Coaching Youth Sports Today

Coaching like parenting carries enormous responsibilities. But what is the responsibility of the Coach?

We have this misperception that coaching youth sports today is about winning.  And as I like to say, winning has nothing to do with it!  Winning is a by product of doing things right.  Of having the players and team play with passion and play with joy.

When coaches, individuals and teams play with anger the results are negative.  Like what happened with Claude Giroux and Cole Hamels recently receiving suspensions for recent low energy events.  The player and team are harmed.

A coach has a tremendous opportunity to set the tone.  A tone of happiness, joy, energy, chemistry, and unity.  We are one. We lose as one and we win as one. Together.  There are no favorites. Yes, all players have different skills but the team is one. Team chemistry is one of the most misunderstood and overlooked component to achievement.

A sense of fairness of doing the right thing is set by the coach.  When the coach uses force and becomes a dictator they have lost the team.  When a player or team is motivated by fear instead of passion or joy the team underperforms.  When a coach treats each player as if that player is his/her son or daughter then the coach is on the right track.  And how do we treat our children, with love, tenderness, supportiveness, and patience!

Every player wants to simply feel the "love" from the coach, and each player deserves that distinction.  Not just the perceived superstars.  The stars usually get enough attention, as a coach you want to also lift up the other players. You want to make sure you are spreading your sunshine on those players that may not score the goals or make the shots but do all the essential things. That's where team harmony and chemistry are created.

When you create the feeling that we are all in this together that no one is better than anyone else, you lay the groundwork for accomplishment.  Celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of every player. Yes, it can be done and must be done.

Put winning aside. Winning will take care of itself.

Build them up, raise them up, they may surprise and become greater than you or they ever dreamed.

With Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com