Kids and coaches are both a work-in-progress
No matter what questions come up in my life, I approach them with the curiosity of a writer.
Why does it happen? How can it be addressed right now? What can be done to prevent it in the future? Who is trying to improve the situation?
But some questions, such as “why are youth dropping out of sports?” are quite complex.
There are almost as many answers to that question as there are kids. I’ve written before about many of them (see related posts below).
One reason kids leave sports early that I haven’t yet touched on, is how they are encouraged (or not) by their coaches.
Coaches play as big a role as parents and teachers in setting the stage for a child’s mindset about their abilities—or lack of abilities.
An outdated practice that coaches need to abandon is labeling kids as natural athletes or “busts” as Hans Skulstad, co-founder of the Minnesota Center for Sports and the Mind describes in this short video.
In the past, coaches would look at kids in eighth or ninth grade and see the potential for them to become strong varsity players. Today, with so many opportunities to play early and often, some coaches expect kids to have varsity skills as a freshman.
Even worse, some coaches of elementary age children set expectations so high that those who can’t meet them get the message they never will.
Kids develop physically and mentally at different ages. Some kids peak in middle school, most in high school, and some not until after high school. Eliminating a child from sports at a young age is not only detrimental to that child, but in the long run, the team may lose a great teammate.
The responsibilities of a coach are far bigger than teaching kids how to win a game.
With encouragement and training, everyone can develop new skills. It’s part of a coach’s responsibility to create a culture that supports that idea.
That’s not always easy with so many vocal parents with their own idea of what the coach should be doing. But there are many organizations to support youth sports coaches, such as the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).
The PCA stands behind its vision by providing training and resources designed to make a positive impact on youth, coaches, and the youth sports organizations and schools that provide sports for kids.
All youth can benefit from a positive, inclusive sports culture that develops social and emotional skills, molds character and prepares them for competition and for life.
Positive Coaching Alliance vision
The Positive Coaching Alliance promotes viewing kids as individuals and encouraging them from where they are.
And they provide the support for coaches to do the same.
Learn more
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