Linsey Covert M.Ed, NCC, LPC
[email protected]
717-372-6804
Understanding the Young Athlete
Objectives
Coach will:
- Begin to explore and think about coaching philosophy
- Understand and possibly adjust your expectations of your young
athletes
- Make the connection between coaching/teaching sport(s) skill and
coaching/teaching life skills
- Begin exploring ways to utilize relevance for young athletes (helping
each other, positive change in behavior, social/communication skills,
problem solving, resiliency, and leadership)
- Understand the power of connection and sense of belonging
- Be given ideas and strategies on appropriate ways to respond to
young athletes
- HAVE FUN 
Some Stats
• 30-40 million kids play in youth sports each year
• Estimated less than 20% of youth sports coaches
•
•
•
•
are provided with any training
Less than 20% of high school students are
involved in sports
45.3% of kids surveyed report they have been
called names, yelled at, or insulted by coaches
21% of kids reported they have been pressured
to play with an injury
17% of kids reported they have been hit, kicked,
or slapped by a coach
www.centerforkids.org
More Stats
Why Kids Are Playing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
To HAVE FUN!!!
To improve their skills
To stay in shape
To do something they are good at
The excitement of competition
To get exercise
To play as part of a team
The challenge of competition
To learn new skills
To win
Why Kids Quit
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
They lose interest
They weren’t having fun
It required too much time
The coach played favorites
The coach was a poor teacher
They got tired of playing
Too much emphasis on winning
They wanted to participate in other
non-sport activities
They needed more time to study
There was too much pressure
www.centerforkids.org
Coaching Philosophy
Take a minute (or two)
- Write down at least 3 reasons you are
here…why do you WANT to coach?
- You have to know where YOU are coming
from to know where you are going with
your young athletes
Expectations of your Kids
Now write down at least 3 expectations you
will have of your athletes and how and
how you plan on making sure your kids
live up to those expectations.
Expectations Cont.
Look at your expectations again…
Are they…
1. Realistic?
2. Developmentally Appropriate?
3. Coachable/Teachable?
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3S2Lk2
XCCs
Sports…The Game of Life
Sports helps teach our kids the foundations
of life.
Project: TEAM
-Help Each Other
-Positive Change in Behavior
-Social/Communication Skills
-Problem Solving
-Resiliency
-Leadership
Making a Connection
Kids should feel like they have a place on
the team.
Make some kind of connection for them.
Encourage teambuilding and leadership from
some of your more experienced and
confident athletes.
Connection and sense of belonging will keep
kids coming back. It’s purpose for them.
Communication
HUGE!!!
As the leaders and adults of the teams we
have to understand the best ways to
communicate.
Kids will hear and see everything.
Verbal Language
Paralanguage
Non-verbal Language
Something to think about…
Verbal Content comprises only 7% of the force of
any response
Paralanguage comprises about 38% of the force of
any response
******Non Verbal Content comprises 55% of
the force of any response.
CollegeJournal
Strategies to Try
• Leadership Model
• Teambuilding Activities
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–
–
http://www.oakharborcheer.com/TeamBuildingGames.html
http://wilderdom.com/games/InitiativeGames.html
http://wilderdom.com/teambuilding/
• Clear Rules/Expectations for all Coaches,
Players, & Parents
• Team Routines & Rituals
The name on the front of the jersey is what really
matters, not the name on the back.
When a team outgrows individual performance and
learns team confidence, excellence becomes a
reality.
~Joe Paterno
If we have time…
Get into groups of about 10-12 people