Coaching is a great experience for you and for the kids you are teaching. Working with youth will create a lifetime love of the game when training is delivered right. Here are some tips to help you prepare your team.

1. Keep it simple. Focus on what the kids want, which usually amounts to three things:.

• To have fun
• To learn about the sport
•  To feel good about themselves

2. Build Team Rapport

• Positive reinforcement motivates and wins every time. 
• Encourage cheering for team members
• For those on the sidelines, be sure they sit with their team members and watch together.
•  Cooperative play - In basketball for example, be sure everyone touches the ball before anyone takes a shot
•  Praise in public, correct in private. Constructive feedback with positive comments ensure they want to keep playing. 
•  Be sure to compliment when they self correct

3. Be Prepared

• Kids know when you are winging it.
• They know you are taking it seriously when you prepare.
•  Model the behavior. If you are taking it seriously, so will they.
•  Plan a practice format that works for you.
•  It helps kids when they can predict what will happen.

4. Alternate between running activities and skill building activities

•  Kids listen and focus their attention more easily if they have had a chance to run
•  Kids listen and focus their attention more easily if they aren’t tired.

5. Have no more than three rules that are important to you

•  Pick a couple of rules that are important to making your practices run smoothly
•  Ask kids to tell you what those rules are before each practice
• Remind them of the rule when necessary.

6. Have fun!

For parents: There is no greater feeling when we are cheering them on and see their spirits light up when they have contributed. After the game or practice keep your focus on everything they did right. Praise the behavior and effort. Do you have more suggestions or stories? Please share them below!

Resources:

1. National Alliance for Youth Sports
2. Positive Coaching Alliance 
3. Sports Kids Tips, Coaching

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This entry was posted on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 11:02 pm and is filed under Community Board. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.