Youth coaches are leaders because their role goes beyond teaching sports skills. Through sport, youth athletes can learn soft skills like motivation, work ethics, sportsmanship, etc. A coach with leadership will be able to appreciate that they are also in a position to positively influence and provide the right guidance to youth athletes through the wide array of situations they may face in sports.   

Transformational coaching is one of many approaches coaches might want to consider adopting to demonstrate good leadership to the youth athletes in sports.  It is a people-centered approach where coaches can develop better athletes by focusing on the athlete’s competence, confidence, connection and character. By doing so, youth coaches can motivate these kids and youth athletes towards achieving sport specific outcomes and personal development. If done right, youth coaches will be able to enhance the athlete’s athletic performance, improve group cohesion, lower the levels of aggression, increase intrinsic motivation and charisma.

Potential implications without transformational coaching

• Develop athletes who:
• lack leadership 
• lack motivation
• are poor team players and self-centered

Tips on performing transformational coaching (based on the 4 I)

• Idealised influence

• Discussing prosocial behaviors - good sportsmanship, respecting opponents, etc.

• Showing humility/vulnerability – getting them to clean up their own locker room, keep their own equipment when they are done.

• Inspirational motivation

• Discussing goals/expectations – what they hope to achieve at the end of training, competition.

• Expressing confidence in athlete potential – communicating this faith in them by telling them, giving them a high five.

• Promoting team concept – one for all, all for one.

• Providing rationale/explanation – Explaining the reason for punishment or intended outcome of drills.

• Intellectual stimulation

• Eliciting athlete input – hearing from the athletes themselves regarding things during and outside of training.

• Sharing decision making/leadership responsibilities – giving athletes decision making opportunities and reinforcing that not only the captain has leadership responsibilities, everyone has a part to play.

• Emphasise the learning process – like it’s ok to make mistakes, allowing them to learn how to deal with failure.

• Individualised consideration

• Showing interest – by both coach and athlete  

• Recognising accomplishments – giving praise when deserved, having awards like “most optimistic player”

Reference

Turnnidge, J., & Côté, J. (2016). Applying transformational leadership theory to coaching research in youth sport: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1-16. doi:10.1080/1612197x.2016.1189948

Further readings “Redefining success” by Dr. Jean Cote at NYSI YCC 2017 How to instill leadership using youth sports How to positively influence youth as a youth coach