Youth sports can create a foundation for kids that they take with them throughout the various stages of their lives. It can create a sense of community, increase confidence, and ensure proper physical fitness as well.
As a parent, getting involved is something that many hope to do. But how can you get involved as a youth sports coach?
Take a Training Course
Even if you are familiar with the sport in question, or even played in your youth, there is always room for improvement. If you would like to get involved in coaching youth sports, the first step should be to get proper training.
Take a course or two to bring your knowledge up. What is crazy is that less than 10% of youth sports coaches actually have relevant training. Get an edge on the rest.
Check Out the Scene
The level of youth sports in the area can depend on where you live. For most areas, it involves the local schools. For others, there are local fields and rec centers that can also be accommodating for youth sports.
Ask around and find out what friends, parents, family, and neighbors are doing or where they may be aware of a potential youth sports coaching opportunity. It all starts by asking and taking the next steps to become a youth sports coach in your community.
All Experience Matters
The reality of the situation is that most youth coaches don’t begin as head coaches, and that is okay. Gaining experience as a youth sports coach is important and that experience can come from a variety of sources.
Sign on as an assistant coach in order to gain some experience within the coaching world. There are aspects of coaching youth sports that you may not have even considered and becoming an assistant is a great way to gain exposure before stepping up to take the head coaching job. But all of that experience adds up over time, so don’t turn it away.