1. Promote self-confidence.
2. Encourage the development of character values such as teamwork, respect, responsibility, fair play, and perseverance.
3. Distribute playing time equally.
4. Enable children to try all positions of a sport.
5. Enable children to play and compete with peers of the same grade and/or age.
6. Help all children realize their personal best and potential.
7. Spell out the rules and consequences.
8. Enforce all rules and consequences fairly and consistently.
9. Enable coaches and parents to model the values they want their players to learn and display.
10. Teach that winning and losing are only the result of a game.

• Model and only expect good sportsmanship towards all players, coaches, officials, and supporters.
• Continually offer praise and encouragement to all players all the time.
• Provide equal playing time for all players and have them rotate through different positions.
• Work with parents/guardians to create the best outcome for players.
• Collaborate with opposing coaches to create the safest and best outcomes for all players.
• Coaches must not promise any parent or child that they will be on their team. 
• Communicate to any prospective player/family that all registrations must go through the Rec. Dept. first. After registration is complete, players will be placed on a team.
• Ensure that no unregistered players or coaches participate in practices or games without registering first and being placed on a team. 
• Coaches and volunteers will be required to sign off agreeing to work within the Youth Sports Mission, Philosophy, and Values.
• All coaches, volunteers, and anyone working with children or vulnerable populations will undergo a yearly background check to include but not limited to Criminal Conviction Information & Abuse Registry Checks.

• Do you know the rules and techniques of the sport? Can you communicate these to children?
• Can you demonstrate how to perform and give clear explanations?
• Are practices and games well organized, safe, and fun for all children?
• Is instruction matched to the age and knowledge level of the children?

• Do you have a sincere interest in children, or is this an ego trip for you?
• Do you put winning and losing in perspective? Is the focus where it should be on fun, participation, and learning?
• Do you teach values as well as skills?
• Can you communicate your coaching philosophy to players and parents?

• Do you motivate players through encouragement and praise, or do punishments and criticism dominate?
• Are you enthusiastic and enjoy relating to your players? Do you have fun?
• Are all players given attention, or just the stars? Are there players who are made to feel unimportant or ignored?
• Do you keep things well organized and prevent misbehavior, or do you scold players to get control?
• Do you recognize and praise good effort, even when things are not going well?
• Do you ask for input from players and listen to it?
• Can you control your emotions and model the behavior you want to see from your players?

• Are you sensitive to the individual needs and feelings of your players?
• Are you flexible and know how to acknowledge differences among your players?
• Can you generate respect without demanding it and show respect for players, officials, and opponents?

• All decisions regarding the operation of the youth sports program are at the sole discretion of the Recreation Department.
• This includes but is not limited to registration, team roster construction, and scheduling of practices/games.
• If a coach has a concern about a particular participant regarding their safety or the safety of their teammates, the Recreation Department must be notified immediately.

VOLUNTEER YOUTH SPORTS COACH JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Understanding the reason children play sports is to have FUN
2. Desire to work with children
3. Enthusiastic, always remembering to keep communication positive and encouraging.
4. Commitment to equal participation
5. Patient, you understand the game, and children are learning the basics
6. Ability to meet players where they are when teaching skills.
7. Organize and know what you are going to teach before practice.
8. Reliable and dependable (the first to arrive, last to leave)
9. Know the rules and how they will be enforced by the referees

1. To coach a sport to youngsters while emphasizing skill development, fair play,          sportsmanship, and fun.
2. To be conscious of how your actions and words are portrayed to players and parents.
3. Adhere to the Recreation Youth Sports Mission, Philosophy, and Values.
4. Lead one-hour practices or game sessions.
5. Be responsible for the children under your supervision.
6. Work to increase team unity and sportsmanship.
7. To see that every player participates equally in every practice and game.
8. To ensure that in every game and practice, players are evenly matched and understand the importance of Sportsmanship - de-emphasizing the ‘must-win’ aspect.
9. To teach players how to win with sportsmanship and accept defeat graciously, coaches must lead by example.
10. To be creative when your team is more skilled or outscoring the other. Never run up the score.
11. To have all players and coaches shake hands after the game. A positive cheer can be said at the end of the game to thank the other team.
12. To ensure that equipment is accounted for and maintained in usable condition.
13. To leave facilities in the same, if not better, conditions than were found when the team arrived.
14. Understand Mandatory Reporting (Coaches are Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse, required by the State of VT

1. Annual Background Checks- VCIC and Abuse Registry
2. Concussion Training
3. Mandatory Reporting- Training on Child Abuse
4. Sport Specific Training

• I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my players ahead of a personal desire to win.
• I will treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical development for the same age group.
• I will do my best to provide a safe playing situation for my players.
• I will do my best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all my players.
• I will lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players.
• I will provide a sports environment for my team that is free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, and I will refrain from their use at all youth sports events.
• I will be knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that I coach, and I will teach these rules to my players.
• I will use those coaching techniques appropriate for all the skills that I teach.
• I will remember that I am a youth sports coach and that the game is for children and not adults.