Coaching Kids For Dummies

Rick Wolff, a nationally recognized sports-parenting expert, coach, and author, who is also a former professional baseball player, currently hosts a popular sports-parenting program on WFAN radio.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Foolish Assumptions 2How This Book Is Organized 3Part I: A Parent’s Primer 3Part II: Coaching Tasks 3Part III: Motivation and the Mental Game 3Part IV: Coaching Challenges 3Part V: The Part of Tens 4Appendixes 4Icons Used in This Book 4Where to Go from Here 5Part I: A Parent’s Primer 7Chapter 1: An Introduction to Sports Parenting 9Getting Started 10Soccer Moms Register Here! 12Back When I Was a Kid 14Fondly remembering the old days 15Keeping in mind how you started out 15Considering your child’s abilities 16Achieving parental balance 17What Kids Want 18From their coaches 18From their parents 20Chapter 2: Determining the Right Age to Begin Sports 23The Early Years: Ages 1 to 3 25The Learning Phase: Ages 4 to 8 26The two keys: patience and praise 26Teaching the ultimate lesson in sports 28Teaching kids how to have fun 28Coping with parental expectations 29“But I don’t want to play!” 30“I don’t want to get hurt” 31Boys and girls playing together? 32Flashes of Athletic Brilliance: Ages 9 to 12 33The beginnings of fair play 34Who teaches sportsmanship? 35Enforcing a sense of sportsmanship 36Acquiring a sense of commitment 36Developing discipline 38Young, Independent Athletes: Ages 13 and Older 38“Playing Up” a Gifted Athlete 41Chapter 3: Dealing with Your Child’s (And Your Own) Disappointments 43When Personal Goals Aren’t Met 44Avoiding the PGA (post-game analysis) 45Offering a praise sandwich 46Working off the disappointment 47When Your Child Behaves Badly 48When the Future Doesn’t Appear to Hold Promise 50When the Athlete Wants to Quit 52Chapter 4: Evaluating the Pros and Cons of Travel Teams 55Are Travel Teams Really Necessary? 56Dealing with Disappointment at Tryouts 57Knowing What to Ask a Travel Team Coach 59Keeping It Fun — Even at a Competitive Level 59Looking at Travel Teams and Burnout 60The Myth of “Staying Ahead of the Curve” 62Chapter 5: Understanding the Differences between Individual and Team Sports 63Helping Your Child After an Individual Loss 63Dealing with an “Alibi Ike” 64Reinforcing that they can only do their best 65“But I’ll never beat that other player!” 65Encouraging Sportsmanship in Individual Play 66Finding the Right Coach for Your Individual Athlete 67Coaching Your Own Child in Individual Sports 68Part II: Coaching Tasks 71Chapter 6: Outlining Your Responsibilities As a Youth Coach 73Thinking about Volunteering as a Coach 74Getting the green light from your child 74Determining whether you have the proper temperament 75Finding the time 76Head Coach or Assistant Coach? 76Focusing on Your Top Priority As a Coach 77Other coaching priorities to consider 78Having fun 79Remembering That Young Athletes Are Not Professional Athletes 80What the Kids Want from You 81What the Parents Want from You 84Chapter 7: Setting Up for the Season 85“But I’ve Never Coached Before!” 85Learning the Rules of the Game — and of the League! 86Scheduling the All-Important First Team Meeting 88Working with Your Assistant Coach(es) 92Chapter 8: Preparing and Conducting Practices 95Preparing in Advance 95Getting Kids to Manage Their Time 97Coaching by Walking Around 98Developing a Sense of Spontaneity 98Addressing Disciplinary Problems during Practice 99Setting the tone 100Drafting a code of conduct 100What is an appropriate punishment? 100Using your coaching “common sense” 102Dealing with a Child Who’s a Chronic Discipline Problem 102Recognizing and Handling Typical Excuses 104Chapter 9: Coaching during a Game or Meet 107Getting Ready for a Game or Meet 107Making some key phone calls 107Handling inclement weather 109Preparing your scoresheet 109Determining your starting lineup 110Making Last-Minute Pregame Preparations 111Coaching during a Game 112Give praise, praise, and more praise to the kids 112Act in a sportsmanlike manner 113The Post-Game Wrap-Up 117Part III: Motivation and the Mental Game 119Chapter 10: Motivating Today’s Young Athletes 121“Motivating” by Yelling — Why It Doesn’t Work 122How the best coaches motivate 123So why don’t more coaches use the quiet approach? 123How to Talk to Young Athletes Today 124Speaking at their level — not down to them 124Treating kids with respect 125Remembering that there’s no “I” in team 126Using good performances to discuss criticisms 126Helping young athletes when they’re disappointed 128Encouraging a team that’s always losing 130Motivating an individual young athlete 131Chapter 11: Teaching the Basics of Good Sportsmanship 135Understanding the Potential Impact of the Youth Coach 136Determining What Constitutes Good Sportsmanship 137Good sportsmanship begins with you 138. . . and teach the parents well, too 139Enforcing Good Sportsmanship with the Kids 139Part IV: Coaching Challenges 141Chapter 12: Handling Tough Situations with Your Team 143Understanding the Classic Types of Parents 143The flatterer 144The know-it-all 144The dingbat 145The loud-mouth 146The comparer 147Recognizing the Classic Types of Challenging Kids 148The whiner 148The egocentric superstar 149The non-talker 150The short-attention-span athlete 151Dealing with A Moody Team 152Chapter 13: Coping with Kids’ Sports Injuries 155The Basics: What You Need to Know 155Gauging your reaction 156Checking the first-aid kit 156Keeping a cell phone on hand 157Responding when kids want to return to action too quickly 157Having a Medical Professional on the Sidelines 159Making Equipment a Priority 159Addressing Special Needs of Certain Kids 160Chapter 14: Coaching Your Own Child 161Finding Out What Your Child Wants 161Communicating with Your Child 162Being Prepared for a Presumption of Favoritism 163Watching Your Words Carefully — with All Kids! 165Understanding the Politics of All-Star Teams 167Chapter 15: Dealing with the Stresses of the Job 169Congratulations, Coach — You’re the Topic ofSaturday Night Conversations! 169Working effectively with unhappy parents 170Avoiding the cold, honest truth 171Calling an emergency team meeting 173Listening to Your “Coaching Partner” — Your Spouse 175Giving Yourself a Job Evaluation 176Presenting Final Words of Praise 177Part V: The Part of Tens 179Chapter 16: Ten Things Every Parent Should Know 181Give Your Child Some Space 181Give Your Child’s Coach Some Space, Too 182Be There To Watch Your Child Compete 182Praise Your Child 183Expose Your Kids To a Variety of Sports 183Let Them Develop Their Own Passion 184Go Easy Down Memory Lane 184Be Careful About Applying Pressure 185Remember That It’s Their Childhood, Not Yours 185Let Them Dream 186Chapter 17: Ten Great Coaching Tips 187Be Sensitive to Every Child’s Needs 187Get the Kids to Believe in Themselves 188Don’t Let Noisy Parents Get out of Control 188Cooperate with Officials 189Be Careful When Trying Reverse Psychology on a Child 190Forget the Knute Rockne Pep Talks 190Keep in Mind That Motivation Still Comes from within the Child 191Be More Than Fair — Be a Good Coach 191Remember That the Younger the Kids,the Less Important the Score 192When in Doubt, Stand Back and Enjoy! 192Chapter 18: Ten (Actually, 20) Brief Tips for Becoming a Great Coach 195Give Your Team Positive Experiences 195Organize a Pre-Season Team Meeting 195Know Your Team’s Special Medical Needs 196Educate Yourself about the Sport 196Determine Your Coaching Style 196Set Realistic Expectations for the Kids 196Be Sure Your Team Has the Proper Equipment 196Organize Your Practice Sessions to Be Quick-Paced 197Put Your Assistant Coaches to Work during Practices and Games 197Remember That Parents Come to Games toWatch Their Own Kids Play 197Keep a Detailed Scoresheet 197Use the Best Motivational Technique: Praise! 197Communicate, Communicate, Communicate 198Teach Sportsmanship 198Motivate by Walking Around 198Use Common Sense When Faced with Injuries 198Avoid a Post-Game Analysis at All Costs! 198Give Upset Parents a Chance to Speak Their Peace 199Remember That Travel Teams Can Also Mean Rejection 199Keep in Mind That Kids in Individual SportsHave Unique Pressures 199Appendix A: Youth Sports Organizations 201Multi-Sport Organizations 201Baseball and Softball Organizations 202Basketball Organizations 205Football Organizations 205Golf Organizations 206Hockey Organizations 206Soccer Organizations 207Swimming Organizations 208Tennis Organizations 208Track and Field Organizations 208Coaching Resources on the Web 209Appendix B: The Coach’s Resource Kit 211To Coach or Not to Coach 211Developmental Phases of Young Athletes 213Ages 1 to 3 213Ages 4 to 8 213Ages 9 to 12 214Ages 13 and older 215Parent Meeting Checksheet 216First-Practice Checksheet 217Player Information Card 218Roster 219Scoresheet 220Bill of Rights for Young Athletes 222Bill of Rights for Coaches of Young Athletes 222Index 223Book Registration Information Back of Book