Behind every successful high school sports program, there is a group of parents working quietly to support their athletes and teams. From organizing snacks to volunteering at competitions, parental involvement plays a crucial role in keeping sports running smoothly and athletes motivated.

For Alpine skiing captain Greta Guider ‘27, parental support is essential to the program’s success. “As a captain, my parents do a lot for my team, like all of the captains’ parents. She continued, “They help me a lot with bringing snacks to our snack rotation and helping out at any invitationals we go to, sections, and state if we go.” Their efforts allow athletes to focus on competing while knowing the behind-the-scenes details are taken care of.

Guider emphasized how heavily skiing relies on parent volunteers. “I think that parental contribution is very important to skiing because without my parents and the parents of the other captains, there are many things that wouldn’t work as smoothly as they do, such as loaning coats to athletes and running races smoothly because so much of the sort is reliant on parent volunteers.”

On a personal level, some athletes credit their parents for shaping their experience both as athletes and leaders. Lacrosse player Hayden Castillo ‘27 explained that his parents gave him the sport. “She’s the reason I even picked up a stick when she signed me up in third grade,” Del Castillo said. “My mom being in the stands gives me motivation to play.” 

From early childhood through higher-level competitions, parents help guide their children through challenges and successes alike. Whether standing on the sidelines or working behind a desk, parents are essential to any team.