At Level Up Volleyball, we believe that a positive volleyball experience depends on a strong partnership between athletes, parents, and coaches. Open communication is an important part of that partnership, and we encourage parents to ask questions, seek clarification, and discuss their child's development with our coaching staff.
To help ensure these conversations are productive and respectful, Level Up Volleyball is implementing a 24-hour communication rule for non-urgent concerns arising from practices, matches, tournaments, or other volleyball activities.
If you are upset or concerned about a coaching decision, playing time, lineup, substitution, or another competitive situation, we ask that you wait at least 24 hours after the event before contacting a coach to discuss the matter.
During this period, please refrain from confronting coaches at the court, sending emotionally charged messages, or attempting to resolve the issue immediately after a match or tournament.
This is not a restriction on your right to communicate with our coaches. It is a guideline designed to give everyone time to reflect before beginning a potentially difficult conversation.
Competitive volleyball can be emotional. Parents naturally want their children to succeed, feel included, and continue developing as athletes. Coaches, meanwhile, must make decisions involving team strategy, player development, substitutions, and competitive circumstances.
Immediately after a match, frustration or disappointment can make it difficult to consider another perspective. Allowing time for emotions to settle can help everyone approach a conversation with greater clarity and a shared focus on the athlete's development.
Research on youth sports supports the importance of thoughtful communication between parents and coaches.
A 2025 peer-reviewed study examining coach-parent relationships in organized competitive youth team sports identified the 24-hour rule as a practice that participants found helpful. Coaches and parents described how allowing time to cool down could make subsequent conversations more constructive. The study also emphasized the importance of trust, openness, and clear communication.
A 2024 scoping review of research on coach-parent interactions similarly highlighted communication, trust, and relationship-building as important elements of effective relationships in youth sport.
These findings support the principle behind our policy: concerns should be addressed, but the timing and manner of the conversation matter.
The research does not establish that exactly 24 hours is the scientifically optimal waiting period. Level Up Volleyball has adopted 24 hours as a practical, consistent standard informed by existing youth-sports practices and research on constructive coach-parent relationships.
1. Allow 24 hours after the event.
For non-urgent concerns, wait at least 24 hours after the relevant practice, match, or tournament before contacting the coach to discuss the issue.
2. Contact the coach directly and respectfully.
When the waiting period has passed, reach out to the coach to arrange a conversation. Whenever possible, discuss your concerns privately rather than at the court or in front of athletes and other families.
3. Focus on understanding and development.
Approach the conversation with a willingness to listen and understand the coach's perspective. Ask questions, explain your concerns calmly, and keep the discussion focused on your child's development and the team's environment.
For example, instead of saying, "My child should have played more," consider asking, "Could we schedule a time to discuss what my child can work on to earn more playing opportunities?"
4. Work toward a constructive outcome.
Our goal is not to eliminate disagreements. It is to handle them in a way that preserves trust, supports athlete development, and strengthens the relationship between families and coaches.
The 24-hour rule applies to non-urgent concerns related to competitive decisions and emotionally charged situations. It does not apply to urgent safety or athlete-welfare concerns.
Please contact the appropriate Level Up Volleyball staff member immediately if your concern involves:
You do not need to wait 24 hours to report these concerns.
Level Up Volleyball is committed to maintaining an environment where athletes can learn, improve, compete, and enjoy the game. We recognize that parents are essential partners in that process.
Our coaches will strive to communicate expectations clearly, treat athletes fairly and respectfully, and remain open to appropriate conversations about player development.
In return, we ask families to respect the coaching process and follow this communication policy when concerns arise.
The 24-hour rule is not about preventing conversations. It is about making those conversations more productive.
Thank you for helping Level Up Volleyball build a culture of respect, trust, accountability, and continued improvement.
1. Exploring the development of coach-parent relationships in organized competitive youth team sports. (2025). PLOS ONE.
This peer-reviewed study explored how coaches and parents understand and develop their relationships in competitive youth team sports. Its findings included the use of a 24-hour waiting period as a way to allow emotions to settle before discussing difficult situations.
Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0333559
Free full text via PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12685178/
2. A scoping review of coach-parent interactions and relationships across youth sport settings. (2024).
This review examined the empirical research on coach-parent interactions in youth sport and identified communication, trust, and relationship-building as important themes.
Read the review: https://youthsportresearch.org/research/a-scoping-review-of-coach-parent-interactions-and-relationships-across-youth-sport-settings/
