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Posts by: Jason Schaitz

10 Effective Ways to Market a Youth Sports Program

Running a successful youth sports program isn’t just about offering quality coaching and a positive environment—it’s also about making sure.

5 Quick Tips to Running a Youth Football Practice (with 10 Sample Drills)

Running a successful football practice is more than just running plays—it’s about structure, energy, and teaching. A well-planned practice maximizes.

9 Ways to Build Confidence in Young Athletes

Some young athletes seem to ooze confidence. They appear unfazed during championship games, in the final minutes of a contest or.

Awards and Recognition

Awards and Recognition

As your season starts to wind down and come to an end, it will be time to conclude the program.

Beginner Volleyball Drills Every Youth Coach Should Know

If you’re new to volleyball — whether you’re stepping onto the court for the first time or working with a.

Budgeting

Budgeting

Budgeting is essential to financial management of your league and overall organization. Running these programs requires careful financial planning to.

Bullying

Bullying

Bullying can happen anywhere and the dynamics can be complex. In order to put preventative measures in place for bullying.

Celebrating the Heart of Youth Sports: Coach Appreciation Month

Youth sports coaches are more than instructors of the game. They are mentors, role models and often the first to.

Coaches Meetings

Coaches Meetings

Your coaches are the face of your program to all your participants so it is imperative that your goals and.

Coaching Youth Sports

Coaching Youth Sports

Whether you’re a league administrator or volunteer coach, everyone involved in a youth sports program should understand how to coach.

Communication

Communication

In order to run a program at a high level, you have to be an effective communicator. You can never.

Complaints and Conflict Resolution

Complaints and Conflict Resolution

If you run a well-organized program and you are a great communicator, parent and coach complaints will be at a.

Creating a Business Plan for Youth Sports

Creating a Business Plan for Youth Sports

A business plan helps you run your business and is your guide through each stage of managing the operation. The.

Customer Service

Customer Service

Customer service is the support you offer your potential customers or current participants to answer questions, address concerns, and facilitate.

Discipline in Youth Sports

Discipline in Youth Sports

Disciplining your participants is never a fun task, but is necessary when all other options have been exhausted. You may.

Essentials to Start a Youth Sports Program

Starting a youth sports program is an exciting and rewarding venture. It’s an opportunity to bring young athletes together, build.

Expanding Youth Soccer Participation with MLS GO

MLS GO is Major League Soccer’s grassroots recreational youth soccer program that reaches players outside of the traditional youth soccer.

Flag Football Gains Yardage in Parks and Rec

It’s difficult to miss the news about youth flag football’s growth. Consider the following:

Fundraising

Fundraising

Fundraising is a large part of any youth program, especially in the non-profit sector. It is important that you get.

Game Day Guide – How to Manage a Youth Football Game

With the recent spike in football-related injuries and concussions, youth football coaches must be extra careful in how they prepare.

Game Days

Game Days

Your game days are the reason kids, parents, and coaches participate in youth sports. You put all the work into.

Growing Engagement in Youth Sports

The external pressures and the way society judge athletic success are far apart from what brings us joy and fulfillment.

Health and Wellness in Youth Sports

Health and Wellness in Youth Sports

Promoting health and wellness is a big part of youth sports and a main reason sports programs are so popular..

How coaches’ positivity impacts much more than performance

In the world of youth sports, where developing skills and building character go hand in hand, the coach’s role is.

How Effective Praise Is One of the Most Powerful Tools for Coaches and Their Athletes

Praise is key to an athlete’s progression, motivation and mindset – but, it is key to remember not all praise.

How League Administrators Can Provide Better Training for Coaches

The success of any youth sports league depends heavily on the quality of its coaches. While passion and volunteer spirit.

Identifying and Treating Common Injuries and Illness

Identifying and Treating Common Injuries and Illness

First and foremost, never try to treat or diagnose a participant without being properly trained or consulting a medical professional..

In softball and baseball, girls are getting more visibility at the Little League World Series

Little League runs World Series tournaments for baseball and softball, and girls are attracting more attention at both this year..

Inclusion

Inclusion

Within a recreation sports program, it is extremely important to put inclusion at the forefront to make sure your participants,.

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to lead, influence, or guide other individuals, teams,.

League Documentation

League Documentation

Document, document, document! It is extremely important to keep well organized documentation and records on your league operations as well.

League Registration

League Registration

A well run and organized registration will give a great first impression to your participants. Whether it is done in.

League Rules and Policies

League Rules and Policies

Every league should have a very thorough set of rules and policies. It is a must have to help govern.

League Scheduling

League Scheduling

During the planning process, you should always schedule your league dates at least a year in advance. Now you are.

League Structure

League Structure

There are many things to consider when structuring your league such as the type of league and competition, age groups,.

Making Sports Facilities Accessible and Inclusive

Neighborhood parks are places where many children participate in their first athletic program. Whether it’s recreational tee-ball, baseball, softball, soccer,.

Managing a Youth Sports Board of Directors

Managing a Youth Sports Board of Directors

A board of directors for your youth sports organization can come in many different forms. You may be required to.

Managing Facilities

Managing Facilities

Every youth sports organization should have a process in place for staff or volunteers to open and close your facilities.

Managing Parents

Managing Parents

For many youth sports professionals, managing your parents is the least exciting part of your job, but is necessary. Parents.

Managing Staff and Referees

Managing Staff and Referees

Every league has their own set up and needs for staffing and referees. Some programs may be reliant on volunteers.

Marketing and Promotion

Marketing and Promotion

In Youth Sports, or any youth program, word of mouth is your strongest tool for marketing your program. In order.

Mission, Vision, and Goals

Mission, Vision, and Goals

All Youth Sports programs should have very similar goals to bring the best out of your participants. These should be.

Parent Orientation

Parent Orientation

Setting up a Parent Orientation is a great way to kick off each season and get everyone on the same.

Planning

Planning

Planning is the cornerstone of any well run league. If you fail to plan you plan to fail! Proper planning.

Positive Athlete Behavior Starts with Rethinking Practice, Not Player

Creating smooth, engaging sessions that keep athletes focused starts with how we approach behavior. In youth sports, conversations about behavior.

Practices

Practices

Practices are an important part of any youth sports program. Practice space is always limited, but hopefully you have the.

Preventative Maintenance

Preventative Maintenance

Whether you own and operate your sports facilities or have a user group agreement, we all have the responsibility to.

Preventing Abuse in Youth Sports

Preventing Abuse in Youth Sports

Youth sports provide children and adolescents with opportunities to develop physical skills, teamwork, and discipline. However, they can also present.

Program Schedules

Program Schedules

Planning is the cornerstone of any well run league. If you fail to plan you plan to fail! Proper planning.

Recruiting and Retaining Volunteer Coaches

Recruiting and Retaining Volunteer Coaches

Youth sports programs thrive on the dedication and commitment of volunteer coaches. Your program depends on your coaches. Finding and.

Risk Management

Risk Management

Risk Management is never fun but is essential in preventing a catastrophic incident that could cause serious harm and shut.

Shedding New Light on Existing Sports Facilities

Adding lighting to sports facilities brings a raft of advantages. It increases patron safety and allows facilities (fields, courts, or.

Skills Assessment and Team Formation

Skills Assessment and Team Formation

For a recreation level program, your Skills Assessment Day or Player Evaluations is the single most important day of your.

Sports Programs Youth Organizations Can Run Over the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a special time for families, but it can also be a challenge for youth sports organizations..

Staff Training and Education

Staff Training and Education

As a league administrator you are the expert. You need to take your expertise and use it to educate your.

Staying Organized in Youth Sports

Staying Organized in Youth Sports

With so many moving parts within your league, it is a task in itself just to stay organized. You have.

Supervision

Supervision

Always be supervising! Proper supervision of your league participants is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety of your.

Survey and Evaluate

Survey and Evaluate

You should make it a priority to survey and evaluate every aspect of your operation before, during, and after every.

Technology in Youth Sports

Technology in Youth Sports

Technology is important in all facets of our lives and it is no difference in your sports operation. Technology can.

The Importance of Communication for League Administrators in Youth Sports

Running a youth sports league is about much more than scheduling games and handing out uniforms—it’s about creating an environment.

The Importance of League Administrators Providing Training for Coaches, Staff, and Parents in Youth Sports

Youth sports are a powerful tool for building character, promoting physical health, and teaching valuable life skills. However, for children.

The Importance of Providing Youth Sports Training for Coaches, Staff and Parents

Youth sports is a powerful tool for building character, promoting physical health and teaching valuable life skills. However, for children.

The Off Season

The Off Season

Whether you run leagues all year round or just certain times of the year, there are always going to be.

The Ultimate Guide of Youth Soccer Rules

Soccer is a relatively simple sport with few rules to learn (except for offside!). The target is to score more.

Volunteer Management

Volunteer Management

Your volunteers are going to be the face of the league to most the kids and parents; your program cannot.

Winning Vs Fulfillment: How Society Teaches Us to Focus on the Wrong Things in Youth Sports

The external pressures and the way society judge athletic success are far apart from what brings us joy and fulfillment.

Youth Sports Advocacy

Youth Sports Advocacy

Advocacy is defined as any attempt to influence someone or support something to effect change. Advocating for your industry can.

Youth Sports Industry Overview

Youth Sports Industry Overview

Youth Sports has many benefits for young athletes. However with those many benefits come some challenges. As a Youth Sports.

Youth Sports Program Goals

All youth sports programs should have very similar goals to bring the best out of your participants. These should be outlined in.