The Activities Department recently hosted a Parent and Coach Meet Night, offering an opportunity for the parents to connect with coaches and gain insights into the upcoming spring season. The event aimed to foster collaboration, understanding and support between parents, coaches and students, setting the stage for a successful athletic season.

The Activities Department shared information regarding the resources the school offers and allowed the parents to have one-on-one conversations with the coaches.

“I think it’s important for them to hear the expectations from our office, and the new events of the season,” Student Activities Director Greg Miller said. “We go over the athletics training room and the health and safety protocols. We talk about the expectations and what to expect from the coaches, sportsmanship being a big part of it.”

Through this night, the importance of parental involvement and understanding when it comes to highschool sports is highlighted. The event allowed parents to grasp the expectations for their children, both on and off the field.

“This is a great way for the players to gain experience, this is not only about winning and losing games, this is about growing and learning life skills such as time management, overcoming adversity, understanding how to deal with ups and downs as the season progresses,” Boys Lacrosse coach Brian Simmons said. “Everybody understands their roles, everybody understands their communication chains, so we can get on with a very good season.”

Parents also gain an insight into high school athletics and how to support their children and the teams throughout the upcoming season.

“It really sets a stage for the new upcoming season, and if you are a new parent to McLean athletics I think it’s really important to hear some of the messaging about sportsmanship, why we really play sports in high schools,” said McLean parent Kourtney Brown, who serves as president of the Safe Community Coalition. “They teach life lessons here and it’s a good reminder for all the parents to kind of take it down a notch.”

Addressing the mental health aspect of sports participation, representatives from the Safe Community Coalition underscored the importance of maintaining a healthy balance. They emphasized providing mental health resources for coaches and parents, aiming to decrease stress and promote well-being among student-athletes.

“The stress around this kind of area is powerful and so what we like to do with this organization is to focus on the kids’ mental health and not putting too much pressure and making sure that they are having a good sports life balance,” Brown said. “What we are doing this year is that we are putting out mental health resources like if you need help and then if signs of depression and anxiety attain.”

The Parent and Coach Meet Night served as a platform for communication, collaboration and mutual understanding among parents, coaches and students. As the spring season arrives, the information shared during this event is expected to contribute to a positive experience for all involved.