Youth Sports

1. Youth Sports

2. Youth Sports Program Philosophy Review • Objectives • Outcomes you hope to reach with your program. • Principles • Pre-determined rules or actions on how you will make judgments that become policies. • Policies • Plans or courses of action adopted by you and your program.

3. Program Objectives Review (Outcomes you hope to reach with your program) • Safe, enjoyable recreation. • Positive self-concepts and self-esteem. • Motivate to achieve and desire to strive for excellence. • Lifetime participation in sports. • Leadership skills. • Self-responsibility and sportsmanship.

4. Program Objectives Review (Outcomes you hope to reach with your program) What Youth Sport is NOT About: • Entertainment for parents. • Winning games. • Competition.

5. Program Principles Review (Pre-determined rules or actions on how you will make judgments that become policies.) • Athlete-centered vs adult-centered • Recreation vs competition • Child-only vs parent involvement • Learning vs performing • Winning vs participation • Sport for all vs sport for gifted • End vs means • Quantity vs quality

6. Program Policies Let’s take a look at program policies...

7. Program Policies (Plans or courses of action adopted by you and your program What do you think the goal is for program policies?

8. Program Policies-”Program Content” What type of sports will be included? • Which sports best meets your program objectives? • Which sports are contrary to your objectives • Will you include high risks sports? • What are your policies for offering sports for different age groups, skill levels, disabilities, and genders? • What is the process for considering requests for new sports in your program?

9. Program Policies-”Athlete Participation Guidelines” Who can or cannot participate? • What is the minimum and maximum age? • Are grade levels a better way to determine participant eligibility? • Must athletes live in a particular part of the city? • Boys and girls participate together? • Should size and weight determine eligibility? • Can youth play on two teams at same time? • Fees? What if they cannot afford?

10. Program Policies-”Coach Eligibility” Who is eligible to coach? • What is the minimum age to be a coach? • What experiences are required to coach? • Do coaches need to be former players? • Do potential coaches need to go through any screening process...references, criminal records • Do you permit/encourage parent to coach? • Do you permit adults of either gender to coach boys only, girls only or mixed teams?

11. Program Policies-”Referee Eligibility” Who is eligible to officiate? • What is the minimum age to be a referee? • What experiences are required to be a referee? • Do potential referees need to go through any screening process...references, criminal records? • Do you permit/encourage parent to officiate? • Do you permit adults of either gender to officiate boys only, girls only or mixed teams? • Do referees have to be certified?

12. Program Policies-”Player Selection” How should players be selected to a team? • Will a lottery or draft system be used? • Do you permit coaches to recruit youngsters? • Do you consider skill level or ability? • Do you “cut” or eliminate? • May players request “reassignment” to a different team?

13. Program Policies-”Equipment Policies” Costs and risks associated with improper or defective equipment? • What equipment is needed to ensure participant safety and minimize risk? • Will list of acceptable equipment be provided? • Who is responsible for checking equipment before and during season? • Is equipment free or on rental basis? • Who provides the equipment? • What are policies for lost equipment?

14. Program Policies-”Facility Policies” Own vs rent? • Rent, lease or own....do policies change? • Will liability insurance be provided? • Who is responsible for checking the risks and hazards at each facility? • How frequently are facilities checked? • Who opens and closes facility? Who controls temperature, lights on and off, etc.? • Who cancels contests due to bad weather?

15. Program Policies-”Practice Policies” Safe and balanced participation • When will teams be allowed to start practicing? • Limitations on the number of practices before the season begins? • Where will practices be held? • Upper limit on the number of minutes per practice? • Must head coach be present at all times? • How are practices canceled?

16. Program Policies-”Contest Policies” Safe and balanced participation • Length of contests? • Number of innings played, minutes played, etc. • Who supervises contests? • When do you stop a game when the score is lopsided? • Mandate that every player gets to play? • Forfeits?

17. Program Policies-”Participant Behavior” Acceptable behavior • Who determines guidelines for acceptable behavior... you or coaches? • What is unacceptable behavior...cheating, violence, drug/alcohol use, harassment, smoking, swearing, etc? • What type of discipline can coach administer? • How will you involve parents when dealing with penalties for handling misbehavior? • How do you recognize good sportsmanship?

18. Program Policies-”Adult Behavior” Acceptable behavior • Who determines guidelines for acceptable behavior... you or coaches? • What is unacceptable behavior...cheating, violence, drug/alcohol use, harassment, smoking, swearing, etc? • What type of discipline can you or coach administer? • Procedure for parents to lodge complaints about coaches, officials, etc.? • Team prayers or expression of religious beliefs?

19. Program Policies-”Parent Behavior” Acceptable behavior • Are parents allowed to attend practices? • Acceptable behavior at contests? • Penalties? • Procedure for coaches to lodge complaints against parents?

20. Program Policies-”Awards & Recognition” What type will you have? • Will you have all-star teams, most valuable players, etc.? • Will you give trophies, ribbons, etc. to teams and individuals? • Will you have tournaments to identify the best team in your program?

21. Program Policies-”Health & Safety” Safeguarding the participants? • Policies for proper attire? • Must helmets and other protective gear be worn? • May rings, earrings, etc. be worn? • How do you deal with drugs and alcohol? • What about transportation to out-of-town contest? • Must coaches know 1st aid? • Plan for medical emergencies?

22. Managing Parents Let’s take a look at parent responsibilities...

23. Responsibilities parents have to their child.... • Find out what child wants from sport and from them with respect to participation. • Provide supportive atmosphere conducive to child’s participation. • Determine when child is ready to begin playing sports, setting limits on participation. • Protect from abusive coach. • Help child develop realistic expectations.

24. Responsibilities parents have to team and program.... • Cooperate with coaches. • Inform coaches of any physical or health conditions that places child at risk. • Enforce children behavior and discipline. • Provide equipment needs. • Behave appropriately as spectators. • Volunteer as official, etc. when asked.

25. PA announcer Fund raiser 1st aid Bus driver Ticket taker Usher Janitor Concessions Coach Scorekeeper Timer Official/umpire Statistician Facility maintenance “Taxi cab” driver Locker room supv. Some parent roles in helping to conduct youth sport programs