It’s Time To Change Our Approach To Youth Sport BALANCE IS BETTER @iCoachKidsWorld PUTTING THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICIPANT AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING WE DO!
Sport NZ has developed the Balance is Better philosophy to inform and provide a framework that puts the needs of the participant first. It originated from the Sport NZ Talent Plan 2016-2020 that focused on growing the capability of the sporting system to better prepare athletes in their development phase to help them realise their potential. Balance is Better has now become a broader conversation underpinning Sport NZ’s overall approach to youth sport that focusses on maximising participation and skill development.
Listen here
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We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
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@jeancote46 the Canadian Sports scientist has devised three-stage model for young athletes:
Sample as many sports as possible until early adolescence;
2. Focus on a few main sports in their early and mid-teens;
3. Specialise in their mid-to late-teens. “We philosophically believe early specialisation narrows long-term potential”. Rugby NZ
More on Jean Cote in this brilliant article from Mark Osullivan https://footblogball.wordpress.com/tag/jean-cote/
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We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiaryand @LetTheKidPlay
Lots of discussion on early specialisation the last few weeks. One thing for certain in Ireland, is Girls are more likely to play multi-sport for longer than boys as it seems to be accepted more across codes. Boys it seems, are more pressurised to have to specialise earlier than girls. If you’ve ever watched girls sport the players all seem a lot more relaxed compared to boys, (Just my view, having coached and watched both play) there isn’t as much ‘win at all cost’ atmosphere that you see so much in the boys game. The pressure from adults plays a huge factor in how long children can participate in multi-sport games.
Multi-sport participation has huge benefits, far more than if child was to specialise. Keeps children interested, prevents injury Using the same muscles repeatedly for a long time can lead to serious injury. By playing different sports, players stress different muscles throughout training Playing multiple sports improves overall strength and conditioning of athletes. It also allows players to decide for longer on what sport they truly love, especially if playing at a higher level. It’s important that kids are able to try new things and options are better.
It also helps develop better movement patterns and overall game sense. Kids learn how to be a team player in different situations. It’s known to help reduce social anxiety Kids learn how to deal with adversity. You can be the star player on your football team, but sit on the bench in basketball or GAA team. Participating in multiple sports can provide cross training that can improve certain physical skills as well as help develop mental toughness. Research has suggested that Multi-sport athletes display improved health and wellness, including decreased injury rates, improved athletic performance, improved leadership skills and teamwork, better attendance in school and better academic performance.
iCoachKids ran an article on this topic and referenced “Best Practice for Youth Sport by Robin S. Vealey and Melissa A. Chase makes an interesting read. Best Practice for Youth Sport tackles the increasing professionalization and specialization of youth sport and the changing culture of youth sport.
The text explores developmentally appropriate practice and encourages athlete-centered practices that are truly beneficial for young athletes. Robin conducted a webinar for Human Kinetics last August on the subject of “Athlete Development Through Multiple Sport Participation.”
Which leads me to the interview with @saoirse_noonan Footballer with @CorkCityFCWomen and Gaelic Footballer with @OfficialCorkGAA both codes she is plays at the highest level in Ireland. Noonan scored 1-2 in Cork ladies footballers win over Kerry, and the following day both goals in Cork City’s FAI Cup semi-final win over Treaty United.
Saoirse who doesn’t get much time to reflect on here extraordinary weekends. She rarely gets space to dwell. If she not’s being transported to training or games she’s on a Zoom lecture for her Business and Marketing course at CIT.
She recently spoke to the Larry Ryan of the Irish Examiner “A few of the girls who travel farthest met up after for a bit of socially distanced food. I came straight home, I just needed to get rested up. I got home around seven.
“The journey home alone probably helped — listen to a bit of music, relax. I was able to switch off, turn the batteries off. Once I got home it was all focus on Cork City from then on.
“I wouldn’t really be used to driving to games, so the legs were a bit tighter than usual when I got out of the car.
“But my mam is extremely good to me. She had the bath ready, she had the dinner ready. I put the feet up for the rest of the night and got loads of fluids in. There’s no secret really, just recover, look after yourself. Everyone knows their own body best.
“It’s mainly about being extremely organised. I’d my gear ready for Sunday on Thursday night. I had my two bags ready to go.
“I went to soccer training Thursday and I focused a lot on my job, what I had to do for Sunday, make sure I knew my role, knew what we needed to do as a team. “Once Friday morning came, the brain switches to the other sport.”
Both sports are unpaid and self-funded for travel and training. I started by asking her At what age did she start playing sport and how did she involved?
“She’s a fantastic footballer, and a great girl as well. She’s very humble. She’s won more awards than you can imagine, but nothing phases her really. It’s just she loves playing — and that’s the beauty of it for us.”
About 5/6 I used go to my dad’s games and solo the ball around the pitch and then as I got a little older I joined in with my brothers team as my dad was the coach. I started playing soccer with Killeen boys and football with Nemo boys.
What sport did you start playing first?
I started playing hurling and football with the boys first and then soccer with the boys.
What other positions have you played in the teams?
In GAA I have always been in the forwards or midfield and soccer I have played every position I’d say, even in an international match I had to play centre back for a spell.
What about playing up in ages in sport?
Yeah My brother is 2 years older than me so I began playing with boys a lot older. Then when I went to the girls when I was only 12 when I played in the feile tournament which is u14s.
Are you playing any other sport at the moment or had you before and until what age?
I just play soccer and football now, I did play camogie up until about 16 and basketball until I was 15.
While specialization is a booming and concerning trend in youth sports, only recently we saw a document from the FAI suggesting that players (u13 boys) should commit to one ‘Elite’ Sport ‘Football’ at u13s but now we seeing children as young as 9 years old focusing solely on one discipline as they dream of becoming a professional player. Your approach can be seen as proof that such an approach is not the only route to success, at what age did you start playing sport at the highest level.
I think majority of successful sports people have played numerous sports growing up, it keeps you on your toes, keeps you active and training a lot and also it’s very beneficial as my vision of the game that I would of learned from soccer benefits me in GAA and the more intense hits in GAA benefits me in soccer, So I think at that age kids should play what they want and enjoy every minute of it.
“She’s a fantastic footballer, and a great girl as well. She’s very humble. She’s won more awards than you can imagine, but nothing phases her really. It’s just she loves playing — and that’s the beauty of it for us.”
How do you manage playing two codes at the highest level and how do you work your time, college, training, matches and recovery with the teams?
It is intense and can be extremely tough, but with an extremely supportive family and such a huge love for the game I wouldn’t change it. I know no different that running from match to match and training every night of the week.
US player Abby Wambach is the greatest header of a ball in women’s soccer history, a fact she credits to … basketball, saying “Playing basketball had a significant impact on the way I play the game of soccer,” Wambach said. “I am a taller player in soccer, in basketball I was a power forward and I would go up and rebound the ball. So learning the timing of your jump, learning the trajectory of the ball coming off the rim, all those things play a massive role.”
What do you credit your heading ability too and what are other areas are you dominant in?
Yeah I would say all my sports as I said benefit me in different ways, heading the hall you go up brace in camogie with Hurley’s swinging, you learn how to keep your eye on a much smaller ball, basketball your judging rebounds etc so all of these assist me in getting a good leap and being brave putting my head on the ball.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND women’s manager Vera Pauw has named a provisional 31-player squad for her side’s European Championship qualifier against Germany and you are named, how did you find to about the call up?
Ronan Collins my manager rang me on the Monday as I was in the car with my sister collecting recovery gear. It was extremely emotional and exciting for both of us and I’m glad I shared that moment with her.
What would you say to other players who want to play two codes at a high level and/or just haven’t decided on which one to pick?
I would say enjoy every minute, there is games etc you may need to make choices but that’s life. Anything is possible and if you set your mind on it you can achieve it. Many would of told me a couple of years ago underage there’s no way I could carry on playing both and be successful and it has driven me to continue to prove them wrong and do what I love.
“What I love about her is she’s so cool, under pressure particularly. Nothing seems to faze her. She’s a very quiet girl, she’s very unassuming. There’s no cockiness in her. Great craic and that, she’s great with the one-liners.
I suppose at some age you will need to pick as the risk of injury is higher and recovery time can be difficult with time available. How, will you make this difficult decision or would you like to be able to play both for as long as possible?
Yeah I’m still young and achieving things, I have been very lucky with injury’s only getting one bad injury which was my ACL (she sustained a partial tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the dying minutes of Cork City’s last game of the season back on 2019) but it was a small set back that has driven me on and inspired me to achieve more. (The diagnosis meant four or five months out of action along with rehab). That’s a long way down the line and I’ll keep enjoying my sport while I can.
Saoirse who is currently 21 years old and studying Marketing has played for the Irish International Women’s Team since u15s to u19s, she was also Captain through the various ages. She has represented Cork GAA County Team since her last year at School.
It’s hard to believe that it was just two summer ago when the talented dual star burst onto the senior inter-county ladies football scene. Noonan immediately earned herself the title of “super sub,” firing a 5-11 total in six championship matches from the bench.
“She’s serious,” as Rebels manager Ephie Fitzgerald said about her “There’s no point in talking, she’s a serious operator. “What I love about her is she’s so cool, under pressure particularly. Nothing seems to faze her. She’s a very quiet girl, she’s very unassuming. There’s no cockiness in her. Great craic and that, she’s great with the one-liners.
Having just being names Women’s National League Player of the Month for October she now has two huge games ahead, Cork GAA with play Galway in the semi-final of the All Ireland Senior Championship on December Sunday 06th the following weekend Cork City FC will meet Peamount United in the 2020 FAI Women’s Cup final on Saturday 12 December, both games will be live on TV.
Gilbert, W. (2017). Coaching better every season: A year-round system for athlete development and program success. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
The42.ie and The Examiner
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We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiaryand @LetTheKidPlay
Can never get enough of @KrisVDHaegen Here talking about associations having their Beliefs and Values but no action on the grass! @GAAlearning @Pat_Culhane
Without Mistakes You Never Learn
I had to write on my report ”Nice on paper but shit on the grass”
We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiaryand @LetTheKidPlay
We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiaryand @LetTheKidPlay
The vast majority of coaches are parents. Usual Mums or dads and mostly coaching their own child. They mostly start out assistant coach or a helper but soon enough find that they have taken over the role of Head Coach. That was my story to coaching anyway!
No two ways about it. Coaching with no experience is one of the hardest things you can do and more often than not you’ll get a lot of things wrong before you start to do things right.
“A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.”
Your philosophy will be ideas that determine everything you do as a coach; from how you speak to your players, how you handle the parents and communicate your coaching style and ideas about the game – i.e. the style in which you want your team to play. Your coaching philosophy will give the players and parents an insight into what you are all about.
The ‘Sandwich Approach’ is sandwiching your instruction between two supportive communications: Start with a compliment – Give the instruction – End with a positive statement that’s intended to motivate the player to use what you have just communicated.
Here are a some coaching tips that have helped me along the way:
You are most likely going to coach your own child. This isn’t something I recommend but it’s also something that virtually impossible to avoid. Let them know about your decision and ask them how they feel about it? Make sure you explain that when you’re coaching you will have two hats – the dad hat and the coach hat. That way your child is prepared for both scenarios.
Set out your goals and standards from the beginning and includes the players and parents. Hold a team meeting explaining how you like to run the team. Don’t let your standards drop and be consistent with everything you do. The players will respect you more for that. Everything you do will rub off on the players, (make sure you are a positive influence). That is why it is so important to stick to your philosophy, standards and values. The greatest managers in the world all stick to what they believe in and ingrain those beliefs into the players. Repeating the same things over and over again until the players themselves are the ones repeating it back to you. You will tweak and change as you evolve as a coach but for the most part your standards and values will stay the same.
Be clear and concise with your goals for the team. Be 100% player focused and always be fair!
Never try to keep the parents away from training and games. Be open and transparent.
Always be positive, be prepared for training and start on time. Greet the players with a smile and go out of your way to interact with every players during the session.
When your session is organised, challenging and fun, children are less likely to mess and get distracted. Avoid doing line drills or at least don’t have children waiting too long to get involved.
Try not coach the individual or the small group.
When instructing, keep it short and simple (KISS). If demonstrating try and get a player to do it if they can. When talking to the players, face them away from any distractions (sun), keep your message to around 60 seconds, max! If it’s 1-2-1 you may need to get down to their eye level.
I use the ‘Guided Discovery ‘way of teaching, a teaching model where students learn through explorations, with directions from the coach; this model is a great method for coaching.
Don’t create too much confusion in your session. Keep it to 1 or 2 topics to introduce and repeat over and over again. At the start of practice you might, let the players know what you will be working on and show them the area or space you will be working in. Ask them, “Does everyone understand” Keep your exercises (Drills) game related and age appropriate.
Reaffirm with positive instruction: use the sandwich effect. The sandwich feedback method consists of praise followed by corrective feedback followed by more praise. In other words, the sandwich feedback method involves discussing corrective feedback that is “sandwiched” between two layers of praise.
At the end of training or the game call in all of the players. Ask them: “Who saw one of your teammates do something well?” The kids are actually good at answering this question and players love peer praise. Reaffirm your points and ask them, “what are key messages they take away from the session?”
During the game, remain came and step back away from the action. How your players react on the pitch is a reflection of how you react on the sidelines. Let mistakes happy. Never highlight mistakes with anger. Mistake are stepping stones to achievements. You should always give encouragement after mistakes are made.
Coaching is not easy, especially when you’re starting out. You are always learning and evolving just like the players. Everyone goes in with very high expectations, and we don’t have control over the outcome! You are not alone here. We have all started this way and we are always learning and still making mistakes. Reach out to other coaches, there will be some at your club willing to help. Twitter is also a great place to connect and attend coaching working shops. All these things can serve as wonderful resource to getting better and more confident!
Let’s look at some takes homes from the topic above and The Important Attributes For A Coach Of Young Children:
You should never want to win more than the kids themselves.
Your team tells you a lot about who you are.
Be Approachable (Qualities) – someone we can talk to about the game or if there is a problem, Trust is very important.
Be Enthusiastic (Qualities) – Tries their best to make training and games as much fun as possible.
Be Fair (Quality) – Will give everyone a chance, even if we are not very good players. Is Loyal to players who consistently train and work hard
Be Organised (Skills) – They are ready prepared for the game or training, so we know what we are doing straight away.
And Be presentable, Be approachable and Be a good communicator;
It’s Not The Wins, It’s Not The League Titles, It’s Not The Skills You Teach. It’s The Words You Use And How You Made Them Feel. That Is Your Coaching Legacy. COACH BEYOND THE GAME!
Children Learn In Different Ways:
No two kids are the same, they all develop and learn at different rates through the various stages. Every 6 months, some improve, some regress and others stay at the same and 6 months on things change again.
Great coaches do not coach the sport; they coach the PLAYER. There is a big difference. Every PLAYER is different. They learn differently, they hear differently, they respond to teaching differently.
Bad coaches know only what worked for them as players and cannot understand why everyone does not respond the way they did. Master coaches recognise that connecting with each individual PLAYER is what makes for great players, and great teams!!!
“Youth sports in America is still failing too many of our kids. We adults are still not providing the fun environment, or the potential for true nurtured learning and emotional growth, that should define the core mission of sports for children and adolescents. Youth sports in America is simply not meeting the needs of ALL the children whom we as adults have a responsibility to serve. The failure is particularly noticeable at the younger age levels, for kids 12 and under.” – Prof Doug Abrams
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We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiaryand @LetTheKidPlay
We always like to hear your opinions and views. If you feel you have something to say or content to share, please comment below or email me coach@thecoachdiary.com
If, you don’t have anything to add then please forward this on to a friend. As always, thanks for reading. I’m also on twitter @Coachdiaryand @LetTheKidPlay
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Here talking about associations having their Beliefs and Values but no action on the grass! @GAAlearning @Pat_Culhane 
