Youth Coaches: How They Influence Athletes Beyond the Game


Have you really considered the impact and influence you have on your athletes as a youth sports coach? We often measure a team’s success in terms of wins/losses in youth sports, but the immeasurable coach-athlete relationship is arguably equally, if not more important.

Baseball coaching with team smiling

Though often difficult to measure, youth sports coaches can influence and impact athletes well beyond the game. Athletes can be taught what leadership looks like, how to communicate, how to build relationships, behave and carry themselves even during times of adversity.

When you think about your own youth sports coach, what do you remember about them? Was it their ability to communicate effectively and believe in you despite maybe not being the quickest or most talented? Or was it for all the wrong reasons such as a lack of care, organization and professionalism?

Youth sports coaches are in a powerful position to impact the current and future lives of their athletes beyond what they often realize. Read on to discover why and how you can be the coach your athletes remember and want to mirror as adults.

Introductory Note: Coaches Influence on Youth Athletes

Some of you may have coached sports before to athletes in their teens and early adult years. Whilst coaching these older athletes presents many challenges, youth sports coaching is in an entirely different league.

You are not only their coach but also the mentor. You are tasked with building the player’s execution of the technical and fundamental skills of the game but to also show them what true leadership looks like, how to communicate in times of adversity and how to be a great teammate, all while building resilience.

Therefore, the environment you create, the way you communicate, your behavior and the way you conduct yourself as a coach, has huge implications on how you shape each and every athlete on your team.

These kids are impressionable.

The first step you need to take in considering your influence on youth athletes is to acknowledge this role. Recognize the power you have and start to fully understand the influence you can have when coaching the right way.

“As a coach, I think it is important to listen and pay close attention to what the athletes are saying.  You have to remember it is not just about playing sports, but assisting with building character and growth in order for them to succeed in life”. 

Dr. Tara M. Collins – Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Sports Management and Leadership (source)
Teacher sports with kids | Youth Coaches: How They Influence Athletes Beyond the Game

Influential Coaches in Sport

To get the ball rolling, we’ve listed out some past and present coaches who’ve been deemed extremely influential. If you are feeling like you need some guidance, it may be worth completing some research into how these coaches conducted themselves each and every day.

Mostly are from college sports though, as youth sports coaches don’t exactly make it into the media’s eye just yet.

Albeit these coaches have not only achieved great success on the scoreboard, it’s the unbelievable impact both on their players and the community that really makes them stand out.

Could focusing on athlete development beyond the game be the secret sauce for team success and winning?

  • Mike Krzyzewski – Duke University Basketball Head Coach

“People will not follow you unless you show them you are real. They will not believe you unless they trust you, and they will not trust you unless you tell the truth and admit you did wrong.”

Mike Krzyzewski (source)
  • Pat Summitt – Former Head coach University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012
  • Lou Holtz – Former Notre Dame Football Coach from 1986 to 1996
  • Dan Smith – Former Head Coach of North Carolina Basketball Team

“Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith…He was more than a coach — he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father”.

Michael Jorden (source)
  • Joe Paterno – Former Penn State Football Coach – The student body viewed him as a father figure and referred to him as “JoePa.” (source)
  • John Wooden – Former UCLA Bruins coach (see below)
Watch – “The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding” – John Wooden

Characteristics of an Influential Youth Coach

Though it may seem obvious what makes a good and bad coach when watching sports coaches on TV (Coach Klein, The Waterboy anyone?), we need to be a little more descriptive in youth sports.

  • Changing or modifying how a player sees themselves to reflect a more positive athlete who is, in fact, capable of achieving their goals. An influential coach creates an environment of self-belief.
  • Ensure consistency between coaching staff. There should not be a “good cop/bad cop” environment within your leadership group. Establish how your coaches are to interact with each other, the players and you at the commencement of the season.
  • Create a positive, encouraging environment where players are not compared with each other. If you are coaching an individual sport, consider a training partner to simulate a game-day environment.
  • Show a level of authority and demand this status by showing respect to your players, listening to their concerns and coaching with integrity. This can also be achieved by making everyone accountable, even yourself and the other coaches when mistakes occur.
  • Solid, clear instruction and organized training plans even if you are unable to make practice or a game for a particular reason. Getting the help of a team parent can be very useful here.
  • Setting a high, non-negotiable standard in academics despite how talented the athlete is and offer support, tutoring and extra study for those who need it. Aim to create professionals even if they don’t become professional athletes.

Have you ever seen John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success? Take a look below. Mr. Wooden says,

Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.

Now, even as a new youth sports coach, you can change your mindset and attitude to become the coach you want to be. Explore Wooden’s website here for more information.

John Wooden's Pyramid of Success
John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success

How to Be Positively Influential as a New Youth Sports Coach

Have you been tapped on the shoulder to coach the local youth sports team during a seemingly desperate time as we discuss in this article – How to Become a Youth Sports Coach?

If so, you were probably feeling slightly overwhelmed about the role even before you read this post and now you’re really sweating!

You may be thinking…Am I up to the task? I don’t know how to impact kids like John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski. Am I really the best person to lead these kids?

As the wife of a passionate youth sports coach (and previous youth sports coach myself), I can understand your apprehension. It’s confronting particularly if you are new to the game yourself.

Tip: read this post if you are coaching a sport you’ve never played.

But I often think we overcomplicate it.

We become so obsessed with the scoreboard and our reputation from a wins and losses perspective we forget the mentoring, leadership part of the role. The fun part.

We get preoccupied with obnoxious parents (read this post for advice on how to work with them) and we focus on more training instead of what’s in the best interest of the child.

Stop stressing about these issues and start coaching youth sports differently by doing the following:

  • What are your own personal values in regard to morals, work ethic, communication and attitude? Write these down.
  • What are your goals as a coach and remember these in all interactions with your players moving forward. You are an adult asked to do this job – somebody believes in you even if you don’t.
  • Be interested in learning about your athletes on and off the court (both successes and failures) and start to build an environment where it’s not just X’s and O’s.
  • Be yourself. Be genuine. Be honest. This is to both the players, parents and the community.

“Coaches hold a place of respect and authority, but still feel reachable enough for athletes to open up and view their coach as a role model or mentor”.

Ohio University – (Source)
How to Coach Soccer to 5-Year-Olds

Developing a Positive Athlete-Coach Relationship

Influential coaches do more than just show up for practice. They take the time to learn about their players well beyond the game to develop mutual respect for one another.

They know the strengths and weaknesses of all their players and show empathy and action when situations arise outside of their control, even if it’s an inconvenience.

Players need to feel their coach cares about them as a person and they’re not simply a cog in the wheel of the machine to win games.

This doesn’t mean you need to become a “friend,” enjoying some food together after every practice, but it does mean to be open to the different challenges and personalities each individual athlete presents and having a genuine want to learn about them.

Having solid coach-player relationships is what gives the job of a youth sports coach the edge over any other occupation. Coaching youngsters how to play sports can be a fun, ever-changing, enjoyable environment if you’re open to the possibility of letting your players in. Allow them to feel comfortable and brave at times of vulnerability and you will see success on and off the court/field.

“Individual athletes look to coaches for leadership and encouragement beyond the sports environment…”

(source)
Coach-shirt

Parents vs Coaches Influence on Youth Sports Athletes

For some reason the compliments, pat’s on the back and words of encouragement given by parents to their athletes are not as impactful on performance and behavior, versus the sports coach.

Is it because parents assume they are supposed to unconditionally support their child despite the circumstance? I interestingly saw recently (source) that, “maybe it’s that teens assume their parents are blinded by love, and therefore, unable to see the flaws that will lead to their inevitable (and humiliating) failure.”

Parents are hoping that a youth sports coach will see the potential in their child and offer them opportunities, advice and mentorship that they simply can’t.

Some parents volunteer to wear both hats but this often isn’t as straightforward as it’s often assumed. We talk more about the challenges of coaching your child here and when it could be time to pass the bat.

Even the most supportive, knowledgable and encouraging parent may not have the same level of influence as you do. Treat this responsibility with honor and respect, working with the parents to provide a positive environment for that child.

Parent watching sports practice | Why Coaches Should Encourage Parents to Attend Sports Practice

Summary: Youth Coaches: How They Influence Athletes Beyond the Game

You, as their youth sports coach, could be the most influential figure in an athlete’s life. You have the power to impact not only their athletic performance and success on the sporting arena, but also their behavior, leadership and how they conduct themselves off it.

Take a look at the great youth sports coaches like John Wooden or even your own childhood coach and mirror their ways in order to make a lifelong influential, positive impact on your players.

Cheers,

Emma

Emma

I get a kick of out seeing kids running around a sports field, smiling and learning about the game. I've been involved in sports since I could talk and it has taught me influential life lessons. Youth sports coaching is a powerful thing and it's an honor to be involved.

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