Silent Saturday! Good idea?

Let the kids play!

I am very intrigued by this concept that a local club in my area will implement this Saturday, which will ask, parents to be silent during the games.   Coaches will also be asked to only call out subs and to give instructions to players on the bench.   

You can read the post here:

http://www.mvsc.org/calendar/239391.html

I believe strongly in letting the kids play and learn from their success and mistakes.

I can recall when my son was 7 years old and another parent was yelling at my son to make a goal.    My son missed the goal and the parent continued to yell at my son that he should of made the goal it was easy shot.   After the game my son during our traditional ice cream asked me “Dad, do you think, Billy dad really thinks I don’t  know that I am suppose to shoot the ball to the left corner and not straight to the  goalie?  It makes me scared when he yells at me.”    I was speechless and embarrassed and could only tell my son not to worry about it and have fun.

As a parent attending my children’s games you will rarely hear me say anything during the games.   I tend to go away from the parent group and either watch from a distance or through my camera lens.    My children want me at their games and know that I am there to support them.    They know that that I am not playing in the game and it’s their time!

I hope more parents think about “Silent Saturday” concept. 

What makes a good coach?

I was recently asked two questions about youth sports.

Question #1: What makes a good coach?

Question #2: What type of coach do you prefer for your children.

Question #1: What makes a good coach?

The first and most important thing is that good coaches coach the child and then the sport.  There is a difference between coaching the sport vs. coaching the child.    Every child is different.   They learn differently, they hear differently, they respond to teaching differently.   

Good coaches recognize that connecting with each child is what makes for good athletes, and great teams.

Some coaches only know what worked for them as players and cannot understand why everyone does not respond the way they did.     My son when he was 8 years old had a baseball coach that played at fairly high level but was not able to translate his experience as a player to being a teacher of the game.    This coach was an amazing athlete but did not have the ability to teach or be a positive role model.

There are coaches that try to make every player fit in a box instead of throwing the box away.    Instead of coaching to a players’ strength while working on the weakness, they worry to much about what the player can't do and judge them solely on that. 

A good coach is great teacher!   A good coaches make the experience not only a learning one but fun at the same time.

Question #2: What type of coach do you prefer for your children.

TEACHER!

Each of my children is very different and their needs are not the same.  However there are some common themes.

Coaches that use positive reinforcement are vital in building their confidence.    

Positive and truthful criticism is something that my children seek out.   This type of criticism makes my children more confident and less hesitant to try new things.

My daughter does well with coaches that keep it simple.   My son on the other hand wants not only the technical but desires the tactical reasoning behind everything.   He wants to know why he is doing things!