Generally speaking, most youth sport coaches do a good job playing the stars of the team — just give them the ball and get out of the way. While not always easy, most coaches are happy to have a few star players that they can rely on in crunch situations — but what about the other kids on the team who are not as talented? Great coaches know that a true test of their leadership ability is how they empower not just the stars, but also the kids who rarely play (and sometimes don’t play at all). Encouraging star players to play hard is one thing, but how do you connect with kids who don’t feel as important, and not sure of their role on the team? Team culture is a product of team members (including reserve players) feeling as though they are part of something special, a place where all members are recognized and valued, regardless of their athletic talent. This is certainly not an easy task for coaches, but it is a very worthwhile pursuit — especially when trying to establish team culture and build a wining team.
Building up the bench!
While the starters on a team get the most attention and praise, it is often the bench kids who do the little things and support the team and add to a winning culture. When reserves feel as though they are just as important as the starters, the team improves by means of greater group focus, motivation, and resiliency. Great coaches understand this, and while they can’t always provide a lot of playing time, they can get to know the reserves, lend their encouragement, and provide unique feedback throughout the season. Do these efforts sometimes steal time away from doing drills with the starters? Maybe, but the overall return on investment of getting the entire team to “buy in” is far more valuable than any one drill during a practice.
So how can coaches empower the kids who rarely play?
- Give them defined roles. Assign meaningful sideline responsibilities (tracking stats, managing substitutions, leading warm-ups). Also, have them lead stretches, team cheers, huddles, and other important roles that connect them to the team.
- Celebrate their wins in practice. When a reserve hustles, makes a play, or does something to help the team make sure to genuinely and emphatically praise him or her! Explain to the team how every kid matters, regardless of his or her contribution.
- Work them in to games whenever possible. Kids sign up to sports to play, so keep a watchful eye for situations where they can get in the game for a little while — exhibition games and blowouts are two easy examples.
- Pair them with a mentor-player. If you want to quickly help a reserve player feel a part of the team, then match him or her up with a starter to lead an on-field drill, or an off-field fundraiser. For some reserves, this might be the first time they have ever really talked with a starter, making this a really important team-building move.
- Highlight effort and team-first actions. Acknowledge reserves with hearty praise for having a great attitude, hustling, keeping high grades, and regularly making good off-field choices.
When coaches show that value isn’t tied solely to playing time, it creates a team culture where every athlete feels purpose. That unity benefits the entire group — both on and off the field. Conversely, when coaches only cater to the starters, reserves quickly lose motivation and tune out, and team culture is negatively impacted. It doesn’t take much for a coach to pause, look a kid in the eye, and offer genuine support and encouragement, and through these kinds of exchanges kids grow and mature as people well beyond just their role as “athlete.”
Final thoughts
Great teams are often only as good as their weakest player, as you never know when you are going to need the reserve kid to come through in the clutch. When coaches prioritize building up all the kids on the team, and not just the stars, only then can a rock-solid team culture be established. How do you know if you have it right? When the last kid on the team feels that he or she is just as important as anyone else on the team, and are doing something special. Your reserve players want to play, but they also want to know they are valued — that’s where a great coach can help!
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