Youth Coaching Principles: Sportsmanship, Leadership, Citizenship

If youth sports coaching throughout the United States were to be honestly evaluated, there would be some alarming concerns exhibited by poor example, lack of training and certification, omission of background/reference checks and inappropriate cultivation of a hyper-aggressive atmosphere. Conversely, the qualities of effective youth coaching must be sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship with an unwavering focus on the best interest of the young that are entrusted to their care. Coaches must be trained, evaluated and required to concentrate on character education and positive reinforcement, ingredients which must be the core of youth social and skill development.

American sport programs must turn the tide from a failing grade that does not have the total education of the youth at heart due to a win at all cost dysfunction. The proper youth athletic education program centers and inspires life lessons that include:

• Character
• Fair Play
• Teamwork
• Dedication to Study, Family and Community
• Respect
• Hard Work
• Patriotism
• Commitment
• Civility
• Proper Nutrition and Hygiene
• Safety
• Leadership
• Integrity
• Diversity
• Honesty
• Responsibility
• Self Control
• Compassion

The future of America is its youth and character education, as well as a code of ethics, must be cultivated by the coach and inseparable from personal example in all school, league and community athletic programs.

Read the National Youth Sports Coaches Association's Code of Ethics