Can parents ever be right?

no

If you're treating the kids well, being fair and consistent, and presenting a role model. then the parents have no gripe. If they want to deal with Xs and Os, grab a clip board and get a coaching job.

Ah..here is the tricky part though..what if they already have/had one. What if one of your kids names happens to be Parcells, or Carroll or Osborne or Landry

What if the name happense to be Sims or Manning, or Munoz??

Oh, I agree, most are going to be idiotic. I think one way to eliminate that is simply explain why their ideas might not work. Most people hate to be shown they are wrong (as long as you do it in a polite, meaningful way)...Who knows, they might even learn something.

While the vast majority of parental views will be off based, you never know. While my example was a bit far-fetched, you never know if someone happens to be qualified and right makes something.

fbdoc---I am not really talking about playcalling, but more an overall sense that Hey, others can have imput.

Also, I would be willing to be my Ferrari Enzo that more than 50% of the coaches making those decisions wouldnt know the reasons they made it.

Like I said, if they want "input" let them join the staff. I'm not going to offer suggestions to them on how to run their business - I'm not looking for arm-chair quarterbacks, or philosophers, to help me with my team. I've already got assistants who are out there every day busting their butts for little or no money, as well as experienced administrators whom I trust and respect to give direction and oversite. If these parents "are right" it doesn't matter - it also doesn't matter if their name is Parsells or Manning - if they want to provide input then let them come out every day and coach so they can see the whole picture - then they could see that their suggestion just might not seem like such a great idea.

Not me. I have 3 little ones. The day I become "an agent" Ill let ya know.

There are some well educated parents out there and you have to acknowledge this or you may come across as being arrogant. I tell my parents at our pre-season parent meeting that our X's and O's are for our "inner-circle." Our inner circle is made up of our coaching staff. We make 100% of the decision regarding techniques, scheme, playcalling, practice set up, depth charts, etc.

I also explain that we meet throughout the year, at least bi-weekly and daily during the season. We are committed to our system and our players. We aren't in a position to dilute our system with well intentioned outside thinking. We will be nice and listen but we won't comment when parents make suggestions. In other words, we will be polite but their suggestions won't get to the inner circle. It's just that simple and you can't be offended.

Don't underestimate the knowledge of a parent (even though most don't have a clue) but educate them that your system is for your staff and not for parents.

I've shared this with my admin and they 100% have my back. This is crucial.

Ever met a parent who thought they were wrong?

Everyone says why are you running the ball when you are down 21 with 1 minute left. Well because when Jonny throws the ball more times than not it goes to the wrong color jersey. Easy to call plays on madden, its a little harder when you don't have the same athletes as the Indy colts.

Problem is most of the parents we deal with don't have the same mindset as JT and Patrick ewing, sure would make our jobs easier.

We've got a few parents who are right a lot. Our head coach has 2 sons who play for us, our safety's dad is an assistant, our DE's dad just retired from coaching, and two of our WR's dads coach in the program.

So in a way we're always dealing with the parents.

ajreapder...a parent who was "right" or a parent you agreed with?

After Hurricane Katrina I was in a quandry. Was helping out with both Varsity and Freshman team of a high school. The freshman team was sort of thrown back together quickly, and there was little time to evaluate the kids. Basically, I went with a few of the kids who I had seen make a few plays in practice (maybe a good tackle or something..who remembers these things), because most of the kids were all cut from the same mold, i couldn't really discern between them. After a game, a kids dad was pretty upset that his kid didn't get to play much, and so I gave this kid a better look in practice. YEP, Dad was 100% right. The kid deserved a chance to play. He was solid, but he hadn't done anything to catch my eye. in the few short days of practice leading up to the game. The DAD had a better knowledge than I had with the kids at this point (because they were all freshman, and had grown up playing together).

Another scenario (personnally involved this time) was dealing with my younger brothers. I was a young college coach at the time, and happened to have a bye weekend. I was able to get home and watch a few practices and a game. They happened to be playing a wing T team. First thing..practices. Show up..run a few laps..cal... then line up and run plays. That was it. (Not even scout plays. Their offense vs Their Defense) . I said to myself "Ok, thats different"

I asked little bro about his keys and reads (he played FB and LB) His answer was " what is a key?" I explained to him what a key was. "Umm..no, never heard of that". I asked how do you know what to do. "We just run to the ball"

Now..do you sit back and go..well, I dont' want to interfere with this???

aj--I agree that USUALLY--well, almost CERTAINLY--the parents would be "wrong" because of the following factors:
1. They are thinking about their kids/not team
2. They aren't at the practices
3. They don't have an expansive football knowledge.

However, to say "EVER" as was the original post asked, I have to say that I have come across some situations.

I think the best thing to do is to scope out the parent's background while having the conversation, point out to them why they are wrong (because this tends to have a nice chilling effect. If you privately PRIVATELY mind you, "embarass" a parent on a whiteboard or with a issue, they tend to not bother you again. They get the point), you will run into the rare situation where you say "Hey..you know..we might have to look at this again"

I just don't believe in letting MY ego get in the way of a win.
Lastly..many of us on here might be fathers and even grandfathers now or in the future. If WE were in the stands...would we think WE were wrong, and the coach on the field was ALWAYS right?. (Think back to how many times we have been wrong on the sidelines)

This thread was started as a wide open question with many variables, but again it has quickly zoomed into an x's o's or playing time response base. As stated several times, I think x's and o's are pretty far down the list interms of success in football.

I have a policy that deals with playing time since this tends to be issue #1 with most meddling parents.

1. We teach our players to be self-advocates and expect parents to also promote this. "You'll do this unless you want them mooching off you until they're 30 years old." Self advocacy is a skill that must be learned before they leave high school.

2. If there is a question related to a lack of playing time, it is the sole responsibility of the player to have a meeting with his position coach. This needs to be scheduled after practice but not on game day or the day before.

3. The parents must WAIT for two games before they can advocate for their sons because the conversation the player had with his coach starts a process that will take some time to run it's course.

4. If the playing time doesn't increase by the 2nd game since the conversation, then the parent may schedule an appointment but the meeting will take place with the parent, the player, the position coach and the head coach.
This eliminates Johnny's mommy from calling and saying that she doesn't want her son to know that she's called.

We don't even go there. I have stopped parents in mid-sentence and asked if "Johnny" has met with his position coach yet?

"Mam, I do not wish to sound rude, but has Johnny taken this issue up with his position coach yet?"

If the answer is not a YES, I then review our policy and politely ask the parent to suggest to Johnny to schedule a meeting with his coach.

We teach our players how to appropriately advocate for themselves and tell them that coaches will carry an open mind as long as they present themselves in a formal way. If they whine and complain, it will fall on deaf ears.

We also tell parents that we are open to any conversations related to player treatment or other ethical topics 24/7. This is their right and one that we believe in as most of us are parents ourselves.

When it comes to X's and O's we just don't have those conversations.

Our admin backs us on this. That is huge!

What is even better is that we only had 1, YES 1, process that actually went the distance. It was our 3rd string Freshman QB and his parents.

Out of 110 kids, that's a nice percentage.