One of the ongoing debates in youth sports and sports in general is what training do we, as in the public, require from the men and women coaching our youth. The statistics regarding this are horrifying. Less than 5% of youth sport coaches have received training on how to coach youth.


As you can imagine, I am in favor of providing training for our youth sport coaches. These coaches are responsible for providing sports experiences and those experiences can influence a young person for years. If the coach is delivering the first experience with a sport, then the impact is that much greater.


So why do I favor coaching education?


Creating quality trained sport coaches benefits American communities in many ways:
• Getting more youth to stay with sports.
• Increasing the numbers of people attracted to
coaching and improving the retention of them
• Delivering positive and safer sports experiences to
America’s youth.
• Reducing legal liabilities associated with sport.


References backing up these points are available upon request. See below for the opinion of the Director of Coaching for Kentucky Youth Soccer.


Copyright 2008 The Denver Post
All Rights Reserved
The Denver Post


May 11, 2008 Sunday
FINAL EDITION


SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. C-18

HEADLINE: THE EXPERT'S VIEW PARRISH: MANDATORY LICENSING FOR COACHES IN KENTUCKY "SELECT" PROCESS

BYLINE: Chris Dempsey The Denver Post

While most people involved were on board when mandatory licensing of youth soccer coaches began last fall in Kentucky, not all were.

"Some people (were) saying, 'Fine, I'm not going to coach if that's the case,"' said Adrian Parrish, director of coach and player development for the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association.

"My response is, don't coach then. I'm not backing down in what I'm doing."

Kentucky now requires "select-level" coaches be licensed.

Parrish, a native of Louth, England, has been in his position for 2 1/2 years.

He has more than 10 years' experience coaching players from recreational to professional levels.

"We require teachers to go and get educated," Parrish said. "We require dentists, whoever else is responsible for something with children to get education.

"We've had a couple (of people) still moaning and groaning, trying to find loopholes and are failing so far, that don't want to do it. The thing is I'll work with people.

``I'm willing to get people educated and help them get educated, because it's about getting the players better.''

Blog from the Heart of a Champion Foundation on character development in sport.
Find it at Youth Sports Character.

Athletes are hurt every day. Sports injuries are one of the top reasons for youth to visit the emergency room. Coaches need to be ready to administer the proper first aid to stabilize injuries and in a few cases, save lives.

So my question to you is, "Are you ready to administer First Aid or CPR?"

I recommend all coaches, at any level of sport, be First Aid/CPR certified.





Copyright 2008 The Omaha World-Herald Company

Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)


May 8, 2008 Thursday
Iowa; Metro; Midlands; Nebraska; Sunrise Editions


SECTION: NEWS; Michael Kelly; Pg. 01B

HEADLINE: Sports injuries are a fact of life


Trying to catch a long fly ball, left fielder John Cunningham of Gross Catholic High collided hard with the center fielder -- and was knocked out cold.

"He's really hurt, coach!" a teammate yelled to Mike Filipowicz, who ran to the outfield.

So did two players' parents -- nurse Michelle Kresl and paramedic Steve Crnkovich. Fearful of a spine or brain injury, the adults held his head still until an ambulance arrived.

The player's mother, Tina Cunningham, is a hospice volunteer. When she reached him, he "looked gray" and she wondered if he was dying.

John survived with a concussion and a broken jaw, but the injury April 24 at the Gross ballfield in Bellevue stunned everyone. Both teams formed circles of prayer. The game was held up at least 45 minutes.

"As an athlete or coach," said Filipowicz, in his 19th year at Gross, "you know in the back of your mind that these things can happen. But when you're out there competing, it's so far from your thoughts.

"When it does occur, though -- seeing him lying there, and not sure of the extent of his injuries -- you know how fragile life is."

A study funded by the Centers for Disease Control estimated that there are 2 million high school sports injuries annually and 30,000 hospitalizations, like John Cunningham's.

He is finished for the spring season. But he will be there Saturday in Lincoln for the opening of the state tournament when his team plays Lincoln Pius X, the opponent the night he was hurt.

He won't be cheering, though. His jaw is wired shut.

Football, no surprise, produces the most injuries. (In Omaha, Eric Lofton of Northwest High collapsed with a critical head injury in September. He returned to school for half-days on Feb. 26, and plans to graduate.)

After football on the list of injuries are wrestling, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls basketball, boys basketball, girls volleyball, baseball and softball.

Coach Filipowicz said the injury two weeks ago reminded him of one in 1996 to pitcher Terry Kapoun, who collided with the third baseman. Blood gushed from his mouth and broken nose, "a horrific sight."

He, too, survived, but the injury was so upsetting that both coaches decided to call off the game. The April 24 game, though, continued. (The center fielder, by the way, wasn't badly hurt.)

If you play sports, you can get hurt. John Cunningham, 6 feet and 155 pounds, played defensive back in football and has played 100 baseball games a summer the past nine years.

"Johnny is a great kid, quite reserved," his coach said. "He has a tremendous work ethic."

As if seeing her son injured wasn't bad enough, Tina Cunningham had another scare. Her dad, Jim Miklas, 72, wanting to check on his grandson, slipped on a wet hillside and broke his leg, which required surgery, a plate and seven screws.

Tina and her husband, also named John, appreciated all the support they received after "a tough night at the ballpark."

The incident, she said, reinforced what she has learned through the years: "Try to keep things in perspective. It's only a game. Don't focus on the small stuff. Let the coaches coach -- they really only want what's best for your kid and for the team."

But injuries happen, as athletes are painfully aware.

Contact the writer

444-1132, [email protected]