I recently took on a 12U All Star team as the Manager. During a recent tournament we had several hours of down time between our first and second game. We had our team set up camp and all gathered around to rest and eat prior to the next game starting. Within about 40 minutes several of the parents decided to leave and go get coffee, food, take a walk, etc. Leaving roughly 8 girls unattended. Once their parents left it was like herding cats. I had girls running around, screaming, throwing food, leaving without knowing where they were going, etc.
After the first few times I was disrespected by several of these girls I told them to pick up their garbage and sit down quietly. One of the parents returned and her daughter gave her an earful I imagine because I received a call from this parent the next night saying how "rude" I was.
I reminded her that I am not her personal nanny. I am not being PAID to watch her child along with several others. I am there to keep the girls safe, coach them during the games and make sure they represent our league/town with respect and with good sportsmanship. She did not feel that any of these things were valid. therefore I now understand where her daughter gets her bad manners.
So now I have to deal with this parent's negativity and her daughter's lack of respect...how do you handle that? Do I just kill them with kindness? Do I remind them that they can easily volunteer their time as well (which I told her to do and she declined) or do I continue doing what I'm doing? I want the girls to have fun - but I'm not going to be disrespected or subjected to the screaming and food throwing I endured...
After the first few times I was disrespected by several of these girls I told them to pick up their garbage and sit down quietly. One of the parents returned and her daughter gave her an earful I imagine because I received a call from this parent the next night saying how "rude" I was.
I reminded her that I am not her personal nanny. I am not being PAID to watch her child along with several others. I am there to keep the girls safe, coach them during the games and make sure they represent our league/town with respect and with good sportsmanship. She did not feel that any of these things were valid. therefore I now understand where her daughter gets her bad manners.
So now I have to deal with this parent's negativity and her daughter's lack of respect...how do you handle that? Do I just kill them with kindness? Do I remind them that they can easily volunteer their time as well (which I told her to do and she declined) or do I continue doing what I'm doing? I want the girls to have fun - but I'm not going to be disrespected or subjected to the screaming and food throwing I endured...