Coaching Young Athletes

As a coach, there is always a chance that you will spot exceptional talent in a young athlete.  When this happens, it can be easy to forget that that talent is wrapped inside the body and mind of a child.  Kids think differently than adults, especially when they are younger.  Abstract thinking doesn't really start developing until adolescence, so it can be quite a challenge as a coach to effectively communicate with your young athletes.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Use plain language - Remember to coach the intelligence not the age; just because a child has an amazing talent doesn't mean they have a superior intellect. Analogies are okay as long as they stay within a topic that the athlete is familiar with. Learn to gauge where the child is mentally and work from there.

Be aware of a child's comfort level - When you are a coach, children will already recognize you as being in a position of authority.  We may not feel that the height and size of a person matters to youngsters but some kids have trouble getting over the intimidation they feel when someone is larger than them.  Fortunately, this is easy to overcome by lowering your height to be on a similar eye level. Once a child gain's a little more confidence, they will focus more on the coaching and not the big intimidating person telling them what to do.

Watch your body language - Body language is the most basic form of communication and our facial expressions can be the most telling.  Obviously a smile is a positive message, but eyes and eyebrows confirm the positive expression.  We all know people who talk with their hands, so we know that it is also a form of expression.  Hands on hips or having your arms crossed sends negative messages to others, whereas the more animated the coach, the more engaged they appear to their team.  Becoming aware of how we present these messages to kids can go a long way to improving a child's coaching experience. 

To be an effective coach for youngsters takes practice, so with some time and patience you should be able to have fun and be a great leader. 

References from the SIRC Collection:

1. Faigenbaum A, Meadors L. A Coaches Dozen: 12 FUNdamental Principles for Building Young and Healthy Athletes. Strength & Conditioning Journal (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). April 2010;32(2):99-101.
2. Gould D, Carson S. Young Athletes Perceptions of the Relationship between Coaching Behaviors and Developmental Experiences.
3. Nyitray M. Comfort is the Key to Coaching Young Athletes. Olympic Coach. Winter2012 2012;23(1):29-32.
4. Shepherd J. Starting Young: Coaching young athletes. Ultra-Fit Magazine. February 2011;21(2):104-107.
5. Smith R, Smoll F, Cumming S. Effects of a Motivational Climate Intervention for Coaches on Young Athletes' Sport Performance Anxiety. Journal Of Sport & Exercise Psychology. February 2007;29(1):39-59.
6. Watson II J, Connole I, Kadushin P. Developing Young Athletes: A Sport Psychology Based Approach to Coaching Youth Sports.