Below you find some helpful articles and links to help you navigate becoming a parent of a Division I student-athlete at Cornell University. Each school year brings a new group of athletes looking to settle in and ultimately, make positive contributions to their teams. For parents, there's no better place for your child to go through the periods of emotional maturation than a collegiate athletic environment - surrounded by the support of teammates, coaches, and staff members. We hope you enjoy witnessing your child's journey and we appreciate your support throughout the process.
Tips from former parents of student-athletes:
- Follow along. Join the Head Coach's email distribution list for regular updates on the team. Follow along on social media for glimpses into training, the daily life of your student-athlete, and real-time results and updates. Regularly check the Cornell Athletics pages and to get the full view of rankings, photos and delightful stories. Several events are live streamed (audio/video) so you can feel like you are there in person. CornellBigRed.com I IvyLeagueSports.com I Ivy League Network
- Attend Events. Go to as many events as you can. Find out about what you could do to support the team at home and away events. For those that like to take pictures, don't be shy and click away. Share those photos with other parents, the coaches, and team. If you can only make one, make sure you get to one at Cornell! You won't regret it. Of course, after the event, spend time with your student-athlete and grab a bite in town at your child's favorite restaurant!
- Connect with other parents. You'll stay connected, make great friendships and could find yourself as the ultimate "groupie" of Cornell athletics and your son/daughter's team! These will be memories you will talk about for years to come.
- Keep in mind, your student-athlete has a job to do. Their priority is to the team and job at hand. Your athlete will search you out when the time is right after the event is over. Be understanding and appreciate the time you do get (no matter how brief) -- It's worth it!
- Let the Coach do the coaching. Support your athlete in the ways listed above, but try to avoid becoming another coach or weighing-in on decisions regarding playing time, etc. Parents are always welcome to request and read a copy of specific team rules, in addition to the general code of conduct found here for all Cornell student-athletes.
Important Links:
Parents Guide to NCAA Compliance (PDF) I Cornell University Parents Guide I Support Athletics I Facilities I Schedule I Tickets I Shop I Ivy League on ESPN
