With the majority of coaches being volunteers who have had no prior training, most sports youth leagues have coaches who are unprepared to take on the responsibilities of coaching.
Most coaches are the parents of kids who are on the team and who may have been forced to coach because of the lack of volunteers. While there are parents who are knowledgeable with regards to the fundamentals of the sport, youth league organizations realize that simply enjoying the game is not a reliable foundation to properly coach a team of young athletes.
There are many benefits to requiring your volunteers to undergo coach training. Here are the top 7 reasons to get your volunteer coaches certified:
1. Empower your volunteersWhen a volunteer coach has no prior training or minimal knowledge of what is expected of them, they will be ill-equipped to perform their responsibilities with confidence. Volunteer coaches would approach their duties with more conviction if they were oriented with coaching basics like the program’s philosophy, mission, how to instill sportsmanship in young athletes, working with parents, motivating the kids, nutrition, safety, and how to conduct practice sessions.
2. Increase interest in volunteer coachingMany parents are hesitant to volunteer because they feel they are unqualified for the role and step aside for someone the feel would be a much better fit based on their training and experience. When this happens too often, the league is left with a limited volunteer pool to choose from. If volunteers knew that training would be provided, they would be more likely to sign up.
3. Set the standards for coaching for other youth leaguesBe the league that is known for putting the focus on young athlete safety and well-being by requiring its volunteer coaches to undergo coaching training before handling a team of young athletes. Other youth leagues in your community will follow suit.
4. Weed out volunteers who do not take the responsibility of coaching seriouslyVolunteers who express that they do not want to participate in coach training reveal themselves as not willing to take on the responsibilities essential to not only coach but ensure the safety of the children. You’ll be able to build a more dedicated, trustworthy pool of volunteer coaches once you have removed those who show a disinterest and have put their real intentions for wanting to coach into question.
5. Reduce legal liabilitiesProper training means there will be fewer occurrences of injuries. Coach training involves first aid, concussion awareness, and other safety training. This means your coaches will be equipped with the basic knowledge to control the situation from getting worse until help arrives.
6. For the peace of minds of parents with kids in the leagueParents would be at ease knowing that their child is being coached by someone who underwent the required training and was certified. This also enhances the trust that parents have in the youth league organization because they are assured that their child’s well-being and safety is placed first.
7. Young athletes will have positive experiences and stay in sports longerWhen kids get proper sports training and mentorship by a qualified coach who makes the experience fun and rewarding, they are more likely to sign up for the next season and play sports for many years to come.