Communication 101: Student-Athletes, Coaches, and Parents

Having strong communication skills with the various groups you interact with on your team is vital.  

Not only does it help get events planned, questions answered, and food delivered to match/game days, it establishes you as a responsible, friendly central figure that student-athletes, coaches, and parents can always reach out to with comments or concerns.  

Yet, the way you go about communicating with each group should be a bit different. I have always had access to all the student-athletes, coaches, and parents’ phone numbers and emails.  

Student-Athletes 

• Best Method: Texting 
• Worst Method: Email 

In my experience, texting has always been the best way to get a quick answer, or even an answer at all, from student-athletes. Some of them simply do not check their emails. If you do have to email them, text them to say you emailed them.  

Always be professional, but also friendly.  

Even if you have friendships with specific team members, keep your tone professional if you must relay important info regarding the team.  

Be wary of creating group chats to ask questions of them as I have had those get out of hand swiftly and many of them get annoyed with the constant replies of their teammates. If you do create one, make it clear they should respond to you individually. 

Coaches 

• Best Method: In-person or texting 
• Worst Method: Email 

I have the most contact with our head coaches by far. Both are typically good at responding to text messages, though I often just visit the one head coach in his office on campus to discuss things.  

With our assistant coaches, I usually do not have to relay very much information to them. In my three years, I have never had to email any assistant coach. However, I know each team uses their assistant coaches in different ways.  

Again, it is vital to be professional in each of your interactions with all coaches.  

Parents 

• Best Method: Email 

• Worst Method: Texting 

In my experience, I have only ever emailed parents regarding trips, banquets, or other events. While I have access to parent phone numbers, I have never had to use them or felt the need to.  

Typically, parents are better than their children at responding to emails. I also feel that texting parents (unless you have formed a close relationship with them) is unprofessional. 

Again, be friendly and clear with what you are asking of them. Also, respond efficiently to parent emails in order to display you care and want to help them. 

Social media can also be helpful with student-athletes. Just be conscientious with what you follow them on and what each of you posts.  

Pay particular attention to partying, drinking, and questionable behavior, especially on platforms you know coaches do not always follow them on, like Snapchat and TikTok. If I’ve ever been concerned about a post, I bring it up with the student-athlete first instead of the coach, unless it is a severe circumstance.  

In general, just be friendly, aware, and professional with your communications with all parties of your team.