James Landers Saint Petersburg Lays Out 5 Must Do's for Youth Football Coaches

March 24, 2011 - PRLog -- James Landers is a youth football coach in Saint Petersburg, Florida responsible for multi-conference championships and a leader in off the field youth development programs.

For the new dads entering the coaching ranks to support their own children or a seasoned veteran on the sidelines, focus on these principles to gain the most out of the experience.

Winning is a by-product of caring. Coaches and parents get their mind caught around the axle of winning while ignoring the fundamental ingredient of success. Kids do not want to know “what you know” but rather that you care. Take a genuine interest in the development of the player, know both names, where he lives and what his or her interests are off the field. You can fake your knowledge of the x’s and o’s but you cannot fake caring.

Be the leader. Your other coaches, the parents and especially the youth players need to understand that you are leader. Being the leader requires that you set an example that you can be proud of. Don’t be bashful and don’t let dissent destroy your team. If someone (coach, parent or player) fails to understand this concept, remove them quickly.

Be prepared. We have all heard the clichés, but there is an absolute truth to them. With all the support materials available on-line, there simply is no excuse for not being prepared. Don’t be “that coach” trying to figure out a practice plan on the way to the practice. No one expects you to be an expert, but be honest about what you do not know and go find the answers. Everyone will appreciate your honesty and your willingness to learn.

Be calm. What is rooted in anger ends in shame. Don’t be the coach that ruins the experience for everyone by trying to relive your own mediocre youth sport experiences through your son or daughter. Next time you are game a youth football game, notice that the coaches screaming on the sidelines are normally the same guys congratulating the other coach on his/her victory. Screaming is an excuse for poor coaching during the week and lack of preparation.

Infuse Fun Into Everything. 30 years from now, no one will remember the great play call you made to win the game. They will remember what type of overall experience you provided your team. Put someone in charge of making sure part is part of each practice.

Make No Excuses for your lack of Success. We hear it all the time. “My players are not as good or as old as the other team”. “The referee blew the game for us”, “They cheated”. When you lose, make it a learning experience. Think about what type of lesson this teaches our youth. It teaches them that someone else is in control of their success. The “the refs stole the game” mantra, if left unchecked, leads to the ,”my boss unfairly fired me” line a few decades later.

Win or Lose with Class. Teach humility and do not confuse pride with humility. Create an environment that you can be proud of.  

Remember your role. In the organizations and teams I have lead, many of the players lack the male role model that is important to their development. Do not treat this fact lightly. Embrace it and find a way of making an impact that will have long term benefits to the youth player.

For more information on James Landers check out http://www.jameslanderssaintpetersburg.com

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James Landers is the President of Highpoint Development in Tampa, FL. He lives with his wife, Chafika and their three children in Saint Petersburg, FL.