SYRACUSE – In a change of pace from recent years, the fall sport parent meeting at Wawasee High School will feature a pleasant twist.

Bethel College men’s basketball head coach Mike Lightfoot will be a guest speaker at the 7 p.m. meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, in the WHS auditorium. Lightfoot will speak at the first of two sessions that evening, with a 7:45 p.m. second session for the fall sports to break out to individual rooms for specific meetings.

Coach Lightfoot will speak to parents on the topic of “Parenting today’s high school athlete.” Lightfoot, who had two sons start at NorthWood High School in basketball and also at Bethel College, has held a high amount of success while coaching the Pilots. Among the lengthy list of individual accolades, Lightfoot has led the Pilots to seven national championships as well as garnering nearly a dozen Coach of the Year awards.

Some of the topics Coach Lightfoot may address include: Putting undue pressure on kids-  are you helping or hurting them?; Communicating with coaches about concerns, especially playing time; Unrealistic view of a child’s talent level; Is AAU and club sports hurting or helping high school athletes?; Negativity in the stands and social media; Playing multiple sports and off-season commitment; and supporting discipline action of coaches towards a child.

There will be a short question and answer period at the end with coach Lightfoot. Admission is free and all high school athletic parents are welcome to come hear him speak.