Coaching

The idea of “dumbed down” sports is a scary concept for some. It can be hard for many adults, especially coaches, to accept. The mere idea of doing so can bring their coaching into question and evoke feelings of hesitation, resistance and fear. Many are often quick to admit, “My dad never ‘dumbed down’ sports for me, and I turned out fine.” However, watch a seasoned coach try to teach a young child without “dumbing down” sports, and they fail miserably. Still, purists claim “dumbed down” sports coaching is anything but natural.

For three days over Memorial Day weekend, it was my honor and sincere pleasure to be the keynote speaker and a guest observer at the 2009 National Annual General Meeting of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) in Dallas, Texas. The majority of the more than 700 folks in attendance were regional commissioners-the true backbone of the AYSO. The AYSO has long been at the top of my list of best national youth sports organizations. They have the right values, mission statement and an amazing number of dedicated volunteers and staff.

ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas Argues America needs more 'teaching' from its coaches.

There are very few women coaches in my community’s youth sports leagues: only 13% in AYSO and 6% in Little League Baseball and Softball.  While I found very little overt sexism or hostility toward women coaches, their stories told of informal (but very powerful) processes that discouraged them:  being informally pushed away from coaching at the entry level; feeling a constant sense of scrutiny from other adults (“is she really qualifiedRead more »

Next month, millions of kids will retrieve their baseball and softball gloves from the bottoms of drawers or from under their beds.