Coaching Little League can be a challenge at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Children can overcome all sorts of problems by getting involved in sport, and a good coach can change their lives for the better. As well as the benefits of physical exercise, involvement in Little League can give children better confidence, increased self-esteem and improved teamwork skills.
One of the problems coaches and helpers have to deal is the limited time that Little League training sessions offer. Children are involved in all sorts of activities nowadays, and there’s a limit to how much time they can commit to one thing. It can be frustrating for a coach trying to train and develop a team in just a couple of hours a week, but you have to work around these constraints and do the best you can in the time available. Being well organised and planning each training session in advance can help to achieve the most in the time available, but you can also offer ideas parents and children can pick up outside of training.
Offer a homework training plan.
This is a great way to develop children’s skills between training sessions, and you can tailor plans to individual needs. For example, you could offer a plan to develop a child’s catching skills. Parents, brothers and sisters can get involved, and homework training can benefit the whole family. Developing general fitness will benefit all children, and there are hundreds of ways you can suggest they do this. Most children have short attention spans and busy lives, so offer training suggestions which take less than half an hour to complete.
Offer nutrition advice
Children benefit from the physical activity involved in Little League, and you can extend the benefit to include advice about nutrition and diet. Explain how eating fruit and vegetables provides the body with fuel for sport and physical activity. Print out simple fact sheets explaining the difference between good and bad eating habits. Eating too much junk food will inhibit a child’s ability to perform at their best in any sport, and they can relate to this if you explain it in simple terms. Children should also be taught the importance of drinking water and avoiding too many sugary drinks.
Suggest videos for technique and inspiration
Children generally learn well by watching, and suggesting videos they should watch is a great way to teach and inspire them. As well as learning specific sporting skills from videos, children can benefit from watching historic games and finals. Using software such as YTD Video Downloader you can download videos to watch at your convenience. Always check that videos are suitable for children to watch, and pay attention to copyright laws when recommending something.
By suggesting ways your team can develop their skills between training sessions you can accelerate their progress and growth. Children won’t even realize the activities you suggest are benefiting them if you make things fun and enjoyable.
Remember to respect IP.
Dexter Bell is a sports coach. He likes to share his insights to help others use innovative strategies for team success.