Many parents shy away from coaching because they do not feel they have the expertise to coach youth. Of course, this may be true and the decision not to coach is then a good one.
However, it is important to realize that most youth coaches are not close to being experts, and that is fine when it comes to coaching youth sports. Great expertise is not necessary when kids are at the lower levels of sport.
However, this does not mean that adults, who volunteer to coach youth, should not be conscientious, enthusiastic and determined to be the best they can be. Kids deserve these characteristics from all youth coaches, no matter their degree of expertise with a particular sport.
It is not always what a coach knows about a particular sport, but how they present what they know that can make the difference between a good youth coach and a bad one. Of course, one thing that all youth sport coaches can and should do is to continue to increase their knowledge of the sport they volunteer to coach by attending training clinics, reading and watching video and asking questions from qualified coaches. Following are additional things youth coaches can do to gain the credibility needed to coach youth in a positive manner:
1. Use words that suggest the desired actions like, “You might want to try this next time” instead of words that demand like, “Do this next time.”
2. Show pictures or videos of sports action and point out what is shown instead of telling athletes what to do when you are not comfortable with your knowledge of a certain sport skill.
3. Bring in respected, knowledgeable coaches from time to time to offer tips and to help increase your knowledge of the game.
4. Give players homework of the action type skill practice, and homework of the reading type – an instructional book or video from the library or information that they can find on-line to further their knowledge of sport.
5. Allow kids to play the game. Good coaches do not yell out “what to do” instructions as the action occurs, but they wait till the play is over and then provide helpful advice for what to do the next time.
6. Do not over-coach. Good coaches only teach what they know is correct and do not try to pretend that they are more knowledgeable than they are.
7. Do not under-coach. Good coaches never pass on the opportunity to teach what they do know is correct.
8. Qualifying instruction with statements like “I am not an expert but,” or “The training seminar taught me this” or “I read this tip last night” lets people know that you realize you are not an expert but that you can still be of help is good. Once again, pretending to be an expert when it is obvious to others that you are not, is never good and is the first step with losing credibility with players.
9. Letting kids know that you will always give your best and will always be prepared is a key to gaining their trust.
10. Teaching sportsmanship, leadership and character is something all coaches should strive to pass on to kids and is just as important as teaching the sport skills.
In conclusion, parents, who are considering coaching youth, should not feel like they have to be experts but they should continually strive improve their coaching methods. After all, striving to be better is the message that youth sports coaches should be teaching kids, too.