PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: How To Teach Leadership
Young athletes don’t become leaders overnight, but as a coach, you can help them to learn more about being a good leader. Leadership skills will benefit the team, but more importantly learning these skills will help young athletes to excel in their sport and will be of great value to them throughout their lifetime.
Though some players have natural leadership skills, all young athletes have room to grow when it comes to being a true leader. There are a few things that you can do as a coach to help your players to become better leaders.
Lead By Example
First and foremost, do your best to be a great leader. There is nothing better than leading by example. Be a positive role model. Encourage your team through the good and the bad times. Set expectations. Be organized. Use open and honest communication. Listen to them. Build trust. Show sportsmanship. And don’t be afraid to do the little things, like sweep the gym floor or set up the soccer nets. Delegate what you can, but if needed, show that you will do whatever it takes to help the team.
Talk To Your Team About Leadership
Take the time to talk to your athletes about what it takes to be a leader. Leadership is not the same for everyone. There are different leadership styles. Two obvious types are those who lead by example and those who are vocal leaders. Both can be powerful and if you have players who are a combination of the two, watch out.
Talking to each player about their strengths can help build confidence. Talking to your team and letting them know what they are capable of, can make a huge difference. For example, a player who is shy may feel reassured that their hard work is recognized as being a good example, and […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Are Youth Sports Too Competitive?
I believe the culture surrounding today’s youth sports is too competitive. Don’t get me wrong. As a coach and former college athlete, I am competitive, but when parents and coaches want to win more than the athletes, there is a problem. And the pressure that comes from this common imbalance is causing young athletes to quit sports.
Quitting Sports
In the United States alone over 45 million children play sports. Sports are fun and help teach young athletes life lessons, yet by the age of 13, nearly 70% of athletes have quit playing. Some of this is the natural ebb and flow of young people finding out which activities they truly enjoy. But many young athletes quit sports because the sport is no longer fun and has become too competitive.
Overly competitive Parents
One reason young athletes are no longer having fun playing sports is because many feel too much pressure. Though some don’t mind a little pressure from their parents, for others the pressure is too much. Many parents are convinced that their child will be in the 1% who receives a full-ride athletic scholarship and so they push until their child quits or wishes they could. These parents would be better off saving money for college instead of spending a college education worth of money on extra training and select travel teams.
There are also parents who live vicariously through their children. Putting immense pressure on them to succeed in their sport. To live the same life they did or live the life they wish they’d had. When a parent cares more about the outcome of a game or event than their child, it’s not a good thing. A parent’s constant pressure, which often includes yelling and screaming, takes the fun out of the game. But it’s not always […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Is There Ever a Good Reason to Quit Sports?
This is an important question for young athletes. Sports often have a positive influence that lasts a person’s lifetime. As a coach and a former athlete, you might think I would never say to ever quit. But that is not the case. There are times when after careful consideration, it is time to move on.
Consider Pros And Cons
Before an athlete quits, they need to put in time thinking about why they want to quit. Things like bad practices and games, or not getting along with a coach or a teammate, are generally worth working through and are part of what makes being involved in sports so important.
Sports are also important because they keep a person active. Still, you can stay active doing other non-team activities like running, cycling, skating, hiking, yoga, and golf, to name a few.
If you are trying to decide whether or not you should stay on a team, there are several things that you can do to help you make your decision. First, you might want to talk to a trusted adult and get their input. Then consider the following: Do I have an injury or illness that requires that I stop? Am I having fun? What are my priorities?
Then using the information that you’ve gathered, make a list of the pros and cons to help you decide.
Injury or Illness?
If you have a serious illness or injury that keeps you from playing, you may find it too difficult to be a part of the team. Most coaches want an injured or sick athlete to continue being a part of the team if possible and encourage them to stay. And usually, […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Use a Habit Tracker to Become a Better Shooter
Set Goals And Track Your Shooting
The first time that I tracked my shooting was during summer camp when I was in middle school. The camp had a 5000 Shot Club, and I could become a member and get a T-shirt if I made 5000 shots over the rest of the summer. I was determined to make the Shot Club and get my free T-shirt, so I got to work. When the summer ended, I was a member of the 5000 Shot Club and I got my T-shirt (which unfortunately wasn’t that cool), but the great thing was, my shooting improved.
After that, I spent more time shooting and tracking, and it continued to pay off.
During my first season playing basketball in High School, I averaged 3 points per game. The next year I averaged 17 points per game and was one of the leading scores in the Greater Spokane League. What changed? I set a goal to become a better shooter, worked on my shot and tracked the whole process.
Start by setting shooting goals for the summer and beyond, and then put them in writing. It doesn’t hurt to add when you want to achieve the goals, why you want to achieve them, action steps to reach them, possible obstacles that may arrive when working toward them and how you will overcome these obstacles, but the most important thing to do is write your goals down and then begin taking steps to reach them.
When I was coaching I had a Summer Shooting Challenge to encourage players to work on their shooting over the summer. I made a simple form where players could write down goals (including a page with blank spaces for each day of the summer). A basic habit tracker.
Use […]
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: How To Teach Leadership
Young athletes don’t become leaders overnight, but as a coach, you can help them to learn more about being a good leader. Leadership skills will benefit the team, but more importantly learning these skills will help young athletes to excel in their sport and will be of great value to them throughout their lifetime.
Though some players have natural leadership skills, all young athletes have room to grow when it comes to being a true leader. There are a few things that you can do as a coach to help your players to become better leaders.
Lead By Example
First and foremost, do your best to be a great leader. There is nothing better than leading by example. Be a positive role model. Encourage your team through the good and the bad times. Set expectations. Be organized. Use open and honest communication. Listen to them. Build trust. Show sportsmanship. And don’t be afraid […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Are Youth Sports Too Competitive?
I believe the culture surrounding today’s youth sports is too competitive. Don’t get me wrong. As a coach and former college athlete, I am competitive, but when parents and coaches want to win more than the athletes, there is a problem. And the pressure that comes from this common imbalance is causing young athletes to quit sports.
Quitting Sports
In the United States alone over 45 million children play sports. Sports are fun and help teach young athletes life lessons, yet by the age of 13, nearly 70% of athletes have quit playing. Some of this is the natural ebb and flow of young people finding out which activities they truly enjoy. But many young athletes quit sports because the sport is no longer fun and has become too competitive.
Overly competitive Parents
One reason young athletes are no longer having fun playing sports is because many feel too much pressure. Though […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Is There Ever a Good Reason to Quit Sports?
This is an important question for young athletes. Sports often have a positive influence that lasts a person’s lifetime. As a coach and a former athlete, you might think I would never say to ever quit. But that is not the case. There are times when after careful consideration, it is time to move on.
Consider Pros And Cons
Before an athlete quits, they need to put in time thinking about why they want to quit. Things like bad practices and games, or not getting along with a coach or a teammate, are generally worth working through and are part of what makes being involved in sports so important.
Sports are also important because they keep a person active. Still, you can stay active doing other non-team activities like running, cycling, skating, hiking, yoga, and golf, to name […]
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