Archive for the ‘Sports coaching articles’ Category

Why Play Sports?

Friday, October 17th, 2008


For children everywhere, it is easy to become stimulated by the various technology and other things that are around them.  For some, it may seem like a struggle to tear your child away from the technology that is so available and ready for them.  If you want to make sure that your child is receiving a well-rounded childhood, then there are options that you can consider in order to make sure that they benefit from being young.

With all of the abilities for youth to stay indoors, it is best to begin to show them that being outdoors can be just as beneficial.  Playing sports will not only help them to get the activities that there body needs, but will help them to keep the ideal of staying shape in mind when they are older.  It is becoming more common for children and youth to grow up overweight or obese, even from the age of five.  The problem is becoming so prevalent, that several children are having problems such as type two diabetes and asthma.

No matter what age your child is, they should be getting some type of physical activity every day.  It doesn’t need to be anything vigorous, but should be something to get them moving and away from the easier stimulation in front of the television or Internet.  If your child is moving for at least thirty minutes a day, it will prevent the problems that children are growing up to have with their health.  By having something where the child is being encouraged to move around and is doing it with their peers, it will be easier to build a foundation for good physical health through activity.

If you are interested in your child staying healthy, then making sure that they play sports will give you the ability to become substantial in what they need for their physical health.  It will first prevent complications in their current health, beginning with obesity, and going into more severe problems.  Making sure that they stay physically healthy will also stay with them for the rest of their lives, making sure that they understand the importance of moving throughout the day.

When to Give Signals

Friday, October 17th, 2008


Whether you are in a practice, or playing a game on the field, you want to make sure that every game of baseball has effective communication between you as the coach and the players.  If there is confusion, it could cause one of the players to make the wrong moves and strike instead of making a home run.  Figuring out the best way to communicate effectively with your team is an important step for everyone walking away happy with the results of the game.

If you are teaching younger children, you should decide on whether you want to use signals for plays or not.  Generally, it is not recommended.  Often times, younger players will be confused about what the signals mean and can easily get them mixed up with something else.  This will have the wrong effect on their plays, as well as their ability to make the right moves at the right time.

Because most of the children are not going to pay attention to the opposing teams coach, you can easily talk to the players while they are up to bat or waiting to move bases.  This is easy to do and is effective in helping the kids to make the right moves.  Unlike a professional game, you will most likely not have to worry about the lack of signals causing the opposing team to get ahead in the game.

As the children grow older, and become more comfortable with the game, you can begin to add in obvious signals to help them develop their ability to watch what you think is best.  You will want to make sure that the signs are easy and obvious, and that the players understand when they should be looking at you for the signs.  By slowly coaching them into watching you and into the signals that you might use, it will be easier to keep them ahead and on base.

If you want to keep your team and players on track, you will want to make sure that you are effective in the signs that you give them for this.  Having the proper communication through your speech, and adding in the signs as needed, can help you to develop a strong link between your coaching insights and what the little leagues will need you to tell them.

What Coaches Need

Friday, October 17th, 2008


Being an effective winning team takes more than teaching the basics, especially from the coach.  You have a duty to the children or youth that are playing to guide them by finding whatever they need and enhancing it.  The job description that you aren’t given when you decide to become a coach is what gaps you will have to fill in order to make sure that everyone is playing at their best all of the time.

The number one rule that any coach needs to keep in mind is that one of their main goals is to get the team to understand what the goals are.  This begins by teaching the fundamentals of any game.  From here, you will be able to see what everyone needs in order to support their individual abilities to play.  By seeing the techniques that are there, and adding on your own, you can create a well rounded team.

If you are coaching a team through a practice or a game, you want to make sure that you see what they need beyond the basic techniques.  This is one of the most important aspects of coaching any team.  If you see that the team is losing and is starting to get down on energy because of it, you will need to step in and make sure that they become motivated.  You will need to find ways to uplift spirits, help push through the rest of the game, and encourage their abilities.

This same type of attitude should be kept in other situations as well, but may mean taking a different angle in what you are telling your players.  For example, if you see a player falling behind in a practice, you might not want to invoke extra encouragement in them.  They may need to hear something that is more compassionate and effective in a different way.  The goal that you want to reach with every individual player is to make sure that they hear what they need to in order to inspire them to the end.

Of course, there is always the danger of over coaching during a game or practice.  Even though you want to offer insights to all of your players, doing too much can discourage them.  There is a thin line of being able to coach players and deciding when to let them go into the game without the guidance.  If you coach too much, it may cause discouragement, extra pressure and inability to perform to the best of capacity by the players.

If you are beginning a coaching job, you will quickly find that one of your important roles is to fill in what the players don’t see.  Sometimes this comes as teaching basic physical practices, while other times it may mean reaching the players on different mental levels.  No matter what you see in every situation, it is your job to step up and make sure that everyone else has the same vision.