Exit surveys offer a powerful opportunity for athletic directors to assess the health and impact of their sports programs. Understanding both parents’ and athletes’ perspectives can illuminate areas for improvement while reinforcing what’s working well. But to ensure valuable feedback, these surveys must be thoughtfully designed.

Questions to ask families and athletes

A great exit survey starts with targeted questions that focus on both program success and challenges. Surveys should include input from both families and student-athletes for a complete view of the season’s experience. Combining family and athlete feedback creates a well-rounded understanding of the program’s strengths and areas of improvement.

For Parents:

  • Program Satisfaction: How satisfied are they with the overall experience their child had this season?
  • Coach Effectiveness: How would they rate the communication and leadership skills of their child’s coach?
  • Communication and Transparency: Was the level of communication about practices, games, and team updates sufficient?
  • Athlete Development and Well-being: Do they believe the program supported both the athletic and personal growth of their child?
  • Facilities and Resources: Were the facilities and equipment adequate to meet their child’s training needs?

For Student-Athletes:

  • Coaching and Motivation: How did their coach motivate or support them during the season?
  • Personal Development: Were their goals for personal growth met during this season?
  • Training and Conditioning: Did the practices and conditioning sessions feel appropriate for their skill level?
  • Team Dynamics: Did they feel a sense of belonging and positive team culture?

Ensuring feedback is honest

For feedback to be genuine, families and athletes need to feel comfortable sharing candid opinions without fear of repercussions. When respondents trust that their input won’t be linked back to them, the quality of feedback improves significantly. Try encouraging honesty with the following strategies:

  • Using anonymous surveys: Online platforms like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey allow for anonymous responses while aggregating results.
  • Limiting identifiable information: Avoid asking families or athletes to provide personal details unless follow-up is needed.
  • Offering reminders: Encourage participation with spaced-out reminders, but avoid overwhelming families with too many messages.

Maximizing response rates

Delivering surveys at the right time increases both the response rate and the quality of feedback. Consider the following strategies to ensure higher engagement and more thoughtful responses:

  • Send surveys within 1-2 weeks after the season’s conclusion so that experiences are still fresh.
  • Offer mobile-friendly links or QR codes to make it easy for parents and athletes to respond on the go.
  • Provide deadline reminders at regular intervals, giving families and athletes ample time to participate.

Balancing qualitative and quantitative data

The most effective surveys include both quantitative data (like ratings) and qualitative feedback (open-ended responses). Quantitative data allows for measurable trends, while open-ended feedback provides specific insights into the reasons behind the scores. By balancing scored and open-ended questions, athletic directors gather both measurable results and meaningful stories to guide decisions.

Example open-ended questions:

  • “What were the most positive aspects of the program this season?”
  • “If you could suggest one change to improve the program, what would it be?”
  • “What advice would you give new parents joining the program next season?”

Incorporating feedback into improvements

The feedback collected through these surveys should inform planning for future seasons. Here’s how athletic directors can turn responses into actionable improvements:

  • Identifying trends: Look for recurring themes—whether it’s about a coaching style, communication practices, or training schedules.
  • Benchmarking across seasons: Compare survey results over multiple seasons to track improvements and identify persistent challenges.
  • Sharing results transparently: Summarize key takeaways and share them with coaches, school administrators, and even parents to build alignment.
  • Setting measurable goals: Use survey results to create goals for the next season. For example, if communication was a common concern, implement weekly updates or introduce a team app.
  • Closing the loop: At the start of the next season, acknowledge feedback by highlighting changes made based on previous surveys.

If done properly, exit surveys are a vital tool for growth. When athletic directors carefully listen to families and athletes, they establish a collaborative environment where everyone works toward a common goal. By designing thoughtful surveys and acting on the feedback received, every season builds toward a brighter future.