Deliberate Play Brings The Focus of Youth Sports Back to The Kids

The pressure to perform often overshadows the joy of sports for kids. The main reason kids play sports is to have fun. Eventually pressure from adults can become overbearing, leading kids to stop enjoying sports. One way to steer the focus back to the kids is an approach called “Deliberate Play.” Based on Adam Grant’s book Hidden Potential, deliberate play can be incorporated into practices to foster a lifelong love for sports alongside skill development.

What is Deliberate Play?

Grant defines deliberate play as, “the combination of practice and play, where you take the skill you’re trying to build, break it down into core elements, and make those elements fun.” Deliberate play encourages creativity, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of the game by allowing kids to engage in enjoyable and intrinsically motivating activities, as well as explore and learn in a low-pressure environment. Parents tend to focus on improving their kids’ physical skills, but often forget about motivating and developing the athlete as a whole in the process.

Deliberate play is a tool that parents and coaches can use that allows for true athlete development that parents desire combined with an athlete-focused, low-stress environment. 

How Coaches Can Incorporate Deliberate Play

1. Design Fun Drills

Game-Based Learning: Integrate mini-games that mimic real game scenarios. For example, small-sided soccer games can encourage more touches on the ball and decision-making under pressure.

Skill Challenges: Create challenges that require athletes to use their skills in novel ways, such as dribbling through obstacle courses or shooting at unconventional targets.

2. Encourage Experimentation

Freedom to Explore: Allow athletes to try new techniques without fear of failure. This means letting them play in different positions or attempt creative plays during practice. 

Reward Creativity: Celebrate innovative plays and problem-solving efforts, even if they don’t always succeed. This reinforces a growth mindset and the value of experimentation.

3. Foster a Playful Environment

Mix Structured and Unstructured Time: Balance structured drills with free play periods where athletes can engage in spontaneous games and activities. A great time for unstructured or free play is at the beginning and end of practice, this allows kids to start and/or end on a positive memory.

Positive Reinforcement: Focus on positive feedback and constructive criticism. Highlight effort and improvement rather than just outcomes.

4. Collaborative Learning

Peer Coaching: Encourage athletes to teach and learn from each other. Peer feedback can be highly effective and reinforce social bonds within the team.

Group Problem-Solving: Set up scenarios where athletes must work together to find solutions, such as designing a play strategy or navigating a team challenge.

Deliberate play is a powerful tool for developing young athletes’ skills, creativity, and love for sports. By incorporating elements of fun, experimentation, and positive reinforcement, coaches and parents can create a nurturing environment that helps children reach their full potential. Drawing on the principles highlighted in Adam Grant’s “Hidden Potential,” we can transform youth sports into a space where every child thrives, learns, and, most importantly, enjoys the game.

Coach with i9 Sports^®

Interested in coaching youth sports and implementing these deliberate play ideas? Visit our Become a Coach page to learn more and fill out our volunteer form. 

As an i9 Sports^® coach, you will have full access to professionally developed practice plans, drills, skills, and videos that are accessible on the go via our Mobile Coach app to help you provide a positive coaching experience.