Youth Teams – Or Are You In A Program?
Youth sports teams are often filled with coaches with great intentions. However, they traditionally limit their teaching to what they know from back when they ………. Is this bad? No, not in and of itself. However, if the individuals on that team have plans to move up and eventually play at _____ level, maybe, the coach should be looking for some help and guidance from that coach at the upper level.
Simply put, if a program would be in place, instead of a bunch of individual teams, the potential success of both the individuals and the teams at the higher level would be better served. In Aurora, from where I retired as athletic director, we had each of our head coaches develop a philosophy and approach, and communicate with coaches throughout their program – not just JV or Frosh, but middle school and youth programs as well. We like to think this approach had something to do with a football state championship as well as a wrestling state championship.
We also had each coach write out their program – all aspects (except philosophy). This way, if we change a coach, they do not have to reinvent the wheel, they have a program in place – and – they can then input their philosophy at all levels via personal contact with coaches at all levels.
With the intent to demonstrate what a program would like like completely written out, I will be sharing the Aurora City Schools Wrestling Program over the next few postings. This is my program which, obviously, has served us pretty well, but could be improved upon, and is offered an an example and may serve as a template for others. I am certain, if read through, it will generate some thought – hopefully that thought will transfer into positive action that helps coaches and programs benefit our youth.
