Age Appropriate Coaching, Developmental Characteristics and Coaching Strategies

The majority of our experiences as fans at youth sports events are favorable and enjoyable. However, we too often witness negative behavior by adults in the youth sports arena; conduct on the part of fellow fans, parents/caregivers, and coaches that taint our experience and threaten a positive youth sports experience for our athletes.

What can we do as parents/caregivers, coaches, or program administrators, to maintain a positive culture in youth sports, one that creates an environment where young athletes can experience all of the benefits that sports has to offer? To start, there are two important steps:

• Understand what youth are capable of at different ages so you can make sure your activities are not too easy or too difficult
• Avoid judging age-appropriate behavior as bad or immature

The developmental information contained in this resource will help you think about age appropriate ways to coach your players.

Note: Although there are predictable stages of development, remember that young people are individuals. They move through these stages at their own pace. Getting to know your players will provide information about their needs, abilities, and limits.