Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / So You Want to Be Your Kid’s Youth Sports Coach? Tune in for Some Quick Tips

So You Want to Be Your Kid’s Youth Sports Coach? Tune in for Some Quick Tips

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Jul 02, 2013

No Comments

SportsCoach-468x316

Coaching your child in sports can be a really fun experience, but it can also be a very stressful one if you aren’t prepared.  Filling out lineup cards, making substitutions, and developing game-plans are a big part of youth coaching, but so, too, are managing parental expectations, egos, and differences in opinion about your coaching abilities.  When coaches prepare to deal with parents the result is usually a good experience for all; unfortunately, when coaches fail to prepare they “prepare to fail”  when they are accused of sports politics and feel defeated by the experience.

If you are an adult interested in coaching your child’s sports team check out the list of sport psychology tips and reminders below designed to help you have a safe, fun, and meaningful coaching experience:

  • Do your homework.  Make sure you know about the sport you are coaching, as well as any new rule changes that might have occurred since you played the sport.  Most sport rulebooks are just a click away on the internet and can be downloaded quite easily — you can also check with your league operator for more information.
  • Learn whether your league is a recreational or travel (more serious) league.  These two types of leagues differ in expectations quite dramatically – in most recreation leagues the expectation is that all the kids play, while travel leagues tend to promote a more “only the best kids play” philosophy.
  • Develop a talent evaluation rubric.  Some coaches are fortunate in that starters are decided based on objective results (for example, two kids can wrestle and one kid will eventually emerge as the winner).  For other sports, however, coaching decisions are more subjective in nature (like trying to decide the best soccer players to play).  Astute coaches will develop a simple scoring system and share this with parents (and kids) so that everyone knows exactly what is being evaluated (leading to playing decisions on the field).
  • Have a pre-season meeting with parents.  Make sure to discuss all team rules and policies, especially around how parents can communicate with you (and be assured, they will want to talk – especially if their child isn’t playing).
  • Provide feedback.  While some coaches have a zero-communication policy, my experience has shown me this only infuriates parents even more and almost always fuels the “politics” fire.  Try instead to provide a few insights about the child and how he or she can focus on specific skills to improve the chances for future playing time.
  • Recognize & reward kids.  Make coaching fun and be sure to use positive reinforcement whenever you can!  Remember, kids play sports to have fun, but this starts with you and the energy you bring to the field.

Being a youth sports coach can be a terrific life experience and a very unique way to bond with your child.  This opportunity, however, can be squandered if you are not prepared for questions and concerns around your coaching style and coaching decisions.  Do your part by being prepared and bringing positive energy to the field everyday!

 www.drstankovich.com

Check out the Coach Tool Kit, perfect for rookie AND veteran youth sport coaches!

coach, Coaching, Leadership, parenting, psychology, sports, youth

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • February 6, 2023 Sports Gambling is Suddenly All Over the Place, But is this Good? 
  • February 2, 2023 Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • January 30, 2023 Your Toughest Competition for Future Success is…YOU!
  • January 25, 2023 The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • January 23, 2023 When it Comes to Mental Health, Words Matter

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

Increasing Number of College & Pro Athletes Arrests Warrant Serious Attention

NEXT POST

Lucrative Pro Sport Contracts, Motivation Issues, and Failed Return on Investment

Category

Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Athletic Director , Boys Sports , Burnout , Coaching , Communicating with Coach , Girls Sports , League Operator , Parent Training , Playing Time , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Sports Parenting , Sports Performance Science , Sports Safety , Team Building , Team Chemistry , Team Cohesion , Training and Certification , Training and Development , Travel Leagues , Uncategorized , Youth and Interscholastic Sports , Youth Sport Burnout , Youth Sports

Tags

coach, Coaching, Leadership, parenting, psychology, sports, youth

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Sports Gambling is Suddenly All Over the Place, But is this Good? 
  • Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • Your Toughest Competition for Future Success is...YOU!
  • The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • When it Comes to Mental Health, Words Matter
  • Increase Your Chances for Goal Success by Implementing these Strategies
  • Exploring the Indirect Human Development Effects Video Gaming is Having on Kids
  • When it Comes to Happiness, Health, & Productivity, "Easy" isn't an Option
  • What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?
  • The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓