In Minnesota, it is very common for the head coach of a youth team to be a parent-coach. In most cases, parent-coaches provide a great experience for their child and team. However, when a parent is in charge of a team, some potential challenges can occur.

The most obvious is a child getting more playing time or preferential treatment because their parent is the coach. But it can sometimes work the other way - the player may get less playing time or a shorter leash for missed assignments so the parent-coach may avoid potential charges of nepotism. Parent-coaches must deal with with the impact of these decisions, and how they are received by their child, the other players as well as other parents.

For the child, having your parent coach the team can sometimes add a bit of stress. But more often than not, the upside is immeasurable - more time with the parent, an inside look at how the team is built and having the coach know your name all year long.

“Coaching my son I have seen some of the highest of highs and lowest of lows in our father-son relationship," said White Bear Lake Coach Mike Smith. "From winning games together and him scoring big goals to moments of him feeling singled out for a mistake that no other player gets singled out for. Looking back, those are some of the best years of our lives."

Every parent-coach has their own theory on how to best balance the relationship with their child while coaching.

“I had a rule - I was the coach on the way to the rink (and obviously at the rink) but on the way home I just needed to be dad,” said Stillwater Coach Kent Einan.

What most parent-coaches can agree on is that it is a process that takes a lot of practice.

“I’ve learned that I have to show as much patience for my own kid as I do for all of my players," said former Golden Gopher and Woodbury Peewee AA coach Jason Godbout. "It’s not fair to my son to critique him after every shift just because I have that option."

1. Find balance between favoring your child and singling them out.
2. Be approachable to all parents on the team
3. Have thick skin - parents will likely criticize you instead of thank you.
4. The relationship between you and your child is more important than the sport/game.
5. Have an open mind to learn better and new ways every year.