| Lessons for the Game and for Life |
Coaches, your job is more than rules and strategy
By Linda Frasher Meigs
Editor’s note: Linda Frasher Meigs works with the South Texas Youth Soccer Association as a member of its coaching education staff. Some material in the article is reprinted with permission from “Pass It On! Ready-to-Use Handouts for Asset Builders: Handout #39,” Search Institute, 700 S. Third St., Suite 210, Minneapolis, MN 55415, www.search-institute.org. This article originally appeared in the September-October 2002 issue of Soccer Journal.
Sport is a microcosm of society and too often parents, coaches and youth sports associations fail to recognize the important role they can play not only in building strong players, but strong members of society as well.
Why do some kids grow up with ease while others struggle? Many factors influence why some young people have success in life and why others have a more difficult time. Economic circumstances, genetics, trauma and many other factors play a role. But these factors, which seem difficult, if not impossible, to change aren’t all that matters. Research by Search Institute has identified 40 concrete, positive experiences and qualities — “developmental assets” — that have a tremendous influence on young people’s lives. And they are things that people from all walks of life, including soccer coaches and team parents, can help nurture.
Research shows that the 40 developmental assets help young people make wise decisions, choose positive paths and grow up competent, caring and responsible. The assets are grouped into eight categories:
Support — Young people need to experience support, care and love from their families and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive, supportive environments.
Empowerment — Young people need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.
Boundaries and expectations — Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are “in bounds” or “out of bounds.”
Constructive use of time — Young people need constructive enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs, congregational involvement and quality time at home.
Commitment to learning — Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.
Positive values — Youths need to develop strong values that guide their choices.
Social competencies — Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, build relationships and succeed in life.
Positive identity — Young people need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth and promise.
The asset framework is a framework that includes everyone. Families, schools, neighborhoods and individuals in a community can play a role in building assets for youths. Youth sports leagues and youth coaches have a role to play, too.
Coaches teach young people not only the rules and strategy of games but important lessons about life as well. You can help young people develop confidence and self-esteem, help them learn to resolve conflicts peacefully, teach them ways to take care of their health and well-being and help them develop skills for communicating with others.
Here are a few ways coaches can be asset builders and teach lessons for life:
• Learn the names of all the players on your team and call them by name.
• Make a point to talk at least once with each player each time you practice or play.
• Create and maintain a positive atmosphere. Two top reasons young people participate in sports are to have fun and to spend time with their friends. Winning is not one of their top reasons.
• Focus on helping players get better, not be the best. It will reduce players’ fear of failure and give them permission to try new things and stretch their skills.
• Know that highly competitive sports can often cause a great deal of stress for young people. The intense pressure that goes along with trying to be the best can sometimes lead to unhealthy outcomes such as substance abuse and/or eating disorders. Be careful not to push young people too hard and learn about the warning signs of possible problems.
• Care about your athletes’ lives outside of the sport and show them that they are valuable people as well as team members.
• Adapt your teaching style and language to the players’ age level. Young children do not always know sport terms. Use words and concepts they understand. On the other hand, older youths may be more successful when they understand the big picture they are trying to accomplish as well as the specific skills or strategies needed.
• Set goals both for individuals and for the team. Include young people in setting these goals.
• Catch kids doing things right. Be quick to praise a player’s efforts. The best feedback is immediate and positive.
• Use the sandwich method of correcting a player’s mistake. First praise, then constructively criticize, then praise again.
• Always preserve players’ dignity. Sarcasm does not work well with young people. They may not always remember what you say, but they always remember how you said it.
• Insist that all team members treat one another with respect. Then model, monitor and encourage respect. Have a zero-tolerance policy for teasing that hurts someone’s feelings.
• Be specific about a code of conduct and expectations for athletes, parents, spectators and team personnel.
• Encourage athletes to do well in school and to be motivated to achieve.
• Respect other activities and priorities in athletes’ lives. Avoid conflicts with their other commitments and respect their need for time with their families.
• Find ways each child can participate, even if he or she is not particularly skilled in the sport.
• Listen to and encourage your athletes’ dreams, concerns and desires, sports-related or otherwise.
• Develop leadership skills in young athletes by giving them opportunities to lead practice drills and develop a team code of conduct.
• Take time at the end of practice to have the group offer positive comments about each player’s performance that day. Make sure no one is left out.
• Split up cliques on the team by mixing up groups for drills and scrimmages.
• Plan a community service project for the team. It teaches players to give something back to the community.
• If you have an end-of-season gathering, take time to say a few positive things about each player. Avoid Most Valuable Player awards and other “rankings.” Focus on the relationships, the improvement of the team and the unique contributions of each player.
The developmental assets are 40 opportunities, skills, relationships, values and self-perceptions that all young people need to succeed. For more information, visit www.search-institute.org or call 1-800-888-7828.
|
|
| The Technical Area, NSCAA eNewsletter |
 |
|
|
 |
| Soccer Journal - Published seven times a year in print and once annually online, Soccer Journal is the Official Publication of NSCAA and is one of the few publications in the world produced exclusively for soccer coaches. learn more |
| Insurance - Members in the United States automatically receive $1 million in professional liability insurance, providing coverage for most soccer-related activities. learn more |
| Academy Programs - The benchmark of soccer coaching education is the NSCAA Coaching Academy program. learn more |
| Convention - The NSCAA Convention is "The World's Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches." Held each January learn more |
| Awards and Recognition - The NSCAA administers an outstanding awards and recognition program which includes Coach of the Year, All-America, long-term service and special recognition awards, designed to recognize excellence in soccer, academics and service to the game. learn more |
| Licensed Apparel - A full line of distinctive coaching gear sets you apart as a member of the NSCAA through our licensed apparel program with adidas. learn more |
| For more details, please proceed to the Benefits of NSCAA Membership Page |
|
|
