13 Tips for Parents Considering Coaching
Gail Gross, a Houston radio talk-show host who has worked as an educator and is an authority on child development, says the best thing she ever did as coach of her daughter’s basketball team was to walk away when asked. “I was the worst coach who ever lived,” Dr. Gross says cheerfully. “I’m right-side dominant and have poor vision. I dreaded every game because I was such a failure.”
How to Increase Practice Time by 10%
Here’s a tip for coaches that will help improve practice time by at least 10%! At the beginning of the season, name each of your practice drills. The first time your team does the drill, do a demonstration of it. Every practice time after, just simply call out the name of the drill and spend your extra time coaching and working on skill development.
Do You Criticize the Performance or the Player?
Coaches are an important influence in a kid’s life. Their words always carry more significance to the child hearing them than they do to the coach who is saying them. As such, it is easy for coaches to phrase things in ways that are heard as much harsher than was intended. When helping kids develop new skills or when dealing with team selections, coaches should be careful to focus player discussions on tangible behaviors and away from things that have broader personal or family meaning. For example:
What is the Difference Between Sports and Energy Drinks?
Sports drinks and energy drinks, is there really a difference? You bet there is, and it’s time athletes distinguish between the two. Below is a special article by Dave Ellis about the role sports and energy drinks are playing in today’s youth.
Discover 7 Ways to Help Build Confidence in Your Child
Early on, children learn how sports-oriented the culture is around them. As the headlines frequently tell us, some parents, and even star professional athletes, seem never to have learned the fundamentals of good sportsmanship.
Do You Know Why Kids Quit Youth Sports?
Too Many Kids Quit Sports – According to a Michigan State University study, over 70% of kids quit sports by age 13. For professional sports, that is the equivalent of losing one potential Michael Jordan or Mike Modano a week. In addition, there is no way of knowing the impact on the talent pool of business leaders and other professions where continued sports participation helps develop critical life skills.
How Can Parents Make Youth Sports More Positive?
Sports can be a fun and engaging way for children and youth to learn some important lessons about life. Studies suggest that participation in sports can be very beneficial, fostering responsible social behaviors, greater academic success, and an appreciation of personal health and fitness. Participating on a team also can give children or youth an important sense of belonging.
Do You Make These Mistakes During The Ride Home?
The youngsters are a captive audience in the back seat on the way home, but they deserve to ride in peace without being unwilling victims of their parents’ ‘station wagon syndrome.”
Youth Spotlight – Bradley Smith
Bradley Smith is 10 years old and plays for the Dallas Stars Selects Squirt ’97 Major hockey team under coach Jon Staples. Bradley has been with the Dallas Stars Selects organization since he began playing as a mite. This year, Bradley’s team traveled to Ostersund, Sweden to play in the Ulf Dahlen Cup Tournament. The team went undefeated in the tournament until a loss in the championship game. Bradley would like to someday play in the NHL.
Youth Spotlight – Jarred Smith
Jarred Smith is 13 years old and is currently a student at Coppell Middle School West, but is already looking forward moving to Coppell High School next year as a ninth grader. Last summer, he traveled to Australia with the People to People Student Ambassador program. Jarred began playing hockey when he was five, and has played travel hockey for the Dallas Stars Selects since Mites. This season he is playing on the Dallas Stars Selects ’94 Bantam Minor team. Jarred has been fortunate to have been coached by Marty MacInnis for many years and also has had several of the same teammates since those early days as well. While Jarred has primarily played defense, he recently has been moved to a forward position, where he utilized his size, strength and skill to help his line-mates put the puck into the net. Jarred is honored to have been selected recently to attend the Texas Affiliate Camp in March.
