Are You Addicted to Coaching?

Eek! I've never really looked at it that way before, but maybe I am "addicted" to coaching. Are you? :D

I recently read an article that started off like this...

"I am a youth basketball coach.

There, I've said it. They say the first step in recovering from addiction is admitting you have one.

It's really amazing that they don't have an "Alcoholics Anonymous"-type program for recovering youth sports coaches."

Actually, it turned out to be a rather good article about what youth sports should be like, the challenges many youth coaches face, and, of course, one of my favorite topics...FUN!

While there may be a few points here and there in the article that you may or may not wholly agree with, here are my favorite parts of the article:

• The author pointing out that outcomes of games typically linger longer with adults than it does with the kids
• The idea of competing without resorting to a win-at-all-cost attitude
• Helping the players realize that the "last" player is just as much a part of the team as the player with the most talent
• There are larger lessons to learn on the field that are applicable to life, not just to the game
• You serve your players best by teaching fundamentals
• Remember that it's about fun, but realize that you can have fun while still giving the kids structure
• Have a plan!!!
• Oh yeah, and don't forget the snacks

Resources for New Coaches:

If you're new to coaching and would like some help, here are a few places where you can get it:

AAF Elite Membership where you can get access to all of AAF's paid products as well as ASK ANY COACHING question you may have and get feedback from other coaches who are dedicated to this game

Keeping Softball Fun - need help with practice? Quick guide to planning practice, plus a bunch of fun drills that will keep your players engaged while improving their skills. (note: this is included free in the AAF Elite Membership)

Coaching Books at Amazon.com:

Coaching Youth Softball: A Baffled Parent's Guide

Coaching Girls' Softball: From the How-To's of the Game to Practical Real-World Advice--Your Definitive Guide to Successfully Coaching Girls

Other Softball Coaching Resources at Amazon.com