How to coach youth sports the right way

Introduction

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 video notes, you can teach skill, succeed in competition AND make sure kids have a good experience.

By: Jeff Gordon

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderate

Tips & Warnings:

Invoke the "24-hour rule" with parents after games. If a parent has a concern about how their child was used or how an event unfolded, talk to them 24 hours later -- after everybody calms down.
If your kid is on the team, hold him or her to a slightly higher standard than the others. Know that your child gets extra scrutiny from other players and coaches.
Yelling almost never has value. Neither do long speeches. Speak directly to your athletes, look them in the eye and challenge them.
Preach team accountability. The whole group suffers when a few kids screw around. Individuals must respect the team and the team must respect an individual.
Select a trustworthy parent to handle the money and produce regular invoices and breakdowns for the parent. They should know where every dime goes.
Don't expose athletes to mixed messages. Don't have five people teach them things five different ways.
Don't get thrown out of events, regardless of how bad the officiating or judging is. And don't tolerate parents who get ejected. Constantly stress the need for positive adult leadership.
Don't allow the kids to rip each other. Don't allow parents to rip into any kids, theirs or others, at any team function.
NEVER play a injured youngster. Overrule the parent if you have to.
NEVER bury a kid giving full effort. It's your job to find roles for everybody in your group. Kids mature at different rates -- and some day the kid at the end of your bench could really help the group.

Step1

Determine the proper goals for your team. At the low end, a YMCA or CYC coach teaches the basics of the sport and the principles of teamwork to very young athletes. The goal is to help each youngster enjoy a good experience while developing skills. At the very high end, a coach strives to prepare mature athletes for major college sports and beyond. Most youth sports teams fall between these extremes. Where is your team?

Step2

Clearly outline the goals to the youngsters and their parents. A handout or an e-mail detailing these goals cuts down on misunderstandings. Make sure everybody knows exactly what they signed up for.

Step3

Clearly outline the commitment needed from the youngsters and their parents in terms of attending practices, making the games, raising funds and so forth. The commitment level must match the competitive level.

Step4

Recruiting the right parent or parents is as important as recruiting the right kids. It is the ultimate tie-breaker while choosing between players. Your parents should embrace a constructive approach to athletic development. They must support every member of the team. Just as teams need good chemistry, so do the parents.

Step5

Know what you are doing. Attend coaching clinics if you must learn more. Take your team to developmental camps. Bring in personal instructors for team sessions. Locate parent helpers with some expertise to share and the proper demeanor to teach.

Step6

Run fast-paced practices. Get a lot a done in 1 1/2 hours, 2 hours maximum. Then get them out of there. Change things up and surprise them with fun stuff. Long, tedious, slow-paced sessions suck the life out of kids.

Step7

Define "success" as individual and team progress. These youngsters aren't pros. It's nice to win, of course, but not at the expense of making each kid better and the team fabric stronger. It's not about your ego, it's about their growth. Until your team is competing at a high national level, the process is more important than the bottom-line production.