Coaching Youth

Although soccer has one of the lowest injury rates of any youth sport, sports and injuries, unfortunately, go hand in hand. But with a little knowledge, you can recognize and treat hip injuries.

Although soccer has one of the lowest injury rates of any youth sport, sports and injuries, unfortunately, go hand in hand. Shin injuries are very common in soccer.

6-TENNIS is a local volunteer-run Junior Team Tennis league that uses progression equipment make it easier for kids to play tennis right from the beginning. The program follows the model of other...

Getting softball players together for fun or competition is easier than ever since many girls now grow up playing Little League baseball. When girls hit their early teens they want a league of...

Coaching a youth softball team can be very rewarding, but for the novice or volunteer coach, it can also be a little intimidating. Whether you’ve just taken a job to coach a youth softball team or...

Bodybuilding among youth has increased in popularity over the last decade as young people seek to add strength for other sports. Stronger muscles helps improve basketball abilities, football...

Cross country running is reminiscent of messengers running through all types of terrain to deliver messages hundreds of year ago. In recent years, cross country track has gained popularity in...

Basketball has become one of the most popular sports in the United States and beyond. Almost anyone can play basketball after learning a few basic skills. As the coach of a youth basketball team,...

Soccer, referred to by most of the world as "football," was officially created in 1863 in England and is now the most played sport on the planet. Soccer is easy enough that almost anyone can play...

Hockey-type games have been played for hundreds of years. The fast pace and constant action make hockey a great sport for people to play and watch. Youth hockey gives children the opportunity to...

People in ancient Greece played a game similar to modern day tennis called "sphairistike." In the U.S., most youth tennis players play on a hard-court surface as opposed to clay or grass. Youth...

Baseball has long been called America's game. Every summer, millions of children play in youth baseball leagues across the U.S. and in many other countries. The coach can make or break a youth...

Volleyball was created in Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1895 and initially did not have a set number of players or number of times the ball could be hit on each side. Originally, ladies could catch...

Wrestling, one of the oldest sports known to man, is a great way for one person to pit his strength, speed and agility against another person in head-to-head competition. Youth wrestling teams...

More kids begin sports programs earlier now, so it's important for parents to think about injury prevention. Travel teams, year-long sports participation and more intensive competition add up to...

Being a mentor to a child is a rewarding experience even if it is just for a couple of hours a week. For many kids involved in sports such as basketball, their coach can be a positive influence...

The first glimpse of cheerleading began in the 1880s, when fans attending Princeton University football games shouted: "Rah rah rah, tiger tiger tiger, sis sis sis, boom boom boom ahhhhhhh,...

This is a toughie for some of us. Athletes by their nature are competitive, and there’s nothing like serious competition to bring out the dark side of our personalities. It is feasible to curb...

Here it comes again, that voice from the stands: "Boooo!" "You guys are awful!" "My grandma pitches better than that!" It's the dreaded heckler. Whether the heckler is a casual observer, a fan of...

People, children included, love to dance. However, kids are like sponges and can easily soak up dancing styles and methods. Giving a child dance lessons can be rewarding for both child and...

Coaching kids is a tough job. Developing the proper skills to become a good coach is important. The primary reason that kids play sports is to have fun, so this should be the coach's primary goal....

A cartwheel is a basic exercise in gymnastics. Once the child has mastered a basic cartwheel he or she can be taught how to do a one-handed cartwheel. This skill is the basis for many other...

If you watch the sports teams on television, you might think that sportsmanship is a lost art. The examples of trash-talking athletes behaving badly have transferred over to youth sports and even...

Having to deal with critical parents is one of the biggest problems with coaching. Some parents overestimate their child's athletic abilities, and sometimes those parents let their frustrations...

In gymnastics, one of the first tumbling moves to learn is the backward roll. Although your student may be familiar with the forward somersault, doing one in reverse takes a little more courage...

Every child interested in tumbling, gymnastics or cheerleading must learn how to do a cartwheel. This simple, yet impressive looking move is often a core part of competitive routines. With...

A standing round off is very similar to a cartwheel and you can teach it using some of the same techniques. Less frightening than a cartwheel for beginners to master; the standing round off is a...

High school athletics gives participants the chance to represent their schools, develop sports skills that improve confidence and body image, and physical activity that benefits both mind and...

Do you want to be able to communicate with your coach? Does everything you say seem to get you in trouble. Follow these few steps and you will be on your way to good communication with your...

Many soccer organizations are offering programs for 2- to 3-year-olds, and if you're a parent of a tiny athlete, you could find yourself coaching the tots. At this age, learning the intricacies of...

Sports are a healthy outlet for a child’s energy. Learning to play a sport builds esteem while providing numerous life lessons. Coaching your children and participating in their sports activities...

Although coaches are making great efforts in helping their athletes to stay fit and healthy for competition many training programs overlook a vital part of the human anatomy - the neck.

I'm a first grade teacher and I have previously coached preschool t-ball. The main thing is to have a lot of patience. There is no magic bullet answer as every group of students I've ever had has...

Team building with children can bring everyone together to meet a common goal. It can also improve social situations by encouraging interaction among children who might not be naturally drawn to...

Teen athletes benefit from team building exercises that not only enhance their performance, but also provide skills they can carry into adult life. The concept of working together and supporting...

Sports can be a fantastic teaching tool; but getting a child properly started can be a challenge. Read on to learn how.

Developing the next Michael Jordan or Lebron James takes hard work, determination and year-round effort. Many basketball leagues run from November to February, but if your child wants to play for...

Many children are afraid of getting hurt playing sports. It is very important to deal with the problem directly and consistently so your child can enjoy and excel at whatever sport she chooses.

Sometimes you just have to face it that your children aren't going to be the star athlete, but that doesn't mean you cannot involve them in sports. Sports not only get children outside, in shape,...

Playing the position of goalie in any sport is very demanding and unique. Even though you are still part of a team, at times a goalie will look and feel like that they are on an island alone. ...

Training and teaching fast-pitch softball players is similar to developing baseball players, but there are critical differences. This article will cover the basics that coaches and parents need to...

Youth sports teams range from very recreational in nature to very select. But the principles needed to succeed vary only slightly. This is an introductory guide to doing it the right way. As the...

One of the first backwards tumbling stunts a gymnast learns is the back handspring. Before she can try it, however, her shoulder muscles must be strong enough to bear her full body weight. An...

The back extension roll is a fundamental backwards tumbling stunt that is included in the compulsory floor routine in Level 6 competitive gymnastics. When teaching a gymnast the back extension...

Gymnastics stunts fall into two basic categories depending upon whether they generate a forward or backward movement. Forward tumbling stunts are more difficult due to the need for increased...

In gymnastic competition, the handstand is a vital element in 3 events, floor exercise, uneven bars and balance beam. Not only must your balance on your hands, you must do it in the correct...

In gymnastics, the round off is used extensively in floor exercise and during the running approach to upper-level vaulting. When done correctly, the round off generates the power needed for the...

Preparing your muscles and tendons by stretching before gymnastics class reduces the chance that you'll pull a muscle and allows you a greater range of movement so you can perform your stunts...

As you progress in gymnastics, you will learn difficult stunts that require you to be very flexible. A good stretching routine is crucial to maintaining muscle tone and allowing you to perform the...

One of the most important body positions in gymnastics is the tuck. When you watch Olympic gymnasts performing double back flips in the air, their body is in a tuck position. Beginner gymnasts...