The 5 Biggest Headaches Coaching a Youth Sports Team

If you are reading this post to learn about challenges experienced by coaches, then you are in the right place. This post will talk about 5 biggest challenges you will experience while coaching a youth sports team. Reducing these challenges you can stay motivated, sane, and rational regardless of numbers of tasks and responsibilities.

5 Biggest Headaches Coaching a Youth Sports Team

Youth sports’ coaching is a complex, demanding job that may make you smile when a child gives you a high five or make you want to give up. And that’s not what we want! This essay examines six difficulties faced by coaches of young athletes. Some are evident, some aren’t. We also delve into ways to get through these obstacles so you can play for longer, because kids’ sports wouldn’t exist without you.

Creating Positive Relation with Parents

As a youth sports coach, establishing positive, respectful relationships with all of the team’s parents will probably be your hardest challenge. Some people will accept the welcoming environment for all people, regardless of their background, while others won’t. 

Some fans will yell and pass commands from the sidelines, making the travel home from each and every game terrible. Others would only nod and tell their child after a game, “I just loved seeing you play today,” which serves as a good reminder of why you started coaching in the first place. It’s your job to foster an environment where parents are encouraged to behave dishonestly.

Setting Expectations

Set expectations for the upcoming few months at the beginning of the season by calling a meeting with all parents and players. When practice is, what competitions are scheduled, and what is expected in terms of playing time (which, by the way, should be equal) and parental engagement. 

Be explicit about your coaching philosophies and the significance of kids’ sports being enjoyable. Use honest instances of unacceptable behavior from the actual world and don’t be afraid to be direct. Make it explicit, for instance, if you bench children for misbehavior and poor sportsmanship.

Negative Feedback from Parents

Don’t be afraid of parental criticism, but rather encourage it to take place one-on-one. When several parents confront you at once, it frequently fosters a gang mentality where little gets accomplished but finger-pointing and accusation. 

Don’t be intimidated or subjected to control; this is exactly what we want to eradicate from kid sports. Don’t completely reject parent feedback out of fear; instead, take control of when and how you listen to it. You are the coach, and they are the parents. Take charge, but refrain from going on a power trip.

Clear Path for Children

Perhaps you’ve heard of a helicopter parent or a lawnmower parent. These parents have a reputation for “mowing down” every challenge their child encounters. While most parents believe they are standing up for their kids, they are doing the exact opposite, which harms their kids’ prospects of growing up resilient.

Make the child accountable for carrying their sports bag and keeping their kits. Ensure they have their personal gear prepared for the game and make them place their water bottle on the bench. Don’t handle everything for them; instead, encourages cooperation from the patents.

Increasing Interest

When experts are youth athletes why they quit sports, lack of interest was one of the most often cited reasons in almost every study. While it is crucial for young athletes to develop their ability to handle pressure and compete, we have gone too far in that way. Children’s lack of enjoyment might be attributed to a variety of factors. You must recognize these issues and pique kids’ curiosity.

Conclusion

With dedication and understanding the good for your children, you can overcome any obstacle in your career. Each coach has different strategies to cope with these challenges and motivate youth athletes. 

Partner with Cinch.

If you are a youth sports organization, we at Cinch can help. Contact us today and speak to our team on how we can benefit your business.  Schedule a Call Today