Coaching young kids is more like parenting than coaching. Sometimes it feels like you are herding cats! Thankfully we can bring our parenting experience to the field and help out with coaching.
As we constantly have new volunteers coming on-board to help out, we want to share resources and tips that will help all coaches get up to speed quickly and improve their training sessions.
Everyone who registers is assigned to a team. During the season everyone receives equal practice time and plays at least half of every game.
Although some children may get hurt playing sports, we do all we can to prevent injuries. We’ve modified each sport to make it safer and more enjoyable to play. We ask you to take time to check that the equipment and facilities are safe and to teach the sport as we’ve prescribed, so that the skills taught are appropriate for children’s developmental level. We also ask you to develop your players’ fitness levels gradually so they are conditioned for the sport. And we ask you to constantly supervise your young players so that you can stop any unsafe activities.
Fair play is about more than playing by the rules. It’s about you and your players showing respect for all who are involved in HCYFC. It’s about you being a role model of good sportsmanship and guiding your players to do the same. Remember, we’re more interested in developing children’s character through sport than in developing a few highly skilled players.
We believe competition is a positive process when the pursuit of victory is kept
in the right perspective. Learning to compete is important for children, and learning to cooperate in a competitive world is an essential lesson of life. The “right perspective” means adults make decisions that put the best interests of the children above winning the contest.
HCYFC encourages parents to be involved appropriately along with their child participating in our sport programs. In addition to parents being helpful as volunteer coaches, officials, and timekeepers, we encourage them to be at practices and games to support their child’s participation.
HCYFC is an inclusive sport program. That means that children who differ in various characteristics are to be included rather than excluded from participation. We offer sport programs for children who differ in physical abilities by matching them with children of similar
abilities and modifying their sport. We offer programs to all children regardless of race, gender, religion or ability. We ask our adult leaders to support and appreciate the diversity of children in our society
and to encourage the children and their parents to do the same. We do not forfeit games; instead, we share players and proceed with planned games.
Sport is naturally fun for most children. They love the challenge of mastering the skills of the game, playing with their friends, and competing with their peers. Sometimes when adults become involved in children’s sport, they over-organize and dominate the activity to the point of spoiling children’s enjoyment of the sport. If we take the fun out of sport, we are in danger of our children taking themselves out of sport. Remember, that these sports are for the kids; make sure the kids are having fun.
Things to remind players of during game play
Read More about Underage Game Format
