10 Steps to Coaching Youth Football Ethically

I think we all know of the coaches who put winning in before the players enjoyment. On the professional level, this is expected, of course. But when we are talking about coaching young kids it's just bad form.

If you've seen the movie The Mighty Ducks, you know what I'm talking about. The opposing coach (the bad guy) drives his time to win no matter what. It's not good for the kids. So, with that in mind, here are the 10 things you need to hold to in order to coach ethically.

1. You will put your desire and drive to win in the backseat to your responsibility to keep your players safe and healthy both physically and emotionally.
2. You will respect and treat each player as an individual person.
3. You will do what is in your power to provide a safe playing environment for your players.
4. You will be knowledgeable and able to practice first aid to treat the potential injuries of your players
5. You will work to provide and execute practices that are both fun and challenging for all of your players. This can be difficult due to the fact that some of your players are much more highly skilled than others.
6. You will show by your actions and words that fair play and sportsmanship are important and you will show all these qualities to all your players
7. You will refrain from using tobacco, alcohol or drugs while on any team facilities and in front of any members of the team. Furthermore, I will provide an environment for the team that is free of any of these things.
8. You will be completely versed in the rules of the game you are coaching and you will impart these rules to the players you coach.
9. You will use the most appropriate teaching techniques for all the various skill levels you coach.
10. Above all else, you will continuously remind yourself that you are coaching a youth event and that the game is for the children, and not for the adults.
    

If you follow the above 10 point guideline in your coaching of kids football, you stand a very good chance of being remembered as the kids favorite coach. You need to do whatever you can to give them a positive environment. This doesn't mean you aren't tough. It doesn't mean you tolerate bad behavior. It does mean that you are in control and a pleasure to be around and the kids really learn something from you.

Of course, if you want to make it just perfect, be sure to take the whole team out for pizza at least once. There's nothing better than eating pizza with your team that your cool coach treated you too!

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