{"id":2026,"date":"2013-10-17T15:49:50","date_gmt":"2013-10-17T15:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=2026"},"modified":"2025-07-21T07:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:12:06","slug":"tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips For Finding The Best Coaches: They Should Instill Love Of Playing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/young-athletes-training.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/young-athletes-training.jpg\" alt=\"Help Young Athletes Compete Under Pressure\" class=\"wp-image-9088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/young-athletes-training.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/young-athletes-training-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_For_Finding_The_Best_Coaches\"><\/span>Tips For Finding The Best Coaches<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/#Tips_For_Finding_The_Best_Coaches\" >Tips For Finding The Best Coaches<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/#And_whats_the_best_way_to_do_that\" >And what&#8217;s the best way to do that?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/#Good_Coaches_Know_How_to_Motivate_the_Individual_Athletes\" >Good Coaches Know How to Motivate the Individual Athletes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/#Another_tip\" >Another tip:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>What makes great coaches who <strong>boost<\/strong> kids&#8217; <strong>confidence?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First and foremost, great coaches instill a love of the game, says Michael Langlois, a longtime coach and author of <em>&#8220;A Guide To Effective <strong>Communication<\/strong> for Youth Soccer Coaches.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8220;If nothing else, we should not kill the love players have for the game,&#8221;<\/em> he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_whats_the_best_way_to_do_that\"><\/span>And what&#8217;s the best way to do that?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Coaches should be <strong>empathic,<\/strong> he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8220;Parents are always looking for coaches who can remember what it was like to be 10, 11, or 12 and playing sports,&#8221;<\/em> he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Empathic<\/strong> coaches connect well with kids and are more likely to <strong>communicate<\/strong> well with them. And that&#8217;s great for kids&#8217; <strong>confidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, good coaches <strong>focus<\/strong> on building skills, character and <strong>confidence<\/strong> in players, instead on <strong>focusing<\/strong> on the &#8220;win,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Good_Coaches_Know_How_to_Motivate_the_Individual_Athletes\"><\/span>Good Coaches Know How to Motivate the Individual Athletes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8220;I would look for <strong>inspirational<\/strong> coaches-people who can find out what <strong>motivates<\/strong> my son or daughter,&#8221;<\/em> he says. <em>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great idea for coaches to talk to parents or give them a survey at the beginning of the season asking them what <strong>motivates<\/strong> their kids. In general, having fun and learning new skills <strong>motivates<\/strong> kids,&#8221; <\/em>he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8220;Good coaches establish joint expectations at the beginning of the season,&#8221;<\/em> says Langlois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means explaining how they plan on running the team-including how they handle playing time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If parents don&#8217;t understand a coach&#8217;s philosophy, they&#8217;re often disappointed later in the season and less supportive of the coach. And that&#8217;s not good for players&#8217; <strong>confidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Another_tip\"><\/span>Another tip:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Good coaches don&#8217;t play &#8220;the blame game.&#8221; They don&#8217;t blame the referees, other coaches or their players if something goes wrong or if they don&#8217;t win. In order to feel <strong>confident,<\/strong> kids need to feel as if their coaches are <strong>positive,<\/strong> effective leaders-not blamers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to learn more about coaches who instill <strong>confidence<\/strong> and love of the game? Exclusive members of Kids&#8217; Sports Psychology can listen to our interview with Langlois here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Makes a Good Coach &#8211; Listen Here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Kids&#8217; Sports Psychology, you&#8217;ll also find articles, ebooks, question-and-answers, additional audio interviews-and more-all intended to help you be the best sports parents possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/coaches-ensure-kids-love-their-sport\/\"><strong>Coaches: Ensure Kids Love their Sport<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/when-coaches-or-teammates-hurt-kids-confidence\/\"><strong>When Coaches or Teammates Hurt Kids\u2019 Confidence<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/when-sports-kids-are-bullied-by-coaches\/\"><strong>When Sports Kids Are Bullied By Coaches<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a><\/strong> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tips For Finding The Best Coaches What makes great coaches who boost kids&#8217; confidence? First and foremost, great coaches instill a love of the game, says Michael Langlois, a longtime coach and author of &#8220;A Guide To Effective Communication for Youth Soccer Coaches.&#8221; &#8220;If nothing else, we should not kill &#8230; <a title=\"Tips For Finding The Best Coaches: They Should Instill Love Of Playing\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-finding-the-best-coaches\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Tips For Finding The Best Coaches: They Should Instill Love Of Playing\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[39,263,182,191,321,251,117],"class_list":["post-2026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-kids-sports-psychology","tag-sports-kids","tag-sports-parents","tag-sports-parents-tips","tag-young-athletes","tag-youth-sports","tag-youth-sports-psychology","resize-featured-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}