Coaching Youth Sports – Tips for Well Intentioned Dads
Well Dad you have volunteered/been nominated to coach your child’s baseball team. You are excited about it but have no idea just what coaching youth sports entails. Don’t worry, you are not alone. There is a lot to it, but with proper planning and expectations you should be fine. Here are some things I have learned in twenty years as a player and another twenty years as a youth coach.
1. First and foremost remember that these are kids, not professional athletes. They play sports to have fun! While some of them may dream about becoming a pro, sadly, most of them will drop out of sports when they hit their teen years. Your responsibility is to help them enjoy their youth right now and learn enough to move up to another level of play.
2. Do not forget the parents! Keep them informed and involved. Let them know what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. Punctuality is very important. It’s hard to play if the kids aren’t there. Ask them for help with practice, but be sure they understand that their assistance does not make them one of the team coaches. Kids are very much aware of their parents’ presence during a game, so it is a good idea to ask Mom and Dad to keep their tempers in check and not yell at officials. As adults, you and they are to be good role models. I have had to remind a couple of fathers that they were there to support their children, not act like them. Read the rest of this entry »
Winter Sports Tips to Keep You Safe
Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean that the fun is. There are fun outdoor activities for winter too. Don’t stay cooped up in the house, get out and enjoy what winter has to offer. There are some great ski and snowboarding vacation packages available. One way to get your winter trip off to a good start is to get travel insurance, it may be something you don’t end up using, but it’s nice to have. Travel insurance seems to be one of those things that you end up needing when you don’t have it, so it’s best to play it safe. Make sure your policy has full medical and liability coverage.
Now here are some quick winter sport safety tips for you. Take a lesson before going on a slope to ski or snowboard on your own. Don’t sky on slopes that exceed your skill level. Make sure that skis, clothing and ice skates fit properly before using them. Stay in control; keep a safe distance between yourself and others. Make sure you do some stretching before skiing; you don’t want to pull a muscle on your first trip down the mountain. Pull down the safety bar on the chair lift. Read and follow all safety and warning signs. Be respectful of others using the mountain. Everyone is there to have a good time and being respectful of each other makes it a lot more enjoyable. Read the rest of this entry »