There are a lot of fans at every basketball game (really, any sport but it is basketball season) who think they have an idea or suggestion that their team should do. I am not talking about playing time for players. I am talking about a way a team runs a play or something similar.

 

If you are a coach, do you listen if a fan or parent suggests something? Do you blow them off as a know nothing? Do you ignore it assuming they are clueless? Would you be open to listening to a suggestion? Do you listen, think about it and maybe even use the suggestion?

I guess it depends on who the parent is that's trying to give me advice. For example, if Kenny Shields is back there, I'm going to listen. Not sure I would make adjustments during the actual game but rather track him down and pick his brain afterwards.

 

I should add that the next basketball game I coach will be my first.

Love the parents who tell the experienced coach what to do. Most of the time it involes get the ball to my son more! Parents fail to realize there are many players on the team, the coach is in practice with them every day and knows limitations and strengths of all of them.

There have been times I have wanted to give my child's coaches advice, but when I coached I didn't like it (parents giving me advice) so I keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself. :no:

There have been times I have wanted to give my child's coaches advice, but when I coached I didn't like it (parents giving me advice) so I keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself. :no:

 

Yes, I think I am rare in this. I have no problem with a parent or fan offering me advice. If they are clueless, I tell them why they are way off and hopefully they understand better. I believe there are very few coaches who are open to ideas or suggestions, which I really don't get.

I always let the coaches coach. They organize and supervise the practices everyday while I am at work or at home. They know more about my kid and the team's capabilities. I purely just enjoy conversating with coaches if they choose to talk to me and I may ask a question if I am curious but I'll never suggest anything unless they ask me my opinion. They know way more than I do.

I've only made 2 suggestions to coaches. 1 was to play a kid (Not one of mine) more, he took the suggestion and it worked out ok. The other was this year, and that was that my boys, who had not played all game, not go in at the end of OT with 2 other players that hadn't played yet and the game still in doubt. Sure enough, 8 pt lead is gone w/ 30 seconds to go b/c they were not ready skill wise to kill the game off. They got pulled after 10 seconds of game time and the starters went back in to kill it off. That crushed the boys confidence for a couple of weeks. I've never asked a coach to play my boys more. They aren't good enough. I remember when the fathers of kids on my teams would be seen leaving a coach's office. That kid, whether he asked his Dad to go in or not, lost a lot of respect in our eyes.

I've only made 2 suggestions to coaches. 1 was to play a kid (Not one of mine) more, he took the suggestion and it worked out ok. The other was this year, and that was that my boys, who had not played all game, not go in at the end of OT with 2 other players that hadn't played yet and the game still in doubt. Sure enough, 8 pt lead is gone w/ 30 seconds to go b/c they were not ready skill wise to kill the game off. They got pulled after 10 seconds of game time and the starters went back in to kill it off. That crushed the boys confidence for a couple of weeks. I've never asked a coach to play my boys more. They aren't good enough. I remember when the fathers of kids on my teams would be seen leaving a coach's office. That kid, whether he asked his Dad to go in or not, lost a lot of respect in our eyes.

 

In the OT situation, When did you tell the coach not to put your kid in? Were you a fan at the game and whispered in his ear or were you sitting on the bench?

Yes, I think I am rare in this. I have no problem with a parent or fan offering me advice. If they are clueless, I tell them why they are way off and hopefully they understand better. I believe there are very few coaches who are open to ideas or suggestions, which I really don't get.

 

As a coach, it depended on the parent (background w/ athletics and coaching), the situation, and the manner that I was approached. I had one Dad one year who thought that his son wasn't being utilized properly. He let me know after most games at the beginning of the year. After the 3rd time, I invited him to watch his son every practice for 2 weeks and then we would talk. He never took me up on the offer.

In the OT situation, When did you tell the coach not to put your kid in? Were you a fan at the game and whispered in his ear or were you sitting on the bench?

 

In an email the following morning.

Craziest thing I ever saw was when I was playing in the 8th grade , one of our players Dad came barging in our locker room at halftime. Seems he had drew up a handful of plays to give our coach. And guess what , you got it they were all designed with his son as the benefactor .I know the boy felt about 2 inches tall at the time. Our coach was nice about it and didn`t have him thrown out. It was probably a wise move . This guy was a pure nut job and wound up doing about 20 years for manslaughter.

The only time I ever gave unsolicited advice is when my son received a yellow card in a jv soccer game for arguing (yelling) at the ref. The coach left him in the game. I informed the coach that my son's behavior would not change until he sat him for the rest of a game (I did this the next day when I picked him up from practice). The kid could not stand not to play. Of course, it wasn't long until he did the same thing in a game and the coach sat him. Worked like a charm. My son told me the coach didn't know what he was doing and, of course, my response was "the coach did the right thing and if he did it again he would more than likely sit again."

I always let the coaches coach. They organize and supervise the practices everyday while I am at work or at home. They know more about my kid and the team's capabilities. I purely just enjoy conversating with coaches if they choose to talk to me and I may ask a question if I am curious but I'll never suggest anything unless they ask me my opinion. They know way more than I do.

 

The bolded areas about knowing the kid better doesn't apply to all parents. Parents with basketball knowledge know their kid better than the coach does in certain situations. As far as the coaching knowing more...definitely doesn't apply to all parents because believe me there are some parents in the stands that have a higher basketball IQ than some HS coaches walking the sidelines.

My "parental policy" is to NEVER discuss game/player related stuff with a coach during the season, unless they begin the conversation. If a coach does begins the conversation, I do not provide any player or situation specific comments or advice - especially linked to my kids. They have enough other parents offering their services.

 

After the season ends - it never seems like the things I would have discussed were really all that important after all. Amazing how emotion clouds the judgment!!!!!

As a coach of another sport, I have no problem with suggestions. I don't always use them, but I will at the very least listen as long as they aren't offered in a rude or interrupting way.