What It’s Like to be a Coach in Youth Sports

Coaching is a unique experience that sticks with you long after the last whistle blows and the dust on the trophies settle. It may seem intimidating or daunting to an outsider, but anyone that has coached before knows it’s more than just teaching kids how to play a game—it’s about watching them grow, seeing their eyes light up with confidence, and knowing you’ve helped shape them not just as athletes, but as people.

What Does Being A Coach Mean

As a coach, you are the one they get excited to see on a Saturday morning. You are the one who puts a smile on their face. You are the reason they learn a new skill, the reason they fall in love with sports.

Nothing compares to watching a player with no experience learn new skills and grow into a player that not only has the skills but loves the game- because of you. Being there the first time a player scores a goal, makes a basket, or hits a ball is an unforgettable moment. Their eyes light up, they throw their hands in the air, maybe even take a victory lap. They’re so proud of themselves. As their coach, you feel it too. You let them bask in the glory while you sit humbly in the background, but inside, you’re taking that victory lap with them. Being a coach means being there, being the reason someone smiles, the reason someone plays a sport, the reason someone is able to turn talent and skills into success. 

Coaching Younger Athletes

Coaching younger age groups is an adventure. You never know what they will say next. You might show up stressed from work, but by the time you leave you have a giant smile on your face. Kids don’t see sports as a means to an end like many adults do. Kids see sports as having fun, laughing with their coaches and friends. They’re learning important life skills and making progress in their athletic development, but they don’t know that. They just know they are there to try and score a goal, see their friends, high-five their coach, and eat snacks afterwards.

Coaching younger athletes keeps you feeling young too. Running around like you’re their age again, playing games with them to improve their skills and keep them focused, and passing on your love for sports will make you forget all about your adult problems and concerns. Coaching younger athletes is a blissful experience.

Coaching Older Athletes

As athletes get older, some need a bit more than a coach that shows up to teach them how to throw a ball. Some of them come to practice with heavy burdens—family issues, school struggles, or general challenges of growing up.

For many kids, sports are their safe space. As their coach, you’re often one of the few constants in their lives. You’re the person who believes in them even when they don’t believe in themselves. You’re their light at the end of the tunnel. You get to be their positive influence and their motivation to strive for better.

These players choose to show up and learn from you,  allowing you as a coach to create unique bonds with each of them. Many will look back on their time in sports and remember you. Not because you taught them how to dribble or swing a bat, but because you were there when they needed an outlet- you cared about them as people, not just athletes.

No matter the age or sport you choose to coach, being a youth sports coach is as transformative for you as it is for the players. If you have the chance to coach, take it. The impact you make and the memories you create will last a lifetime- for the players and you.

Inspired? Start Coaching With i9 Sports^®

At i9 Sports^®, we provide professionally developed coaching resources to make coaching easier. We provide practice plans, skills, drills, and videos that you can access on the go via our Mobile Coach app. For those interested in furthering their coaching experience, we also offer other optional tips, tricks, and training courses. Visit our Become a Coach page to learn more a fill out our volunteer application.