Utah Football

Archive for January, 2009

Jeff Hemhauser asked:




Coaching youth football is a fun, challenging, and an absolute amazing experience.? Seeing kids progress throughout the season as football players & individuals is the most satisfying element.? Being a youth football coach comes along with many important responsibilities.? As a youth football coach you are obligated to teach kids proper & safe football play.? You must understand as a youth football coach that a lot of kids will look up to you.? The kids you coach will be a direct reflection of how you coach them.? Coaches have to realize that there is more to youth football than winning or losing.? Coaching is about practicing & teaching kids traits that will be needed to be successful throughout their life.

The first and utmost responsibility for all youth football coaches is to teach safe & proper techniques for playing football.? Football has contact on every play so it is imperative to teach safe blocking, tackling and game awareness techniques.? If coaches?do not?implement the proper techniques, injuries can occur.? Coaches need an understanding about everything from hydration/nutrition to fundamental techniques for playing football successfully & safely. Prioritize your coaching staff on teaching proper techniques and coordinating practices safely (from water breaks to hitting drills).? The last thing that you’d want to happen is have a kid get hurt because of lack of proper technical coaching.

Football coaches should always demonstrate respect for their team members, opponents, referees, spectators, parents and opposing coaches.? Coaches should remember that they are role models for a majority of their kids.? The best way to be a role model is to lead by example. Youth?football coaches should be professional in operating practices, games, and dealing with parents.? That includes being knowledgeable, informed, organized, courteous and look the part of a coach (dress appropriately).? A coach should have respect & responsibility for creating a safe & professional youth football environment.

?Football coaches should be focused on creating a team atmosphere, amongst all coaches & players.? Develop a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and commitment among the players.? Encourage group activities, such as team dinners, professional sporting events, and volunteering for community projects.? Teach your players about responsibility, coming to practice and games on time and ready to work hard (just like they will need to do as they evolve into adulthood).? Youth football is not just about winning or losing a game.? Youth football is about teaching; discipline, teamwork, hard work, & commitment to something greater than one’s self.? Youth football coaches should give nothing but 100% to each player on the team, do not?overlook any child!? Coaching youth football is comprised of volunteer parents, so coaches should expect nothing but 100% effort from their kids as well.? Coaches should never tolerate lack of effort, unexcused lateness/absents from team activities, or negative behavior towards teammates & coaches.

?Coaches main priority should be the safety of the kids.? Teaching proper techniques to ensure safety and solid football play.? Youth football coaches / players should exhibit good sportsmanship at all times.? Do not allow offensive language, cheating or fighting among teammates or to opponents.? Make sure your players understand the difference between aggressive and hostile play.? Aggressive play is playing physically within the rules with the intent to win and do ones best.? Hostile play is excessive roughness with the intent to injure. Trying to injure another player should never be tolerated.? There is no pride in winning a game by breaking the rules or causing purposeful harm to other players.? Coaches should always preach the importance of teamwork, discipline, hard work, and commitment; which is all traits needed to grow as an individual and things that are needed to be successful in life.? If you operate practices with professionalism, safety, and a team first atmosphere then your season will be something the players and coaches will always remember and enjoy looking back a pound.

?The youth mind is moldable; coaches should lead by positive example.? The responsibilities stated above are guidelines that my staff and I coach by.