Conflict Resolution Policy
In discussing what the biggest problems that typically come up between parents and coaches, we felt most conflict is due to playing time. We have developed this conflict resolution policy to help alleviate this problem and to enable all our kids to become more able to solve their own problems. With regard to any problems that you may encounter, whether they are playing time related or not, we expect the following to occur:
1. No parent should ever approach a coach, Board Member or the Director of Coaching to discuss
playing time issues at the field site. We will enforce a “Zero Tolerance Policy” towards parents and
their children if people violate this rule.
2. No parents will ever discuss issues about their children which concerns playing time with a coach.
We do urge parents to speak to coaches about issues which may affect a child’s ability to learn or
to educate a coach about problems and/or issues which may directly affect them.
3. The player is expected to approach their coach (at practice or after a game) and to be able to ask
what he or she must do in order to either earn more playing time, to ask what they may do in
order to play a different position, etc...The reason being, we want our players to take responsibility
for their own learning and to be able to speak diplomatically, intelligently and honestly with their
coaches and adults about issues which directly affect them.
4. Coaches will be expected to be honest with any of their players about what they may or may not
be able to achieve to alleviate whatever problem they may be having. This is going to be a difficult
position for most players, in particular our younger players, so we have urged coaches to be very
open and make them feel comfortable about approaching them. They will not be defensive. If they
do not have a good answer, they will tell the child they would like to think about this for a day or
so in order to be able to give them specific and achievable feedback that will help them meet their
goals.
5. If you think a problem is escalating, please contact our Director of Coaching, Manoj Khettry and he
will be happy to help in any way he can.
6. Please report any violation of these policies by parents to Jon Luce, President of STPFC.
Please remember we are all representatives of this club and how we act at games reflects on the
club as a whole. If you ever sense there could be a problem, deal with it and take initiative to quell
it before it happens. Remember as a club we only have one opportunity to make a first impression.
Let’s make sure that everyone sees that we are a class organization that is striving to be as
professional as possible.