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3 Big Benefits of Coaching Your Child’s Youth Sport Team

 

June 2, 2023

3 Big Benefits of Coaching Your Child’s Youth Sport Team

 

 

As a parent, we’ve all gotten the email that says, “Recruiting parent volunteers!” And it’s usually met with mixed reactions. Some of us jump excitedly at the opportunity, while others groan the moment it hits our inbox. 

But if you’re thinking about signing up as a coach for your child’s team, let us be the first to tell you: you’re in for a fulfilling and fun ride. In our opinion, here are the top benefits of coaching your child’s youth sports team. 

1. You experience their love for the game. 

When you volunteer to coach, especially if you’re coaching a rec league or a team with younger kids, you’re probably not going to get a roster of all-stars. These kids will have a variety of skill levels and abilities on the field, and they’re all there for the same reason: to have fun. As their coach, you get a front row seat to see what aspects they love about the game. Even more, you get to run the drills and games that make them laugh or run wild. Then, over the course of the season, you’ll watch their skill set development and certain aspects of the game begin to click. And that’s more fulfilling than you can ever realize. 

2. You can meet families in your community.

We get it: as an adult, it’s not always easy to make friends. We tell our kids over and over to be open to making new friends, but here we are, sitting on the sideline not engaging with anyone. As a coach in a leadership position, you’re automatically connected to other families. From the very first practice, you’ll learn every player’s name and even their parents name. And as you get to know the kids on your team, you’ll learn more and more: their favorite activities, their friends, etc. And if your child is growing up in the same community as these families, making the connections early on can be extremely helpful and beneficial. The best part? Some of the relationships you form may last beyond the season.

3. You get more time with your kid. 

Between work, housework, appointments, and other volunteer opportunities (because there’s always something!), we know it can be hard to squeeze in extra time with your kid. But being their coach puts you in a unique position with your child, and it’s something they’ll never forget. 

Not only are you supporting them as a youth athlete, but you’re also experiencing these important moments with them. When they suit up for the game, you suit up to coach. When they score a goal, you’re one of the first to give them a high-five. They might not thank you right away for dedicating your time in this way, but they’ll definitely appreciate it—trust us.