifts can be handed out at this time.

Additional Information

As stated earlier, the CVNJB website is a great source of information.  As a Team Parent you may be asked questions related to a variety of topics.  It is recommended that you review the FAQ and Team Info Packet.  Some of the topics they cover are:

Questions?  Contact a Board Member.