How To Choose A Private Sports Coach For Your Little Athlete | Woombie

Australian private sports coaches bring forth value to the table – they provide their expertise to hone talents to reach their maximum potential. In fact, investing in a private sports coach is a major advantage for your child’s overall sports performance and development. With so many options available, finding the best coach to help your child reach their full potential can be challenging.        

Nevertheless, there are essential steps you can use as a guide when selecting a private sports coach. Whether your child is just starting or has been playing sports for years, these suggestions can assist you in making an informed decision and ultimately choosing the right trainer. Below are some of them: 

Ask For Referrals

One of the simplest ways to find a private coach is to ask for referrals and references. Because youth sports in New South Wales are mainly community-based, you can ask other parents, families, or your child’s school or club for recommendations. Doing this will give you suggestions and feedback from people you trust to help inform your decision based on first-hand reviews and personal connections. 

Asking for referrals makes it easier to keep a list of possible candidates narrowed down to a select few to save time on your search as well. If trainers and clubs such as Evolve Tennis Academy are available in your community, you can conveniently set up an informal meeting or trial with them before making a choice.

Look For The Coach’s Qualifications And Experience 

A suitable coach must have the right qualifications and experience in coaching your child’s sport. Their credentials should assure you that they have the professional expertise and skills to deliver on their coaching goals and provide value to your child’s athletic development. 

Many private coaches, whether as individuals or belonging to a club, adhere to a national or regionally recognized sport's governing body that lays out requirements or recommended qualifications for them to have.

Some of these include completed courses in sports coaching or sports science in their chosen field that you can take note of. When examining resumes, look out for their specific experiences, such as ‘coaching backstroke and diving techniques to swimmers aged 5-10 years old’, for instance.

Think About Your Budget 

The private coaching field has an array of sports professionals who come from different experience levels and backgrounds and have various services they offer. Therefore, the fee structure can range from affordable to high costing or all-inclusive on a case-by-case basis. 

Some coaches may provide physical fitness training or nutritional services for an extra price, while others charge additional fees for travel costs, training supplies, or gym and sports grounds bookings for private training sessions. The most important tip to remember is to aim for the best value and benefit for your child athlete. A coach that’s a perfect fit should work for your budget and fulfill your kiddos’ sporting needs. 

Find A Coach That Matches Your Child’s Goals 

You can find out from your child and their school team or club what their specific goals are by determining their current skills and level of commitment. This can give you a better idea of what expertise to look for in a private coach and provide clarity and direction to your search. 

For instance, your child may need to improve their kicking and throwing movements in ball sports or increase endurance for junior track runners. Related to this is your child’s interest in the sport and whether they are participating recreationally or want to pursue it as a future career. Nevertheless, a private coach should be able to help your child accomplish their objectives with a personalized program tailored to prioritizing and problem-solving their performance needs.

Consider What Coaching Style Best Fits Your Kiddo 

Children respond better to certain learning and coaching styles than others. Some young athletes playing sports for fun might prefer a friendly and informal approach, while kids who want to maintain discipline could favor tough and formalized coaching. 

In either case, your chosen coach should be flexible and adapt to a communicative coaching method your child can excel in. Their techniques should keep your child motivated, supported, stimulated and challenged, as well as teach emotional intelligence. 

In addition, since private coaching is an interpersonal relationship, the coach must have strong leadership and role model qualities that build your child’s character, integrity, and confidence to nurture good sportsmanship. 

Conclusion

Choosing a private sports coach for your little athlete can be simplified by a few key factors that can help your decision-making. Firstly, you can appeal to your community and ask for recommendations from people you trust. 

Then, examine their credentials and experience to determine whether they suit your child's developmental goals. During the screening and trial process, take note of their coaching style and assess whether your child responds positively to it. Finally, evaluate your budget with the value and training quality that each coach provides. Doing this will allow you to settle on the best candidate.