Presented by Kate Nematollahi, Marketing Director of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, at the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association conference in October 2015.

1. Four Steps to ImproveFour Steps to Improve
Youth Sports CoachingYouth Sports Coaching
Kate Nematollahi
National Alliance for Youth Sports

2. National Alliance for Youth
Sports
• National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) is a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981 as National Youth
Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA), a training and
membership program for the dads and moms coaching
their kid's sports teams.
• NAYS offers programs and services for everyone involved in
youth sports, including professional administrators,
volunteer administrators, coaches, officials, parents, and
young athletes. NAYS strives to make playing sports fun,
safe, and positive for all kids.

3. Youth Sports Today…

4. Youth Sports Today…
What else is happening in youth
sports?
• Prevalence of
Youth Sports
Organizations
• Age of participants
• Specialization
• Travel/Select/Elite

5. Pop Quiz…

6. TodayToday’s Session’s Session
• Learn a proactive approach to
managing youth sports coaches.
• Gain insight on developing
policies for evaluation and
accountability of volunteer
youth sports coaches.
• Discuss obstacles that relate to
youth sports coach
management.
Sign giveaway!

7. Volunteer Coach

8. 1. Screening
2. Training
3. Evaluation
4. Accountability
Compare to
employment process

9. Step 1:Step 1: ScreeningScreening
Why screen coaches?Why screen coaches?
• To make an unwelcome environment for anyone who
doesn’t put children’s needs first.
• To keep people who have a history of inappropriate
behavior or who are unfit to work with children out of
your organization.
• To select the best volunteers.
• To clarify your standards and expectations.

10. • Have a written screening policypolicy
• Provide job descriptionsjob descriptions
• Obtain completed applicationsapplications
• Have a consent/release formconsent/release form signed and
dated
• EvaluateEvaluate application
• InterviewInterview the applicant
• Conduct a criminal background checkbackground check
• Review results check against disqualifiersdisqualifiers
• AccessAccess to results/expirations
Step 1:Step 1: ScreeningScreening

11. Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion
1.Describe your coach
screening process from
recruitment to selection.
2.In what ways could your
coach screening process
be improved this year?

12. Step 2:Step 2: TrainingTraining
• Orientation which includes the philosophy
of your program
• Sport specific information
• Behavior expectations – Code of Conduct,
etc.

13. •Beyond the Training
• Reinforce learning points from orientation
• Take Homes
• Commitments (Code of Ethics)
• Resources
• Drills & Skills
• Practice Planners
• Peer to Peer Resources
• Coaching Tools
• Communication Tools
• Self Evaluators
Step 2:Step 2: TrainingTraining

14. Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion
1.Describe the training and
resources you provide to
coaches.
2.What’s the most important
thing you want your
coaches to know? (Your
opinion)

15. Step 3:Step 3: EvaluationEvaluation
• How are your coaches
doing?
• Feedback from parents
• Type of feedback
• Frequency of feedback
• Evaluations should be
convenient and practical
• Define steps for reviewing
and responding to
evaluations

16. Step 4:Step 4: AccountabilityAccountability
• Codes of Ethics
• Established Procedures for
Disciplinary Actions
 Reporting
 Responding
 Follow Through
• Coach Accountability
Committee/Individual
• Information Sharing

17. Scenarios
A parent calls you and says that his child’s
coach plays favorites and disregards the
playing time policy. The parent is upset
because kids who do not attend practices
regularly are getting more playing time
than his child. He does not want to be
confrontational with the coach because
they are friends but wants to see the
established playing time policy enforced.
How do you handle this situation?

18. Scenarios
Last year your committee made the
decision to permanently suspend a coach
from your program. You recently heard
from a parent that this individual is
coaching in a neighboring league.
What actions do you take, if any?

19. 1. ScreeningScreening – Guidelines &
Management
2. TrainingTraining – Live and Online Clinics –
continuing education – membership
benefits - value
3. EvaluationEvaluation – Coach Rating System
4. AccountabilityAccountability – Code of Conduct/
Reporting & Revocation Procedures

20. • Training
• Membership
• Management
Coach
Administrato
r
National Youth Sports Coaches
Association

21. NYSCA Training
– Online & Live Clinics
• $20 Annual Membership
– Part 1: Coaching Youth Sports
– Part 2: Sport Specific Training
• 12 specific sport trainings
• live clinic options for non-traditional
sports
– Code of Ethics
– Exam

22. Login to NYSCA online clinic:
www.nays.org/nyscaonline

23. Part 1: Coaching Youth Sports

24. Psychology and philosophy
Tips on communication
Teach good sportsmanship
Work with parents
Safety
Injury prevention
Conditioning
Nutrition/Hydration
Part 1: Coaching Youth Sports

26. Part 2: Sport Specific Training
12 sports
 Baseball
 Softball
 Basketball
 Football
 Flag Football
 Boys Lacrosse
 Girls Lacrosse
 Soccer
 Ice Hockey
 Inline Hockey
 Cheerleading
 Volleyball

27. NYSCA Membership
– Benefits
• Training course
• Membership card
• $1,000,000 in excess
liability coverage
– Increases to 2,000,000 +
$250,000 accident in year 2
• Youth Sports Journal
• SportingKid Live!
• Coaching E-Newsletter
• Additional trainings at no
cost
– Online Membership

28. Login to NYSCA member area at:
www.nays.org

29. NYSCA member area:NYSCA member area:

30. NYSCA member area:NYSCA member area:

32. Additional FREE TrainingsAdditional FREE Trainings

33. Advanced Training Option

34. Chapter Management
Coach Oversight &
Management
– View Member Status
– Coach accountability procedures
– Order materials
– Download forms
– Set-up/manage background
checks
– Manage coach evaluations
– Access to youth league resources
– Chapter E-Newsletter

35. Log in to NYSCA Chapter Management at:Log in to NYSCA Chapter Management at:
www.nays.orgwww.nays.org

36. Chapter Management area:Chapter Management area:

38. Rate Your Coach ResultsRate Your Coach Results

39. Coach AccountabilityCoach Accountability
Reporting Feature:
Allows NAYS to keep
track of incidents and
report back to chapters
National Guidelines:
Created with input from
youth sports
professionals
Revocation :
Coaches not living up to
the Code of Ethics can
have their memberships
revoked -permanently

40. Starting a ChapterStarting a Chapter
No fees to be a Chapter. First step to get started
with the Chapter development process is to
complete the Chapter Interest Form online.
www.nays.org/start-a-chapter

41. Your
Responsibility

42. Thank you for all you do for the
children in your community!
kate@nays.org
1-800-688-5437
www.nays.org/presentations/cpra-2015