{"id":40,"date":"2008-01-08T15:56:11","date_gmt":"2008-01-08T15:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=40"},"modified":"2025-08-08T06:11:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:11:06","slug":"sports-parents-why-sports-kids-needs-great-coaching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/sports-parents-why-sports-kids-needs-great-coaching\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports Parents: Why Sports Kids Need Great Coaching"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a minute, we’re going to give you great tips from Dr. John McCarthy, director of Boston University’s Institute for Athletic Coach Education, who we interviewed recently.<\/span>Dr. McCarthy has lots to tell you about youth coaches: why they’re so important in today’s society and what makes them a positive-or negative-influence on your sports kids.<\/span>“Coaches have the chance and responsibility to enhance the growth and development of youth,” he says. What does this have to do with your role as an Ultimate Sports Parent? Read on. Believe us, it’s important!<\/span>In our society, youth coaches are often judged by their win-loss record, McCarthy says. But-especially in youth sports-that’s not the best way to evaluate a coach. For example, coaches might be very good at communication or helping your child learn valuable life skills through sports.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes a high win ratio reflects a coach’s ego-not his or her interest in ensuring kids have a positive sports experience, he says. Let go of the idea that good coaches need to have the top record, he suggests. Instead, ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n

*Is the sports experience fun for my child? Is my child engaged and learning new skills?<\/p>\n

*Is the coach well-organized? Are practices organized in a manner that keeps kids moving? Or is the coach easily distracted?<\/p>\n

*Are practices and games appropriate to your child’s skill level? “Fun means challenging at the appropriate level,” says McCarthy.<\/p>\n

*Does your child take responsibility for his or her own learning? If not, what could your coach do differently?<\/p>\n

* Does the coach engage in positive communication with the kids and help them feel successful?<\/p>\n

*Does the coach use sports as a springboard to help the athletes learn life skills such as teamwork, confidence, and focusing under pressure?<\/p>\n

Now you may have a better idea of what makes a good coach<\/a>. What else can you, as the Ultimate Sports Parent, do to ensure your child feels confident and successful?<\/p>\n

Lots. You can do lots.<\/p>\n

*Before you sign your child up for a team, interview the coach.<\/p>\n

*Once you’ve signed your athlete up for a team, be sure to watch a few practices so you understand the coach’s philosophy and style.<\/p>\n

*Once you’re sure your child has a great coach<\/a>–leave the coaching to him or her!<\/p>\n

Our Ultimate Sports Parent workbook and CD includes lots of other tips for finding the right coach, understanding his or her philosophy, and knowing just when it’s time to find a new coach or league.<\/p>\n

Award winning parenting writer Lisa Cohn and Youth Sports Psychology expert Dr. Patrick Cohn are co-founders of The Ultimate Sports Parent. Pick up their free e-book, “Ten Tips to Improve Confidence and Success in Young Athletes” by visiting https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a minute, we’re going to give you great tips from Dr. John McCarthy, director of Boston University’s Institute for Athletic Coach Education, who we interviewed recently.Dr. McCarthy has lots to tell you about youth coaches: why they’re so important in today’s society and what makes them a positive-or negative-influence … Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,5,25,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-abusive-coaches-youth-sports","category-kids-in-sports","category-youth-sports-coach","category-youth-sports-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t