10 Things Coaches Want Parents to Know

We ran across an interesting post on parents & coaches that we thought we'd pass along. Regardless of your player's age or sport, there are some good tips to keep in mind. Below is an excerpt with a link to the full post. 

By Jason Greene - ONEGOODDAD

It’s another sports season and that means parents are running around and trying to figure out how they will manage to get their kids to practices and games. We’ve bought all the equipment, upgraded shoes, and knocked all the grass out of last season’s sports bags.

It also means coaches are planning out where practices will be, when they can use the fields, fitting time into their own schedules, and trying to remember each player’s names and unique things about them. This post will cover what the coach needs from parents.

1. Be on time: If a coach says practice starts at 5:00, that doesn’t mean you’re dropping the player off at 5:00. That means the player is on the field next to the coach at 5:00. Getting out of a car at 5:00 is late. It is always better to arrive at practices early. When kids arrive at practice, they mess around or chat with their teammates. Once practice starts, that’s when they stretch and warm-up. If they are walking across the field at 5, they missed stretching. Also, if one player is late, other players might believe they can be late. Lateness ruins a team’s dynamic.

2. Parents need to leave the coaching up to the coach. It is confusing for players when parents are yelling one thing while their coach is yelling another. Even if a parent knows more about the sport than the coach, they are taking credibility away from the coach while yelling instructions. The coach sees the field and knows the capabilities of every player. A parent knows their child. The coach has spent time with all the players. There may be a different plan than what the parents are seeing. Also, it does no good for a parent to yell during a game. Cheer, but other than that, keep the berating to yourself.

3.  During team meetings, stay away. After a certain age, it is unnecessary for parents to listen in on the huddle. Once parents approach the huddle, the players begin to look around at their parents and believe the game/practice is over. Just stay away till it breaks. While I’m giving last minute advice or even coming down on a player for behaving in an unsportsmanlike way, I don’t need him looking around to see if his parent hears.

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Full Post

How can Youth Athletes use ChatGPT

We'll that was the question that we posed to the artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT.
Below are the results: 

Youth athletes can use ChatGPT in various ways to enhance their training and performance. Here are a few ways they can utilize ChatGPT:

Information and Education: ChatGPT can provide valuable information about training techniques, sports science, nutrition, injury prevention, and other relevant topics. Youth athletes can ask questions and receive detailed responses, helping them gain knowledge and make informed decisions.

Training Programs: ChatGPT can assist in creating personalized training programs based on the individual's goals, age, skill level, and sport. Athletes can describe their preferences, and ChatGPT can generate workout routines, suggest drills, and offer guidance for improvement.

Mental Conditioning: Mental strength is crucial for athletes, and ChatGPT can offer support in this area. Youth athletes can discuss their mindset, performance anxiety, motivation, and strategies for building mental resilience. ChatGPT can provide advice, techniques, and exercises to develop mental skills.

Performance Analysis: Athletes can share videos or descriptions of their performances with ChatGPT. It can help analyze the strengths and weaknesses, provide feedback on technique, suggest adjustments, and offer strategies for improvement.

Injury Management: In case of injuries, youth athletes can discuss their symptoms, receive general advice for self-care, and understand when it's necessary to consult a healthcare professional. ChatGPT can also provide tips for injury prevention and rehabilitation exercises.

Competition Preparation: ChatGPT can assist in preparing for competitions by offering strategies to handle pressure, improve focus, and develop pre-game routines. Athletes can discuss their concerns, goals, and specific challenges they anticipate, and ChatGPT can provide guidance accordingly.

It's important to note that while ChatGPT can be a useful tool for youth athletes, it's not a substitute for professional coaches, trainers, or medical experts. Its advice should be taken as general information and used in conjunction with guidance from qualified professionals.