Lesson 2: Creating Your Player Pledge

Original Location: https://www.skool.com/coachingacademy/classroom/working-with-parents

Transforming Expectations Into Enforceable Agreements

Key Takeaways

Verbal expectations fade from memory. Written commitments create accountability. The Player Pledge transforms vague hopes for parent and player behaviour into concrete agreements that everyone signs.

This single document prevents more conflicts than any other parent management tool.

Why Team Codes of Conduct Matter

The Problem With Unwritten Expectations

Most coaches establish expectations through:

The Reality: Without written, signed agreements, you cannot enforce standards because parents can claim they didn’t understand or agree to your expectations.

The Power of Signed Commitments

When parents and players sign a document stating specific behavioural expectations:

The Transformation: “I need you to stop shouting instructions” becomes “You agreed to this standard when you signed the Player Pledge. We need to honour that commitment.”

The FCA Player Pledge Framework

The Player Pledge is a comprehensive team code of conduct that covers player commitments, parent commitments, and coach commitments, creating balanced partnership expectations.

About the Players Pledge

The Players Pledge is the ULTIMATE SHORTCUT to creating a Core Values document that you give to all players, parents, carers, and stakeholders at your team and club.

Let everyone know what is expected of them in advance so you can avoid issues across the season.

You get a completely pre-written, 100% “fill-in-the-blanks” Canva template. Add your club logo, change any of the values to suit your own, and then you are good to go.

Opening The Files

This pack is fully editable with Canva FREE. You can customize them with your own brand colours, fonts, elements, and everything in between.

If you have any troubles though, simply get in touch and the files can be sent individually.

Implementing the Player Pledge

Timing and Process

When to Introduce: Present the Player Pledge during your pre-season parent meeting (Lesson 1), allowing time for questions and discussion before signature collection.

Distribution Process:

  1. Provide draft version one week before parent meeting for review
  2. Discuss during parent meeting, addressing questions and concerns
  3. Make minor adjustments if legitimate concerns are raised
  4. Finalise and distribute for signature collection
  5. Collect signed copies before first training session
  6. Provide each family with copy of their signed pledge

Record Keeping: Maintain signed pledges in secure location. These documents support enforcement conversations and protect you if escalation becomes necessary.

Customisation Guidelines

The template provided is comprehensive. Adapt it to your specific context:

Age-Appropriate Adjustments:

Competitive Level Modifications:

Club Policy Integration: Ensure your pledge aligns with club codes of conduct and doesn’t contradict established policies. Add club-specific requirements as needed.

Using the Pledge Throughout the Season

During Positive Times

Reinforcement: Reference the pledge when celebrating behaviours that exemplify its values: “That’s exactly the kind of supportive teammate behaviour we committed to in our Player Pledge.”

Cultural Development: Use pledge language to describe your team identity and standards: “We’re a team that prioritises development over results, as we all agreed in our pledge.”

During Challenging Times

Difficult Conversations: The pledge provides an objective foundation for addressing violations: “When we signed the Player Pledge, we all committed to positive sideline support. Your instruction shouting violates the agreement we made together.”

Conflict Resolution: Return to shared commitments when conflicts arise: “Let’s look back at what we agreed to in our Player Pledge about communication protocols.”

Enforcement: Documented commitments enable firm but fair enforcement: “This is the third violation of our agreed sideline behaviour standards. The pledge we signed outlined consequences for repeated violations.”

Common Implementation Challenges

Challenge 1: “I Don’t Remember Signing That”

Prevention:

Response: “Here’s your signed copy. These are the commitments we all made at the start of the season.”

Challenge 2: “That’s Too Harsh” or “Other Teams Don’t Require This”

Prevention:

Response: “These standards create the environment where all our players can develop optimally. Everyone agreed these were important when we signed together.”

Challenge 3: Inconsistent Enforcement

Prevention:

Response: Inconsistent enforcement destroys pledge credibility. Hold yourself accountable for fair, timely application of agreed standards.

Challenge 4: Parents Who Refuse to Sign

Prevention:

Response: “This pledge creates our team foundation. Everyone needs to commit to these standards for the environment to work. If you cannot agree to these commitments, this may not be the right team for your family.”

The Long-Term Cultural Impact

Teams that implement the Player Pledge consistently experience:

Improved Behaviour: Clear expectations with a signed commitment reduce violations significantly.

Easier Enforcement: Objective standards eliminate arguments about what’s acceptable.

Cultural Cohesion: Shared explicit values create a strong team identity and community.

Reduced Coach Stress: Prevention systems eliminate many conflicts before they develop.

Better Player Development: Positive environment created by pledge enables optimal learning and growth.

Key Takeaways