Parents with children on winter club teams have a lot on their plate. Keeping track of practice, clinics and game schedules while also juggling holiday plans can be stressful and time consuming. With so much going on, it’s important for parents to take action and avoid spreading themselves too thin.
Here are a few tips parents can use to stay on top of the family schedule and maintain some peace of mind this winter season.
Use Technology to Plan Ahead
It can be easy to forget that there was once a time without smart phones, text messaging and mobile technology. Thankfully these days sports parents have plenty of tools literally at their fingertips to help keep track of every game and practice. Parents can now view schedule changes in real-time and get directions to the game using team management apps. It’s much easier to use tools that do the work for you rather than tracking people down over email or phone. Avoid being the last to know a game’s been cancelled or the court’s been changed with up-to-the-second updates.
Ask For Help
Don’t be scared to ask other parents to step up when you are too busy to volunteer. Work together with other families to rotate the carpool schedule, coordinate who brings refreshments and share the responsibilities of team life. At home, get help with chores like meal prep, dishes and laundry from other members of the family so you can continue to check things off of your winter to-do list.
Stay Home (Really!)
Sometimes no matter your best intentions, you won’t be able to make it to the game. As holidays approach, you may need time to shop, cook or spend time with out-of-town relatives. You might even decide to just take a day or night for yourself!
Even when you aren’t physically there, you can still keep up with your kids on the court. Other parents at the game can use mobile tools to share photos and score updates with those at home. Everyone can keep up what’s happening during the game, even from afar!
With a little foresight and some deep breaths, you can help keep your volleyball family in sync both on and off the court all winter long!
Do you have any tips for a smooth winter volleyball season? Share your advice below!
