as seen in USA Hockey Magazine
So
who wants to be a team manager? I remember one season when the coach asked
that question and all the parents lowered their heads. No hands went up.
No surprise there. Who has the time and the energy for taking and making
countless phone calls, booking teams, tournaments, organizing fundraisers and
dealing with parents? It's challenging enough to get a decent meal in your
kid’s belly and to the rink on time with all their equipment. Pile more duties
onto an already full plate of just being a hockey parent? Run the risk of a
mid-season meltdown? No thank you!
In the excitement of a new season, and when
no one else is volunteering, you might be tempted to find that inner hero and
stick up your hand for every job. But journalist and hockey mom Randi Chapnik
Myers, who blogs at www.stixandpux.com, has some cautionary
advice for those who get the urge to strap on the super hockey mom or dad cape.
“Remember that it's a long year, especially if you have other kids, and
school/work will heat up, too. Bottom Line: If you take on more than your
share, you'll burn out fast,” says Chapnik Myers. “Think about what you're really good at and stick to it. One
mom was a photographer and she had her camera at every game. At season's end,
she made a phenomenal book of photos for each player. Start with one job. You
can always take on more.”
If you do take on a leadership role,
realize the job calls for diplomacy says Oswego, N.Y. hockey mom Carla Peacock.
She and her husband should know, having evolved from youth hockey coach and
manager to college club hockey coach and manager. “It is important that you
don’t come in like you know it all, and try to take over,” says Peacock. “There
are people who enjoy helping as much as you do.”
Teams need parents to step up and there’s a
job for everyone. Remember, just like your kid’s team, it should be all for one
and one for all.
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