Does your child sports club uphold its commitments and promote player development? Alternatively, does your club use the enticing term “player development” to lure parents into joining your group?

If this essay teaches you anything, it’s to take player growth seriously, adhere to it rigorously, and take drastic measures to make sure your players grow in a balanced way.

In the field of child sports, “player development” is a catchphrase that is frequently discussed but seldom used. There are very few clubs that focus on player development over a youth athlete’s whole career.

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Player development: what is it?

First, let me clarify what player development is not: It has nothing to do with clubs and coaches.

Instead, player development emphasizes the development of the whole player—one who is technically, tactically, and physically sound—and the young human first. Furthermore, it is someone who is psychologically tough and ready for life’s ups and downs.

Are your athletes physically prepared to handle the demands of the game and a year-round schedule that is more demanding than that of the pros? They should be strong, powerful, quick, and nimble.

Are your athletes technically proficient in their sport-specific motions, particularly when employed in a competitive setting and under pressure? A baseball pitcher throwing three strikes, a soccer player defeating a defender one-on-one, or a basketball player dribbling their way out of a double team might all be examples of this. Do you hold players responsible for practicing independently and do you emphasize these skills once a week?

Can they move off the ball, predict the next play, comprehend the function of their position, and think creatively in the tactical corner without sideline coaching cues?

Regarding the mental aspect, can they overcome adversity with grace, utilize anxiety as motivation to do well, forgive themselves for their errors, and pull themselves out of difficult situations?

When clubs prioritize real player development, the mental, tactical, technical, and physical components work together to create an integrated dance.

How can you expect players to sprint at top speed off the ball and make lightning diagonal dashes if you are a coach who advocates for an offensive formation? They also require the tangible item.

How can you expect players to pass and move under pressure if you are a coach who advocates for flawless passes with no opposition? They also require the tactical component.

How can you expect players to have confidence in their approach if you are a coach who encourages risk-taking with technical skills and you reprimand them for their errors during practice? They also require the mental component.

How can you expect players to be proficient with the ball if you are a coach who advocates for quick combo play and don’t emphasize skill mastery during practice? They also require the technological component.

It all counts to that goal.

When coaches don’t equally fill the player development buckets of mental, technical, tactical, and physical, they are doing their athletes a great deal of harm.

Speak with experts

I am aware that developing a player requires a large team. No single individual can handle all aspects of player development; a team coach, technical coach, and strength coach are just a few of the specialists involved. It may be a sobering reminder that you are not an expert in your field, but don’t allow it make you feel inferior.

To enhance their team’s speed mechanics and capacity to manage eccentric load, for instance, a coach might recommend them to a strength and conditioning specialist. I’ve witnessed a few teams accomplish this, and these are the teams that are well-known for giving their players excellent care in addition to value. A club contacting a sport psychologist to present on performance anxiety and failure management is another new idea that I have seen that helps athletes with the mental component.

You do your young athlete a great service even if you don’t benefit from referring them to the local sport psychologist, physical therapist, or strength coach. Parents also pay attention. Everyone gains when coaches and clubs make investments and see that they are worthwhile in the long term, despite their initial reluctance. Above all, the young players develop.

Possess Holistic Sports Technology

Sport technology may be beneficial when used appropriately, but it can also be harmful if it is solely purchased to have trendy products to post on social media. Clubs who use sport technology with good motives look at the data before focusing on Instagram likes.

For the best player development, you need cutting-edge technologies. It can provide you with important information on how to control player tiredness and modify training regimens to maximize performance. But if you simply utilize technology to snap a picture of a 10-year-old’s leg sensor on Instagram instead of having the coaching staff use it, it’s worthless. It would be like to purchasing an expensive vehicle without a technician to keep it in good working order.

Don’t Pay Attention to Rankings and Wins

According to a female college recruiter, rankings and victories are far less important these days. Naturally, children had to be on a highly ranked team in the days when universities traveled to showcases more frequently and went to the best tournaments in the nation. Now, though?

The ID camp approach is used by more college teams, where athletes travel, pay a fee, and spend one to three days being evaluated. Due to the fact that they can remain at their home base, avoid paying for travel, and receive the talent with checks in hand, more college coaches are adopting this strategy.

Being on a winning team does not harm, even if only a small percentage of college coaches still attend elite events. But it is no longer a make-or-break issue or everything.

Are these kids capable of making a lasting impact on the coaches during an ID camp? Are these kids familiar with the game? Do these children exhibit every aspect of a complete player—mental, technical, tactical, and physical? Can they also put their abilities to use? Are they physically capable of outrunning other possible recruits and enduring the rigors of competition? Do they have the mental toughness to prove themselves on campus in only one day?

Promote more sports and physical exercise.

There are many coaches that keep in mind that children are children and should be exposed to a range of physical activities, sports, and movement. Additionally, this goes beyond physical growth. These trainers understand that a child’s mental and social development benefits from a range of activities.

According to a research published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, children who played more sports overall nevertheless sustained fewer injuries. I could, of course, provide a list of all the studies that have been done on the subject, but as we all know, the study is not new.

We must also remember that load monitoring is crucial in this case if a child decides to participate in a single sport. However, how can we expect young kids to manage the chronic loads and recover efficiently if the majority of clubs don’t focus on strength and conditioning? The catch is, does the coach actually promote tiredness monitoring if children choose to participate in only one sport? Do they include fundamental motor skills like strength, balance, and spatial awareness in their sessions?

Allocate Equal Playtime

Clubs that provide kid athletes with equal playing time practice every aspect of player development simultaneously. The greatest approach for children to learn about their sport outside of practice sessions is through game play. Children learn how to solve problems, move, run, make mistakes, apply their talents, and more whether they are playing their favorite sport on the field or exploring movement in the gym.