Coaching Young Performers

How to adapt sports coaching and develop elite performers

Coaching Young Performers is suitable for all sports coaches and gives you essential information on:

• physical growth
• social and emotional development
• early skill learning
• cutting through the theory to present the information in a practical and useable way.

Everything you need to know about coaching young performers

Learn how to adapt your coaching style for different stages of development and individual needs. Gain tips on how to deal with many different, sometimes challenging situations. Including a chapter on identifying and developing elite performers from a young age, the resource will help you when coaching the young, developing performer and build our stars for the future. But - more importantly - make sure all children enjoy their sport.

Features include:

• "Summary" boxes to remind you of key points
• Regular tasks to help consolidate your learning and allow you to test yourself
• References throughout the text point to you in the right direction for further reading.

Chapter One: Introduction

• Why coach young performers?
• Why young performers are different to adults
• The role of the coach
• Young performers' lifestyles
• Summary

Chapter Two: Long-term development

• Related research
• Long-term Athlete Development
• Benefits of LTAD
• Implications for coaching
• Summary

Chapter Three: Psychological and Social Development

• Why do children and young people take part in sport?
• Developing competence
• Setting goals
• Motives and motivation
• Developing independence
• Effort and ability
• Creating an effective environment
• Friendship and acceptance
• Self-esteem
• Enjoyment
• Rules and fair play
• Young performers and competition
• Summary

Chapter Four: Physical Development

• Growth trends
• The adolescent growth spurt
• Skeletal development
• Responses to exercise
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Safety considerations
• Summary

Chapter Five: Skill Development

• Basic movement patterns
• Fundamental movement patterns
• Stages of learning
• Sport-specific movements
• Types of practice
• Modifying sports
• Summary

Chapter Six: Talent Identification and Young Elite Performers

• Are elite performers born or made?
• Talent identification
• Setting goals for young elite performers
• How much should young performers train or practise?
• Other issues
• Summary

Chapter Seven: Conclusion

• Where next?
• References
• Further reading

sports coach UK - Formerly known as The National Coaching Foundation, sports coach UK is the leading organisation dedicated to the development of coaching and coaches in the United Kingdom, and has provided educational and development opportunities for coaches of all levels and across all sports. As a registered charity, the organisation has developed a range of titles and workshops to support coaches at all levels. For more information on sport coach UK workshops, please visit www.sportscoachuk.org.