📋 Coaching your child's team for the first time
You don't need to have played the sport. You need a plan for each practice, a fair way to share playing time, and a team that has fun. Here's how to do the season, step by step.
Before the first practice
- Send parents one short message: practice times, where, what to bring, and how playing time works (everyone plays).
- Ask your league what training it offers: many have short coaching courses, and a safety course may be required.
- Make your first practice plan for your sport and the kids' age.
- Get a few cones (or shoes), enough balls for one each if you can, and a whistle.
Every practice
Follow the same shape each time: a fun warm-up game, one or two skills in small groups, a game that uses those skills, and a scrimmage to finish. Keep talks short and lines shorter. The ready plans have this shape for four sports and five age bands.
Game day
- Make the lineup before you arrive. The equal-time lineup shares the minutes fairly.
- Give each child one thing to try, not ten.
- Cheer the effort out loud: "Great run back!"
- After the game, say one good thing about the team, whatever the score.
Keep it fun
Kids who enjoy a season come back next year. Learn their names, laugh with them, and end every practice with a game they love. A team name the kids vote on is a good first-practice job.
Safety
Follow your league's rules on safety and injuries. The CDC's HEADS UP program has free training on concussion for youth coaches; it is in the Sports directory.