How to Practice a Sport You’ve Never Played Before
Most parents of children who play sports are familiar with the situation: 60 children signed up for football, but only two coaches volunteered. If someone else doesn’t get up, 20 kids, including maybe yours , won’t be able to play. You would, of course, volunteer, but you didn’t even play football (or any other sport). Surely someone with some experience and a deeper understanding of the game (like the rules) will come up. And yet they don’t. So, here you are, the head coach of 20 newly minted footballers.
Coaching is hard even if you’re good at the game, but much harder when you’re pretending until you succeed. Here’s how to actually do it.
Hire an assistant coach who knows what he’s doing
Chances are at least one kid on your team has a parent (or even an aunt or uncle) who has played the sport you are currently trying to coach – they may just not be able to make the time the head coach has. do. They may travel frequently for work or participate in other activities that will have some conflict with your practice or game day. This is normal – as the head coach, you will always show up and they can join you whenever possible.
An assistant coach who is well versed in the sport can help guide you through your workouts by selecting the most beneficial exercises for skill development, especially for those new to the sport. They can also direct the plays so that the players (and you) get a feel for the flow and rules of the game.
Get exercise ideas from YouTube
If you can’t find a knowledgeable helper, YouTube is your best bet. Search the site for videos from coaches and players who will teach you the most effective types of exercises to perform in training. You can also get pretty specific help, depending on where your players need to improve. Sticking with the football example, you can find everything from animated drills to help them learn to spread out (rather than bunch up) to dribbling drills recorded live during a 12 year old football academy .
These videos can teach you not only what to do, but also how to explain the exercises and their reasons to kids as you go. Sometimes learning a language is just as important as the movements.
Clash with other teams
Contact other coaches in your league and see if they’d like to mix workouts from time to time so the kids can get some play experience and you can get some advice from more experienced coaches. If workouts can’t be combined due to scheduling conflicts, maybe you can watch another coach during multiple workouts for fresh ideas or tips. They may also have information about local coaching clinics you can try or other resources they have found helpful in their coaching journey.
become a fan yourself
If the sport you coach has a televised professional league, it’s time to become a fan. Your kids will (probably) not play like pros, but by listening to the commentators, you can learn the nuances of the game and get general ideas for game strategies. If you coach a sport that is rarely televised, chances are your local university has a team. Consider inviting your players to a game so everyone can learn a few tips.
Be aware, however, that the rules for youth sports often differ from those for professional, collegiate or even high school levels for developmental and safety reasons. Be sure to read the rule book cover to cover. Even judges who frequently referee different sports can confuse the nuances of the rules from time to time, so you should arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible.