Meet with parents before the season starts

Let them know what you expect from them and their children, and share your coaching philosophy. Set a few ground rules, and ask them for questions and their concerns. Establishing a relationship now will make it easier to work with them during the season.

Don’t let problems fester

If you have a problem with a parent, or vice versa, discuss the issue in private as soon as possible and try to reach a resolution. Putting this off will make the problem worse, and may get other parents involved.

Treat all players the same

The trend to treat exceptional athletes differently from others starts at the earliest ages, and parents are well aware of this. Favoritism is a big concern for parents, so let them know that all kids will get the same amount of playing time and no one will get special treatment.

Get parents involved

From serving as assistant coaches to snack or carpool parent, parents want to be involved in their kid’s activities. Encouraging them to do so in a constructive way will make your job easier.

Stress positive reinforcement

Encourage parents to be positive and supportive of their children. Ask them not to yell at their child or referees during practices and games.

Manage expectations

Parents often think their child is a better player than he or she really is, and expect more from them as a result. Coaches can let parents know that such expectations put more pressure on their children, and encourage them to focus on praise rather than criticism.

Let parents know your time is valuable

Parents should treat youth sports practices and meets as any other appointment, and should get their kids there on time. Likewise, they should let you know if their child needs to miss a practice or game.

Make “Keep It Fun” a philosophy, not a slogan

The No. 1 reason children give for dropping a sport is that it is no longer fun. Take the focus off winning and gear everything you do towards giving kids a positive experience.

Set realistic expectations for the kids

Not every kid is going to be a star, but all kids want to have fun. As a coach, you have to work with each child to help her progress and advance her individual skill level.

Praise beats criticism

Focus on what players do right – and praise them for it — rather than dwelling on what they do wrong. Praise is more motivating than criticism, especially for children still developing their self-esteem.

Organize your practice sessions to be quick paced

The best practices are those in which the kids are moving from drill to drill, always on the go, and always progressing. By the end of the session, they feel as though they've truly accomplished their goals for the day.

Maintain realistic expectations

Coaches (and parents) frequently demand a performance level that is higher than kids can achieve. Trying to meet these expectations puts undue pressure on kids, who may turn away from sports as a result.

Teach sportsmanship

And enforce it, too. Sportsmanship is a concept that has to be continually taught, enforced and respected. Lead by example—your athletes are paying as much attention to your behavior as your words.

Be fairer than fair

Treat every child equally, especially if one of them is your own. Give equal playing time regardless of skill level, and distribute your attention evenly.

As a sports parent, understand that these tryouyts can be extremely challenging for your youngster. As such, you want to do your homework before you sign your child up to try out. For starters, find out as much as you can about the team, just how competitive it is, and most importantly, who the coach is.

If it's a travel team, understand that you can't assume that the try outs are going to be fair. That is, since most travel teams are set up and organized by one or two parents in town, they are going to choose their kids first to be on the team, and then most likely, their kids' friends. While you would hope that the try outs are conducted fairly, the sad truth is that there's no guarantee of that.

Long before the try outs begin, ask around town. Talk to the parents of the kids who played on that travel team last year or the year before. Ask about the try outs and how they're conducted. Ask about the coach, i.e. does he give all the kids equal playing time? Does he scream and yell? Does he play favorites with his own kid? Is winning his top priority?

Trust me, the more homework you do, the better equippped you'll be about your kid and his or her chances of making the time. And even more importantly, whether this is a travel team you want your child to be on. If worse comes to worse, there's no magic to putting out your own shingle and starting your own travel team. Think about that as a distinct possibility as well. 

Remember this, there really aren't any comforting words to say to an 8 or 9-year-old who just tried out for a travel team and got cut. Most kids who don't make the squad are so embarrassed by the experience that they rarely try out the following year. I just don't see how a 9-year-old can be "washed up" at that tender age, but travel teams tend to send that very message. Be careful.