One of the most significant strategies I’ve employed as a head coach is delegating responsibility. I don’t just delegate to my assistant coaches. I also utilize parents who don’t want an official title, but are willing to lend a hand. After all, when I’m not a coach for one of my boys’ teams, I always volunteer for a task.

If you are a parent who can’t coach, but wants to help the team out, here are some typical tasks that are simple for a parent to organize.

1. Team snacks

Pass around a sign-up sheet at one of the first practices and ask families to volunteer for one or two games so they cover every game. It’s also a good idea to provide guidelines about the type of snack — cookies vs pretzels; soda vs juice boxes — and if you’ll provide snacks for non-playing siblings.

2. Communication tree

Inevitably, you’ll need to communicate a game or practice schedule change to the team, and it might be last-minute. Put a person in charge of the communication tree, which determines the most efficient way to communicate a message (phone, email, text) and who will do it (head coach, assistant, team parent). Similar to the snack sign-up sheet, ask parents the best number or email to reach them in the event of a change. Do this at the first team gathering, just in case you have to cancel if the second one is rained out, for weather or other reasons.

 

3. Team photos

This job usually requires announcing the day and time of pictures, handing out payment envelopes, organizing money collection, and then distributing pictures when they arrive. It’s an easy task, but if delegated, it’s one less thing the head coach or team parent has to worry about.

4. Team party

Sometimes, it’s difficult to think about the end-of-season party at the beginning of the season. However, it’s easier to plan over several weeks than after the season is over and the party has to take place the following weekend. This is a great task for a few parents to tackle together, from coordinating date, time and location to the food and awards, if there are any.

 

5. Scorekeeper/timer

Many youth leagues require each team to supply someone to be the scorekeeper or timer for games. While knowledge of the game is helpful, it’s typically not a requirement. But paying attention is, and therefore it’s not appropriate to do either of these jobs if you also have to keep an eye on a non-playing child.

These responsibilities usually all fall on the team parent, which is what makes that role a difficult one to fill. However, if the coach or team parent delegates these traditional youth sports team tasks, it not only makes your life easier, but is a great way to promote teamwork among your families.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.