Coaching young athletes

Coach John Wooden famously said that a ‘good coach can change a game, but a great coach can change a life’. Coaches require a multitude of skills and attributes to effectively coach in accordance with the needs, goals and aspirations of young athletes. At a first glance, strength and conditioning coaches need to plan, communicate, observe and ultimately teach young athletes how to exercise to enhance athleticism and reduce injury risk, based on an understanding of training principles and paediatric exercise science. However, although this is a challenge in itself, the role of the strength and conditioning coach goes beyond merely prescribing sets and reps for a given exercise. In addition, the most effective coaches genuinely care about the welfare and wellbeing of each individual, and are emotionally invested in the long-term development of each child. This chapter documents the theoretical underpinnings of successful coaching principles while also providing a range of practical strategies that can be used when coaching young athletes.