Parent Volunteers

[Phincer]

I read in another forum that it was tough getting parent volunteers. What are the experiences of everyone else?

The parents of the teenagers are doing things now, but when those kids graduate from HS, I'm afraid there will be no one to carry on. We've begged and pleaded, but no one wants to commit the time.

Do your coaches encourage the parents to volunteer?
Any ideas about recruiting parents to learn how to run tournaments?
How do your clubs and divisions handle things?
What about parent "training" programs? Anyone have those? How are they run?

And one final question-every year we hear that the parents that are involved with their kids' education have kiddos more successful in school. Do you find the same is true in fencing?

Please share your thoughts.

[oiuyt]

Recruiting new fencers generally means you also get a new set of parents.

Some parents continue volunteering beyond the competitive career of their child(ren). Linda Merritt, current Secretary of the USFA, started as a fencing mom.

Parent Guide to Fencing

-B

[4qtrs]

I find it is very tough to find consistant volunteers (not just parents). There are a core group of people that I can depend on, but it does get old.

I have been involved since my kids started fencing in 2000. What I have seen is that people do come and go but it is usually a group of dedicated fencers that keep it going.


Suzy

[duel mom]

I see a huge area of need to educate parents to successfully navigate the fencing world with rules and transportation and qualifying and planning. the club owners just want your kids (and dollars) but don't take on the education. They expect every parent to educate themselves! I can't even get through the Athlete Handbook and my son has fenced for 6 years.

[4qtrs]

I don't know a sole that would disagree with you on your point.

[chefencer]

I'd say it's a bit like any other youth-focused volunteer organization. When you know people are 'aging out' it's important to get them to mentor the newer parents. Get the new parents involved in the less intimidating tasks (like timekeeping) while the 'vets' are still around. The real problem is inertia - once you get the parent rolling, their final 'volunteer velocity' might surprise you, but overcoming the initial urge to spectate can be a Sisyphean task...

[Downtown]

At one of the clubs I belong to we have a Leadership Committee. It is made up of parents, kids and vets that reflect the composition of the club. To be made a part of it is a small honor. I do not know if the people that help the most end up on the committee or because they are on the committee they help the most. I do not like to think of this as a tool to get help. That is not what it was designed for. However it may have some merit for some clubs.

[4qtrs]

That's an interesting concept. I like it.

[Phaeton]

I don't know a sole that would disagree with you on your point.

Neither I a Seoul. Although cities, feet, and fish rarely voice dissent.

[4qtrs]

Neither I a Seoul. Although cities, feet, and fish rarely voice dissent.

Drat, I must have been thinking about dinner.....soul, soul, soul.

[Goldgar]

Drat, I must have been thinking about dinner.....soul, soul, soul.

You were having soul food?

[4qtrs]

I wish!!

[Phincer]

I wish!!

Should be redfish....blackened, wit some red beans an' rice...
How's yo momma?

[OMCEPKEN]

In the long run, forget about the parents. You will get lucky from time to time, but they did not sign up to help.

Set the expectation with your fencers that they are expected to contribute. They are the ones who need to start with tracking time, keeping score, directing and eventually running competitions.

Ask the parents gently...but don't push it.

[Fencing Mom]

In the long run, forget about the parents. You will get lucky from time to time, but they did not sign up to help.

I disagree. Parents who only pay the bills and drop off their kids at the club/tournament will have great difficulty understanding why fencers fence; why anyone would want to travel for hours in order to be inside a smelly dark gym/venue on a beautiful day. When push comes to shove (or attack comes to parry/reposte, sorry ) those parents are subtly undermining their kids' involvement. It takes a bit of courage and individualism for a young kid to continue with fencing in this country when all his/her friends are on a soccer field, basketball court or dance floor. Until a young fencerr has a community of fencers for friendship and support, that fencer needs a parent's approval. When parents invest time and emotion, kids, clubs, divisions, and even the USFA wins.

Now how you go about getting parents involved....I 'm not sure I know.

[duel mom]

To get parents involved, club owners could host an annual "teach your parents to fence" night. The club must have enough equipment (this can be difficult for moms to find chest protectors, I had to wear a man's). Participation in such an event gives parents immeasurable appreciation for what the kids are doing and how difficult it can be. It gives kids a chance to tell their parents what to do and to correct them. After the experience parents can say to their kids, "When you fence, you make it look easy, but I know it isn't easy."

[twisterfencing]

This has always been a concern

For some reason: many of the parents (mainly newbie to fencing parents) just drop off they're kids and come back to pick them up (daycare service). No evidence/willingness to help in any way.

Not to gripe: I work a tournament that is to sponsor a scholership to a kid at a specific school. Volenteers for set up and break down of the meet do not happen. Other areas of volenteers work they're tail off, yet not for set up and break down. We have asked the kids/parents/coach with no reponse. The coach has even gone on to say "not my job"!

My opinion is going to sound harsh but understand its only an opinion:

You want volenteers: Hire them. If you are a club owner/manager adjust your monthly/yearly fees knowing you will have to hire permant and part time staffing to fill any and all normal volenteer activities. If you try to count on volenteers, you will only get disapointed and a poorly run meet.


Gary Spruill

[OMCEPKEN]

The reality is that no matter what the sport, the majority of parents simply drop the kids off, pay the bills and sometimes take in interest in what is going on.

It doesn't take courage to continue in a sport that noone else is doing. It simply takes interest, which is hopefully nourished by a capable program.

[pacer]

I've found the parents who volunteer are those who would hang around the club during lessons anyway. At times we have shamelessly offered a waiver of one subsequent event registration fee to a volunteer or their child. That helped the numbers.

What has bothered me the most was that I did not anticipate the effect of having volunteers who hadn't been to many tournaments . They did not have an understanding of the timing of a tournament and were not punctual. When registration at a major (re JO's) event closed at 8 am , I really needed my volunteers to show up at 7:15 and not 8:15 as several did. A parent's class could have prevented that.

[Coach Vic]

I once had a bored parent sitting in the stands reading a newspaper while his daughter was fencing her heart out on the strip 20' in front of him. When I offered some suggestion about his interest (or lack thereof) maybe having an impact on his daughter's efforts, he was puzzled that he would have any effect whatsoever. Some more discussion and a nickel's worth of explanation of what was happening in front of him and he began to perk up and take an interest.
Some will insist on knowing what is going on, some won't care and some will respond if you hold the door open for them.
I am very fortunate that the parents' organization that supports the high school team I help out with is a high octane, can't do enough crew that works in an enthusiastic harmony with the coaches and school. We are lucky to have them.