How to be a good coach for your kid

Teaching your child a new sport is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things a parent can do. Whether you’re an expert in the sport your child is interested in exploring, or you have no idea what it is, it doesn’t matter: the fundamentals of helping your kid learn a sport remain the same.

Below, we outline seven essential tips to help your child enjoy learning a new sport.

keep things fun

There’s a reason why sports are also called games: they’re meant to be fun. If your child isn’t enjoying an activity, there’s a very good chance that they will stop playing a sport. When you’re practicing with them, keep the games lighthearted. If they’re not enjoying it, take a break or try something else.

Warning: The best way to turn a kid off a sport is to try to push through when they’re consistently not enjoying it. They might tolerate it for a while, but eventually they will stop playing.

stay positive and encourage them

Your child is learning, and you should celebrate this. When they learn a new skill, praise them. If they want to practice, encourage them. Children will often focus on winning and losing at sports. It’s okay for them to do that. As a parent, however, you should focus on building a happy and confident young athlete. You will do this by praising and encouraging them as they learn and develop.

Teach them about sportsmanship

Many, but not all, children are strongly motivated to win. It is one of the things that attracts some children to sports. In places like the school yard, they can learn different ways to win, not all of them honest. As a parent, it is your job to reinforce the values of sportsmanship. That does not just mean talking about the rules of the game. It means understanding how to speak with and behave around coaches, teammates and competitors. This is an essential part of helping your child to develop as an athlete.

Let them explore

Children are naturally curious. They may decide to try one sport, or they may opt for four or five. That’s alright. As parents, our job is to guide them on their journey. Of course, you can guide them towards the sports you enjoy (they may well gravitate in that direction anyway), but never force them. Let them explore different sports, and eventually they will find the one or ones that suit them better.

Know when to step back

As parents, our job is to be their mom or dad. Not to be their coach. If you find that coaching your child causes friction or difficulties in your relationship with them, stop. There are coaches for nearly every sport that you can think of, and do not be afraid to use them. Your relationship with your child is the most important thing, and you will find that if they feel supported and happy, they will enjoy their sport even more.

One last thing…

Whether your child is just trying out a sport or dreaming of becoming a professional athlete, it’s ultimately up to them how far they want to take it. If you constantly pressure or criticize them, they might keep playing—but they probably won’t enjoy it. By keeping the experience fun and supportive, you give them the best chance to grow into a happy, confident, and well-rounded person, both on and off the field.