Youth Football: A New Coach’s Guide to Good Decision Making, Building a Winning Team, and Developing Youth Athletes
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
This book provides valuable insights and strategies for coaching a football team, emphasizing the importance of passion, knowledge, work ethic, and the ability to bring out the best in team members. It covers various aspects of coaching, including planning for seasons, leading training sessions, motivating players, overseeing staff, and ensuring the safety of young players. The guide aims to help coaches develop well-rounded athletes and create a culture of champions, offering a comprehensive approach to building a winning football team.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-11
Length
200 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What qualities do you think make a good team player?
How can a coach help players grow both on and off the field?
What did you learn about setting goals and achieving them through this book?
Can you think of a time when good decision-making changed the outcome of a game or situation? What happened?
How do you think teamwork in sports can help you in other areas of your life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use real-life examples from sports events or personal experiences to discuss the impact of teamwork and leadership.
Encourage your child to talk about their experiences in team sports and any parallels they see with the book.
Discuss the importance of setting personal and team goals, and strategies to achieve them.
Highlight the values of persistence, hard work, and respect for others as depicted in the book.
Ask your child how they might apply the lessons learned in the book to their own team participation or daily activities.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: The book illustrates the importance of teamwork as the coach brings together individual players to form a cohesive and successful team.
Real-World Application: Children can apply the principles of teamwork in group projects at school or in community activities, learning to work with others to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Through the role of a new coach, the book teaches the value of being responsible for one's decisions and actions in shaping the team's dynamics and success.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of being responsible for their homework, chores, and their behavior towards others.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: As the coach faces challenges in building a winning team, the story highlights the virtue of perseverance in overcoming obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to keep trying and not give up easily in their studies, sports, or other activities, even when they find them challenging.
Example Lesson: Respect and Fair Play
Explanation: The book underscores the necessity of respect towards teammates, opponents, and officials, promoting the spirit of fair play.
Real-World Application: This can guide children to practice respect and fairness in their interactions at school and in play, fostering healthy relationships.
Example Lesson: Leadership
Explanation: The coach exemplifies leadership qualities, guiding and motivating the team towards their goals.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to take on leadership roles in small group activities or team sports, applying these skills to lead effectively and considerately.