👋 Good morning! ‘Great Teams Better Leaders’ is written by Greg Berge. Have an idea or something to share? Just hit reply. I read and respond to every message.
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💭 ONE THOUGHT
Most Parent Issues Are Predictable
I’ve spent 20 years as a varsity coach and 21 as a high school principal.
I’ve seen it all.
Not always in my own program, but enough in others to know this:
Parent issues don’t usually come out of nowhere.
They build.
A missed expectation.
A lack of clarity.
A story that gets filled in without you.
And by the time the coach hears about it, it’s already a problem.
That part always bothered me. Because most of it is preventable.
The Hard Truth
Most coaches don’t have a parent problem.
They have a communication gap.
Silence → Assumptions → Frustration → Conflict
That cycle shows up over and over. And once it starts, you’re behind. Now you’re reacting instead of leading.
What I Did Differently
I wasn’t perfect. But I was intentional. I made one decision early:
Say it before they ask.
Before the season started, I laid it out:
How playing time decisions are made
What development looks like in our program
What role parents play (and don’t play)
How to communicate concerns the right way
During the season:
Weekly updates
Clear expectations
No surprises
When conflict came up:
Calm
Clear
Anchored to standards
That approach didn’t eliminate issues. But it controlled them.
And more importantly, it built trust.
3 Things You Can Do Right Now
1. Set Expectations Early
Don’t assume parents “just know.” They don’t see practice. They don’t hear your conversations. If you don’t define your program, they will.
2. Communicate Consistently
Silence creates stories. A simple weekly update can eliminate 80% of questions before they start.
3. Anchor to Standards, Not Emotion
When something comes up, don’t react to the moment. Go back to what you’ve already defined. That’s where your confidence comes from.
Why This Matters
I’ve seen great coaches get drained by this.
They connected well with players; they knew the game, but something else got in their way.
Their communication. Their organization. They didn’t have a system.
Emails. Conversations. Second-guessing. It all adds up. And it pulls you away from what matters most: your players and your team.
What I’ve Been Building
Coming this May!
Because of this, I’ve spent the last few months building something I wish every coach had earlier:
It’s not theory.
It’s what to say.
When to say it.
And how to lead these situations with confidence.
It is a complete 100+ page playbook and video course, coming this May.
If you want early access when it drops:
👉 Join the waitlist here: https://forms.gle/SGJ9MDRHGhkrxCWH9
Final Thought
Most parent problems don’t start with conflict. They start with a lack of clarity. Fix that early, and everything else gets easier.
Good luck!
Greg
📜 GREAT QUOTE
"Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.”
🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS
🎥 Video: Pat Summitt - One of America’s Best Leaders [LINK]
🆇 ICYMI: See a Parent Sitting Quietly at a Game? [LINK]
📰 Article: What 300 Coaches With They Knew Sooner
👀 LOOKING FOR MORE?
My website has all my products and resources → gregberge.beehiiv.com.
Contact Greg for a Culture or Leadership workshop for your team or school.
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Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]