Who needs a superhero cape when you’ve got a whistle and a clipboard? Modern coaching is all about being wise and ready for anything. We’re shaping Gen Z athletes who are TikTok savvy and facing school boards that are tight … Read the rest
Author: Savannah Kennedy
Building Supportive Adult-Youth Relationships in Athletics
Imagine a 10-year-old soccer player with ADHD taking a penalty shot that could lose the game. Their coach kneels down and says, “I’ve seen worse. Let’s break down what happened.” Two seasons later, that same kid is the team captain. … Read the rest
Youth Sports Coaching: Core Skills for Impact and Transformation
Imagine a jazz ensemble where soccer players play music instead of soccer. This is what modern coaching is like. It’s a mix of skill and human connection. Coaches use Sport Manitoba’s SBYD Coach Certification and social-emotional learning to help … Read the rest
Nurturing Leaders: Youth Leadership Development Through Sports
Imagine if the next leaders were not found in offices, but on sports fields. Sports programs are like the real-world Hogwarts for young leaders. They offer growth that’s as exciting as Harry Potter’s battles.
The tri-level mentoring model is like … Read the rest
Your Guide to Youth Coaching Certification and Professional Development
Imagine Mr. Miyagi teaching teens to wax on/wax off while explaining zone defense. Over 2 million coaches have become strategic mentors through programs like the NCCP. In today’s fast-paced world, does a piece of paper really matter? It’s about building … Read the rest
Positive Coaching Strategies: Building Better Outcomes for At-Risk Youth
Imagine a teenager’s brain as Manhattan during rush hour. It’s chaotic, with detour signs and scaffolding everywhere. This is what happens during synaptic pruning, where their minds literally rebuild themselves. Now, picture a Little League coach with Tony Stark’s blueprints. … Read the rest
Using Sports to Address Social Issues
When the cameras stop rolling, something interesting happens. Teens around the world have 8 hours a day for either trouble or change. This 488 minutes of free time can be used for good or bad. It’s a chance for making … Read the rest
Breaking Barriers: How the PeacePlayers Model Uses Sport
Nelson Mandela once called sport “a weapon against ignorance”. What if we used it for peace instead of just winning? The PeacePlayers model is a sports-based youth development program. It turns basketball courts into places for solving conflicts.
Imagine … Read the rest
Funding Opportunities and Grants for SBYD
Let’s talk about the nonprofit Hunger Games. Programs fight for scraps while foundations offer grants like deals from a dystopian world. But some groups are changing the game. Up2Us Sports, for example, used AmeriCorps funding to help 655,000 kids. … Read the rest
Measurement and Evaluation in SBYD
What if we told you the secret to effective youth programs is a mix of basketballs and bar graphs? At Skills Center, where math and basketball diagrams meet, we’ve found a way to measure character. This blend of Moneyball and … Read the rest