Coaching Children in Sport

All coaches working with children will know that they differ substantially from adults in their capabilities, capacity for development and in their ability to meet the demands that sport places upon them. Coaching Children in Sport provides an up-to-date, authoritative and accessible guide to core knowledge and coaching skills for anybody working with children in sport.

Written by a team of leading international coaching experts, teachers, psychologists and specialists in children’s issues in sport and health, the book explains why children should not be treated as mini-adults in sport and helps coaches to devise effective ways of working that not only achieve results but also take into account the best interests of the child. It examines key topics such as:

fundamental coaching skills

coaching philosophies and models

children’s physical and psychosocial development

children’s motivation

safeguarding and child protection issues and coaching ethics

sport and children’s health

talent identification and high performance coaching

reflective practice in sports coaching.

Including case studies, practical reflective activities and guides to further reading throughout, Coaching Children in Sport is an essential text for all courses and training programmes in sports coaching. It is also vital reading for all students, teachers and practitioners working with children in sport, physical education or developmental contexts.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: What Is A Coach And What Is Coaching?

John Lyle

Chapter 2: Developmentally Appropriate Approaches to Coaching Children

Bob Muir, Gareth Morgan, Andy Abrahams and Dave Morley

Chapter 3: Models of Young Player Development in Sport

Richard Bailey, Martin Toms, Dave Collins, Paul Ford, Áine Macnamara and Gemma Pearce

Chapter 4: Coaches’ Learning and Development

Chris Cushion

Chapter 5: The Essential Skills of a Coach

Ian Stafford

Chapter 6: Communication with Young Players

Julia Walsh

Chapter 7: Professional Responsibilities of Children’s Coaches

Hamish Telfer and Celia Brackenridge

Chapter 8: The Reflective Coach

Andy Miles

Chapter 9: Enhancing Children’s Positive Sport Experiences and Personal Development: A Motivational Perspective

Eleanor Quested & Joan L. Duda

Chapter 10: Physical and Movement Skill Development

Clive Brewer

Chapter 11: The Family Factor

Tess Kay and Di Bass

Chapter 12: The Child in High Performance Sport

Karl Wharton

Chapter 13: Coaching Disabled Children in Sport

Ken Black

Chapter 14: Girls in Sport

Ruth Jeanes

Chapter 15: Developmental Transitions in Sport

Mark Bruner, Leisha Strachan and Jean Côté

Chapter 16: Health of Young Athletes

Robert M. Malina

Chapter 17: Sport and Positive Youth Development

Nicholas L. Holt

Chapter 18: Children's Sport in Policy Contexts

Michael Collins

Chapter 19: The Young Player as a Learner

Tony Rossi and Richard Tinning