Many young athletes and budding sports persons aspire to have a professional career in their own respective fields. No matter the skills of any young athlete, a strong coach is required for guidance every step of the way. A great coach can make or break a player. A coach with sound knowledge of the sport domain is imperative for their sporting success. Responsible coaching can help young sportsmen and sportswomen to have an enhanced training curriculum. It ensures that the youths are trained in a safe environment and encouraged to develop strong education and sport ethics. The children are encouraged and instilled a love for the sport, as opposed to traditional sports coaching which predominantly trains sports persons to perform to the maximum of their potential, sometimes at the expense of excess stress and compromising sport morals.

• Youth Sport Coaching: Development, approaches, and, educational needs.
• United States Sports Academy: Major in Sports Management for undergraduate students.
• Sport Coaching Education: Master of Science Sport Coaching education online program.
• Athletic Coaching: Athletic coaching verification program and national certification level.

Responsible Coaching

Youths require several opportunities for a play which is unstructured. The youths also need an opportunity to exercise their creativity in the game that they are playing. Responsible coaches do not generally encourage the children to have an early sports specialization. Rather, more importance is placed on individual improvement and the development of skills. Responsible coaching also ensures that the children are coached for around one hour since children have short attention span. It’s equally important for coaches to use role models for demonstrating good performance. Some other attributes of responsible coaching include teaching one sport skill at a time, using simple language for instructions, knowing individual personality traits of the youths, individualizing communications, and being a good listener. 

Communicating with your team

Being an effective communicator considerably reduces the communication gaps which may arise. Effective communication also garners respect, authority, and competence for the coach. Responsible coaches encourage teamwork and cooperation among the youths as well. The children who make a good contribution to a team’s performance are acknowledged. At the same time, the value of teamwork is reinforced to the team. To strengthen teamwork, aspects such as accountability, commitment, and unselfishness is inculcated.  

• Responsible Coaching Guide: Tips from the positive coaching alliance.
• Afraid of Speaking: Tips for better coaching communication with your team.
• Sports Coaching Brain: A blog full of expert tips to help coaching success.
• Kids Speak: Children’s preferences for coach and parent behaviour.

Dealing with Parents

One of the greatest challenges for a responsible coach is dealing with the parents. Parental expectation is a crucial issue which often creates a hindrance for the career of a budding sportsperson. Instead of encouraging a high pressured outlook towards sports training, responsible coaches try to make the training sessions more supportive for the youths by convincing the parents to change their attitude towards careers in competitive sports. The immense role of supportive parents in the success of a child’s sporting endeavour is also intimated to the parents by the coaches. All in all, the key aspect of children’s sport is fun.

• How to Coach: Video tips on how to create good relationships with parents. 
• Sports Coach: Promoting dialogue with parents. 
• Youth Sports: Dealing with parents.

Youth Baseball and Softball

photo by Jonathan: flickr

• Parents Network: Learn about youth baseball & softball programs at UC Berkeley.
• Funding: Baseball tomorrow fund for youth baseball.
• Video: Coaching hand signs and signals.
• Softball Spot: Hitting drills, pitching drills, defensive drills and more for new coaches.
• Softball for Young: A guide to baseball and softball.
• Baseball and Softball: Safety & security fact sheet.
• Little League: The official website.
• Coaching Pitching: Instruction on how to develop star pitchers.
• Coaching T-ball: Tips for coaches dealing with the youngest players of the game.
• Baseball Camps: 2010 Big Red Baseball Camp.
• Baseball Scorecard: A great “Keeping Score” tutorial and included glossary.
• WCBF: World Children’s Baseball Fair.
• Baseball: Baseball coaching resources.
• Baseball is 90% Mental: Teaching the thinking aspects of youth baseball.
• Baseball Drills: Resource center to find many baseball drills for youths.
• Girls Softball: Coaching & training tips from how to throw, catch, run and stay safe. 
• ASA: National governing body of softball.

Youth Soccer

photo by Ole Olson: Flickr

• AYSO: Official site of the American Youth Soccer Organization.
• Coaching Education: Learn about coaching at US Youth Soccer.
• Youth Soccer: Best Practices for coaching soccer.
• Soccer for Kids: Youth soccer which encourages equal play rule, fair and balanced teams, and positive coaching.
• Soccer Drills: Great drills to get young players focused and into the rules of the game
• Rules of the Game: Overview for coaches on rules, fouls, fields, free kicks and more.
• US Youth Soccer: Coaches education section. 
• Video Tutorial: Coaching young players on positions.

Youth Basketball 

photo by FMWRC: Flickr

• Youth Basketball: Coaching and skills training for children interested in the game.
• Athletics & Fitness: Athletics & fitness programs for youth basketball.
• Youth Basketball Coaching: Coaching as teaching a curriculum for youth basketball coaching.
• Profile: Profile of a leading youth basketball coaching staff.
• Basketball Drills: A number of interesting basketball drills.
• Girls Basketball: Teaching L,X and Z moves in the post.
• Coaches Clipboard: Creating offensive and defensive plays. 
• Conditioning: Tips and tricks on getting your team better conditioned for the game.
• Ball-Handling: Teaching the fundamentals of ball-handling skills and included drills.

Youth Football

photo by Matt McGee: Flickr

• Youth Sport Program: Youth football and cheerleading.
• Football Tips: Provides some tips on coaching youth football.
• Youth Football League: Homepage of the American Pride Youth Football League.
• AFCA: Official website of the American Football Coaches Association.
• Football Skills & Drills: Good resource center for youth football coaches.
• Rules and Regs: Learn about the basics of football rules and regulations. 
• Conditioning: Explains the importance of physical conditioning in youth football. 
• Coaches Guide: Create and watch live plays on this interactive site.
• Let’s Talk Football: Teaching Tackling Technique. 
• Coaches Corner: Teaching the perfect stance in youth football.
• Defense: Tips, drills and formations for youth.
• Offense: Tips, drills and formations for youth.

Youth Cheerleading

photo by Brett: Flickr

• NCSSE: Bringing safety and spirit together.
• USASF: General cheer rules and routine requirements. 
• Cougar Cheer: Tips for managing a younger squad. 
• Coaches Corner: Cheerleading questions answered. 
• New Coaches Survival Guide: Tips for practices and competitions for each season.
• Cheer 101: Exercises, motions and methods for coaches. 
• AIM USA: Cheer skills & drills. 
• We Play: Interactive cheer drills for youth and up. 
• Cheer Home: Basic jumps every cheer leader needs to learn. 
• The Stretching Handbook: Great exercises for cheerleaders before practice to help flexibility and to help prevent injury.
• Cheers and Chants: General, football and basketball cheers.

Youth Hockey

photo by Mr. Beck: Flickr

• Basics: Coaching youth hockey. 
• USA Hockey: Coaching ethics and tips. 
• A-Z Hockey: Coach Greg’s curriculum for youth hockey. 
• Pass the Puck: Tips, drills, conditioning and more. 
• Bleacher Report: Creating the perfect hockey player. 
• Play Better: Coaching for success.
• Hockey Made Simple: Basic rules of the game.
• Wendell Young: Youth tips for exercise off the ice. 
• Youth Hockey Forum: Glossary of terms. 
• Youth Hockey Online: Headlines, message board and features in the world of youth hockey.