Are you getting ready to coach a kid's sports team for the first time? Here are a few tips that will help you and your new team succeed.
It Isn't All About Winning
Every sports team works hard to win the games that they play against other teams throughout the season, but if winning is all that anyone cares about, the experience of playing the sport won't be much fun for anyone involved. In fact, putting too much of a focus on winning would negatively affect the self-esteem of your players and make them not even want to play the game anymore.
Making sure that your team focuses on fun rather than winning will give everyone a more pleasurable experience overall. Team members will feel good about the progress they make and the successes they have, but they won't feel obligated to give themselves or each other a hard time when mistakes are made. Those mistakes can be used as learning experiences rather than being looked at as failures.
Personal Relationships Are Important
It's a good idea to create a personal relationship with each of your team members so you know exactly what motivates them, what their fears are about playing the game, how they absorb information and solve problems, and how they communicate with others. Understanding these things will allow you to help each team member with personal growth and make sure that everyone understands how to communicate and work with one another.
You don't have to invite players over for dinner or show up at their house to get to know them personally. Just take a few minutes to have a personal conversation with each player every time you meet up for a practice session. Make it a point to ask just one new question whenever you meet with your players, and before you know it, you'll understand them pretty well.
Good Sportsmanship Should Be a Priority
One of the most important things you can teach your sports team members is good sportsmanship. Bragging about a win in front of the losing team can nurture a lack of respect for one another that can bleed into school and social life. Bad sportsmanship can mean fighting between your own team members when everyone is supposed to be working together. And without good sportsmanship, some players may start feeling like they are better or more valuable than others.
Take the time to talk about sportsmanship whenever you meet up to practice. Remind your players of the importance of a good attitude and honorable sportsmanship before every game. And lead by example and display good sportsmanship whenever you're dealing with other coaches.
To learn more kids' sports coaching tips, look online for guides.
