Just like players, coaches are developed through education that is tested and refined in actual situations. Unfortunately, there are no practices for coaches where they can master their skills before actually applying them. This lack of practice forces coaches to take responsibility for their own education and improvement. Here are 10 suggestions.
- Search the bookstore and the Internet.
- Talk with other coaches.
- Get feedback from parents.
- Get feedback from players.
- Attend training sessions.
- Watch other youth games.
- Videotape practices.
- Ask a parent to help with non-coaching tasks.
- Organize and plan ahead.
- Have fun.
While coaches often start with sports knowledge, transferring this knowledge into the heads of young players may pose a new set of challenges. Coaches may sometimes feel that their problems are unique. However, with over 2.5 million volunteer youth coaches and over 30 million kids in youth sports, every coaching frustration is repeated many times over. This experience base is available to any coach who actively seeks it out