Top 10 Youth Coaching Tips For Dads Coaching Youth Baseball, Football, Or Basketball

Top 10 Youth Coaching Tips For Dads Coaching Youth Baseball, Football, Or Basketball
By Guest Author Mike McVicar

Just because you are a "Dad Coach" doesn't mean you need to be a "Bad Coach"

1. Treat every player fairly, not necessarily equally. If one player is working his butt off with a great attitude, he deserves more responsibility, playing time and recognition that the player who is goofing off or has a bad attitude.

2. Give every player the appropriate playing time. This varies based on the level of competition your team plays at. I firmly believe that if it is a recreation type league at the younger ages then everyone should get pretty equal time. As the level of competition or the age rises then you can adjust accordingly.

3. Teach and demand respect for the game, the officials and the other team. They see enough bad examples on TV or from other teams. Make your team one that demands and lives by exemplary sportsmanship!

4. Don't Over condition. Just because your high school coach was a sadistic SOB doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. Too many kids drop out because of coaches like this. Conditioning is good, running them until they puke may not be.

5. Invest the time, commitment, and if needed, money necessary to be the best coach you can be. I didn't want to be "that dad" who didn't know what he was doing and ruined the experience for the team. I scouted other teams (especially in football), practiced every chance we got, read books and coaching manuals, watched videos and studied other experienced coaches so I could do the best job possible. I was a very good athlete, but I had no idea how to teach the fundamentals to kids. I studied from those with experience.

6. Learn and teach the proper techniques. Not only to help your players and your team do better but also to help avoid injuries. For example in football you MUST be teaching the proper "eyes to the sky" tackling technique, not the head down, stay low method we may have learned as a kid!

7. Whether you are coaching Youth football, basketball, baseball or any other sport - Defense is key! Work on things like tackling, foot movement, quick hands and hand position, or pitching! Be aggressive and practice defense often! In all 3 sports, Maximize the running game!

8. Demand and earn the teams respect and attention. Know what you are doing and how to teach it. A useful tip that I picked up was to have a phrase that you could yell out if the attention was drifting. I have used "READY" (very loud) and the team must yell back "FOCUS"! With eyes focused on me. I have also used "EARS" and they responded "OPEN" Eyes directly on me. If someone didn't say it or give me their eyes then they ran. It only takes a few times.

9. Respect the parents and be a great communicator. Don't leave them in the dark. I am not saying you need to explain everything, but communicate your passion, your beliefs about great sportsmanship, your love of the kids and the game. Let them know you have done your homework, and that you are studying and learning more about coaching youth sports every day, and that you will always make decisions that you feel are best for the team and the players. Encourage their help and support, and earn their respect.

10. Remember to have fun yourself! Being a great youth coach takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and it can also be such a blast. Sometimes it really isn't whether you win or lose, but how you played the game, and how you teach them to play the game. I cherish the opportunity and honor of being called Coach Mike for these short years, and I believe it is worth it to give everything I can give to the teams that I have the privilege to coach!

Coach Mike - Internet Marketer and youth coach.
I am a dad coach who decided to get out of the corporate life and spend more time with my family and have the time to dedicate to being the best youth coach that I could be during the few years that I will have a chance to do it.

http://www.freecoachesclinic.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_McVicar

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