Successful business executive Bryan Specht has held leadership roles in a range of industries, including politics and communications. As the growth and innovation lead for ICF Next, he works in the marketing sector and helps organizations better connect with their customers. Bryan Specht is also an avid football fan and former player who enjoys coaching youth football teams.
Youth football coaches help kids learn the game while having fun. To achieve that, it’s important to avoid the mistakes coaches often make. Here are a few of the most common:
1. Focusing too much on conditioning. Many youth football coaches focus too heavily on conditioning drills during practice. While conditioning is important, it’s better for players to participate in other activities, such as cross-country running or push-ups, for conditioning. This gives them more practical training and uses practice time more efficiently.
2. Skipping a preseason parent meeting. With a youth team, it’s not unusual for one or more parents to think their child is a golden sports star. Unfortunately, when these parents get out of control at games, they ruin the fun atmosphere and shift the focus from the kids to themselves. To avoid this, youth coaches should always hold a parent meeting or send parents a letter to indicate the goals for the season, information about practices, and expectations for conduct.
3. Taking too long to discuss plays. All too often, youth football coaches talk for several minutes after every play about what players did wrong, what they did right, etc. This inevitably leads to players spacing out and losing interest. Instead, coaches should take only 20 to 30 seconds between plays to go over things as quickly as possible.
Youth football coaches help kids learn the game while having fun. To achieve that, it’s important to avoid the mistakes coaches often make. Here are a few of the most common:
1. Focusing too much on conditioning. Many youth football coaches focus too heavily on conditioning drills during practice. While conditioning is important, it’s better for players to participate in other activities, such as cross-country running or push-ups, for conditioning. This gives them more practical training and uses practice time more efficiently.
2. Skipping a preseason parent meeting. With a youth team, it’s not unusual for one or more parents to think their child is a golden sports star. Unfortunately, when these parents get out of control at games, they ruin the fun atmosphere and shift the focus from the kids to themselves. To avoid this, youth coaches should always hold a parent meeting or send parents a letter to indicate the goals for the season, information about practices, and expectations for conduct.
3. Taking too long to discuss plays. All too often, youth football coaches talk for several minutes after every play about what players did wrong, what they did right, etc. This inevitably leads to players spacing out and losing interest. Instead, coaches should take only 20 to 30 seconds between plays to go over things as quickly as possible.
