Coaching Young Athletes

Coach Pete Carroll famously said that “each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out; sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen”. Coaches require a multitude of skills and attributes to effectively coach in accordance with the needs, goals and aspirations of young athletes. Crucially, coaches also require an attitude that emphasises the health, well-being and growth of each individual athlete. At first glance, strength and conditioning coaches need to plan, communicate, observe and ultimately teach young athletes how to exercise in order to enhance athleticism and reduce injury risk, based on an understanding of training principles and paediatric exercise science. However, while 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 well-being of each individual and are emotionally invested in the long-term development of each child. This chapter will document the theoretical underpinnings of successful coaching principles while also providing a range of practical strategies that can be used when coaching young athletes.