1. Developing Participation Understanding Youth Coach Capabilities
Practical Solutions inspired by the Youth section of Participation Coaching Curriculum

2. The aim of the short online presentation is
To develop an understanding of
Youth recreational participant capabilities
Youth recreational coach competencies
Ideas for putting your capabilities as a youth coach into practice
from the sports coach UK , Participation Coaching Curriculum
This presentation can be accessed just by clicking each slide through in progression OR you can follow some of the hyperlinked tabs to look at what interests you as a coach.
Take your time to follow any links or tabs that you find interesting.
Many of the linked documents are able to be saved for your own use.
If you have any questions or comments please

3. ‘What is youth recreational sport all about?’
Before looking at coach capabilities we need to look at what youth recreational sport is all about. Have a look at the following diagram to see the key areas as listed in curriculum
What is youth recreational sport all about ?
Physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
Connecting to long term participation
Friendship, fun and a sense of belonging
Respect and consultation with coaches
A sense of achievement for all
Building foundations in new sports and roles

4. Here we look at what coaches can do to support recreational sport for young people
Develop health and fitness outcomes
Enable transfer to performance pathways
Signpost to other sessions and activities
Provide high quality experiences
What is youth recreational sport all about ?
Physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
Connecting to long term participation
friendship, fun and a sense of belonging
respect and consultation with coaches
a sense of achievement for all
Building foundations in new sports and roles
Encourage skill development
Support personal mastery and competition
Are playful, fun inclusive and engaging
Develop self esteem and social skills
Consult and offer choice
Vary provision to meet differing needs

5. Take a moment to note down any ideas that the previous slide brings to mind for your own coaching practice. Consider making a note in your diary about one specific idea to try in your next coaching session

6. The next section of this presentation will look at
Physical Technical Tactical and Mental participant capabilities
Personal and Social participant capabilities
Some ideas about what coaches can do to support the development of all of these capabilities
Please feel free to click around each of the slides looking at each capability before progressing to the next slide. Use the direction buttons to help you.
Make notes about your own ideas that you can use in your next coaching session

7. Youth Participant Capabilities
The next section of slides looks at appropriate coach capabilities for coaches who work with young people of all abilities to create sessions that are enjoyable, maintain fitness, develop skills, generate self-assurance, encourage social interaction, and promote physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
Please click on any of the tabs below to find out more
Physical
Tactical
Confidence
Connection
Competence
Technical
Mental
Creativity
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

8. Participant Capabilities
Physical Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Adjusting agility, balance and co-ordination as the body matures and grows
Maintaining a healthy weight
Developing and managing increased strength and power
Maintaining high levels of concentration, energy and activity
Minimising the chance of injury
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities and games that promote the development of agility, balance and co-ordination. Meet the needs of the individual young person to develop agility, balance and coordination
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities that facilitate the maintenance of a healthy weight
Explain the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight and factors that contribute to this outcome
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities that allow participants to experiment safely and develop strength and power
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities that promote increased levels of concentration, energy and sustained activity
Ensure a good balance between high, intermediate and low energy activities to avoid potential exhaustion and/or burnout
Set up all activities in a way that minimises the risk of injury to participants and provide knowledge of how young people can minimise the risk of injury and accelerate recovery
Physical
Tactical
Technical
Mental
Personal and Social

9. Participant Capabilities
Tactical Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Suggesting ways to modify sessions and activities to maximise their own and others’ participation
Creating and/or organising their own activities, practices and games
Participating effectively in fun competitions, challenges or displays
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities and games that promote an awareness of the environment and that encourage and foster appropriate responses to the demands posed
Identify the key environmental features that can be manipulated within an activity to achieve different participant outcomes, use them to alter activities in real time for the benefit of the learners, and support learners to understand the process
Identify and set up opportunities for participants to develop their own activities, practices and games
Support the participants to identify the key environmental features that can be manipulated within an activity to achieve different outcomes
Identify and/or set up opportunities for participants to take part in, plan and organise competitive activities, skill displays or challenges
Ensure that these opportunities match the developmental stage and needs/ interests of the participants
Physical
Tactical
Technical
Mental
Personal and Social

10. Participant Capabilities
Technical Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Refining or re-learning skills due to their growing/maturing body
Applying and/or learning new skills and techniques
Presenting a wider range of good technical skills and knowing when to use them
Developing skills in similar ability/ maturation/ gender groups
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities and games that promote the refining and/or re-learning of fundamental movement and sport-specific skills and meet the needs of individual young peoples’ needs
Identify, create and set up a wide range of fun activities and games that provide opportunities to apply and/or learn new skills and techniques
Identify and isolate the key components and underpinning principles behind the new skills in action, and develop specific interventions to meet the needs of individual participants
Identify and isolate the key components and underpinning principles behind the new skills in action, the varied conditions in which they may be used, and develop specific interventions to meet the needs of individual participants
Identify participants’ different development stages and levels of skill within a group, and provide differentiated/ personalised activities to support self-paced learning
Physical
Tactical
Technical
Mental
Personal and Social

11. Participant Capabilities
Mental Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Understanding the learning process and how to cope with and learn from setbacks
Knowing what they want to improve on and how they can improve it
Making progress through setting personal challenges and goals
Evaluating success and recognising progress and achievement, against a range of factors/roles
Understand the learning process and the principles of self-reflection and goal-setting in greater depth, and deliberately and consistently offer opportunities for participants to think about their own performance and ways to improve it
Support individual participants through the process of becoming more self-aware by enabling them to set short-, medium- and long-term goals and evaluate their progress against those goals
Help participants to understand the developmental nature of, and possibilities that come from, experiencing setbacks, and provide participants with strategies to deal with them
Physical
Tactical
Technical
Mental
Personal and Social

12. Participant Capabilities
Confidence - Personal and Social Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Willingly try new activities and roles without fear of failure
Talking positively about their participation and achievement
Asking for help if needed
Making decisions for themselves regarding practices and their own involvement
Understand the principles underpinning the creation of ‘task-orientated’ environments and be able to consistently and effectively apply them to coaching practice, resulting in optimally-motivated groups and participants that are willing to try new things and are able to deal with setbacks confidently
Create a positive climate where participants feel valued for both their sporting and personal contributions to the team and can make decisions for themselves
Provide appropriate amounts of constructive feedback to groups and individual participants which is consistent and effective in format, timing and content
Use praise consistently and effectively
PTTM
Confidence
Connection
Creativity
Competence
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

13. Participant Capabilities
Connection - Personal and Social Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Explaining and valuing the benefits of taking part in sport and physical activity
Working well with others, as part of a team and on their own
Taking part in peer-learning, as both learner and teacher
Encouraging and helping others
Showing leadership skills and qualities by taking parts of sessions and being actively involved in planning
Offer an comprehensive explanation of the positive aspects of sport and regularly engage participants in discussions about it
Consistently and effectively provide well-planned opportunities for collaborative play
Provide opportunities for participants to engage in peer-learning activities (e.g. observation, analysis and feedback)
Recognise and maximise opportunities for participants to develop and display their leadership skills
Promote a culture of equity and co-operation between participants and challenge any instances of bullying or discriminatory behaviour
PTTM
Confidence
Connection
Creativity
Competence
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

14. Participant Capabilities
Creativity - Personal and Social Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Suggesting ideas and adaptations for playing and improving
Tackling challenges and solving problems
Innovative whilst playing and showing divergent thinking
Devising creative and fun activities
Demonstrate a total understanding of the mechanisms that foster participants’ creativity and be consistent and effective in using a wide range of activities and methods to develop it
Provide opportunities for participants to interact with the environment, be challenged by it and supported to develop their own solutions to challenges e.g. free play, developing own routines, games and rules, use of problem-solving activities; be comfortable with an appropriately ‘messy’ environment
Encourage participants to shape how activities are conducted and what could be done differently
Enable participants to use the STEP model to adapt activities effectively
PTTM
Confidence
Connection
Creativity
Competence
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

15. Participant Capabilities
Competence - Personal and Social Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Learning and performing relevant skills in a relaxed environment
Explaining and choosing what they want to improve on and how they can improve it
Communicating effectively and confidently with the coach and other participants
Attending regularly, on time and dressed appropriately for the activity
Set up a relaxed environment and, in consultation with the young people, propose activities that are pitched at the right level for the participants. Where there is a discrepancy between activity and stage of development/wants of the participants, the coach is able to recognise this and correct it in real time
Consistently and effectively differentiate between and within groups to maximise learning
Support participants’ understanding of potential areas for improvement and how to go about it
Develop the participants’ ability to communicate effectively and confidently with the coach and other participants
Act as a role model with regards to attendance, appearance and punctuality and create an atmosphere where these traits are valued and embraced by all
PTTM
Confidence
Connection
Creativity
Competence
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

16. Participant Capabilities
Character and Caring - Personal and Social Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coach Capabilities
Valuing and respecting others (young people and adults)
Demonstrating good sportsmanship
A role model in appropriate circumstances
Develop a code of conduct in conjunction with the participants and consistently use it to promote positive behaviours
Demonstrate a total understanding of the coaching behaviours that promote respect for everyone involved in the activity and be totally consistent in modelling these behaviours
Support participants to recognise the impact of role models and create opportunities for participants to become role models
PTTM
Confidence
Connection
Creativity
Competence
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

17. Participant Capabilities
Lifestyle - Personal and Social Capabilities
Participant Capabilities
Coaches should be supporting participants to:
make independent choices about activity (kind, intensity level, degree of commitment)
understand the national recommendations for physical activity for young people and endeavour to achieve them
make informed choices about their personal habits and their impact on current and future health (sleep, diet, smoking, drinking)
enjoy fun activity with their peers, for which may want a different type of club environment
explore emerging adulthood and become less dependent on adults as they grow older
develop an ability to travel and play/practise at later times
balance school, home and social pressures
PTTM
Confidence
Connection
Creativity
Competence
Character and Caring
Lifestyle

18. IDEAS for developing PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES
Play fun games that gets young people out of breath. Avoid stopping too often so that young people have sustained aerobic activity
Play games that develop core strength when supporting balance development
Try using skill circuits to show how different skills require different physical development
Know which of your 'toolkit' of games are enjoyed by young people and good for enhancing energy levels. Use them to boost young peoples activity levels in your session.

19. Space - bigger, smaller, narrower, wider, sections
IDEAS for developing TACTICAL CAPABILITIES
Use modified games that promote awareness of different tactical situations. Look at Teaching Games for Understanding link for ideas
Encourage participants to modify their own games using the STEP principles
Space - bigger, smaller, narrower, wider, sections
Time - allow longer time to keep possession to allow for decision making, have universal time outs for tactic discussions
Equipment - bigger, smaller, standard, alternative, modified, from a different sport, try a Frisbee in invasion games activities /slow bounce balls in striking games to slow down play to teach tactics
People - change the size of teams, smaller, uneven, larger
Encourage participants to experience different roles and positions. Make sure they know what they might need to think about in a different way in different roles / positions

20. IDEAS for developing TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
Reassure participants who are re-learning technical skills. Give enough time to practice. Provide some ideas for how to practice at home
Encourage young people to adapt techniques to suit their own abilities so that they can be effective players and join in games
Let them observe how others make decisions. Give them an opportunity to talk to you about what they noticed and observed
Set a variety of technical challenges for your participants. Let them decide which challenge they will work on first

21. Discuss making mistakes openly. Admit your own in sessions
IDEAS for developing MENTAL CAPABILITIES
Discuss making mistakes openly. Admit your own in sessions
Ask young people to think about what they will do if they make mistakes
Ask young people what makes them anxious or worried in sessions
Allow time for young people to talk to their peers about their successes / failures
Encourage young people to think about their own motivations
Find out what motivates your young people to take part. Ensure they have success in these motives.
Offer choices for young people and let them be accountable for their decisions

22. Ensure every young person has success EVERY session
IDEAS for developing CONFIDENCE
Think of some of your games that foster curiosity - use them and show that you are also curious
Ensure every young person has success EVERY session
Know what success means for your young people. It might not be the same as yours. Winning isn't everything to many young people.
Think about how you will recognise success
How will you get young people to acknowledge their own success either publicly or privately

23. IDEAS for developing CONNECTION
Help young people learn about each other and how they have things in common
Learn all the names of your participants - model how to ask someone's name if you forget - we all forget and need help to develop strategies to ask again or find out without being embarrassed
Think about if you need some boundaries for social media use. You need to understand how it can affect your sessions? Will you accept facebook friend requests? For more info follow this link to CPSU guidance for Using Social Media
Will you need to text, phone or your young people about your session? Find out more about Text and guidelines from CPSU

24. Praise innovation and creative thinking
IDEAS for developing CREATIVITY
Praise innovation and creative thinking
Demonstrate that experimenting and being creative can be successful. Role model how to manage failure of creative attempts
Set personal challenges - either short, medium or long term ones
Set group challenges - either short, medium or long term ones

25. Consistently promote fair play
IDEAS for developing CHARACTER and CARING
Have a code of conduct with a clear outline of consequences and rewards - do this in partnership with your young people
Consistently promote fair play
Help young people to manage their own frustrations when playing - provide them with tips and things to try when feeling flustered and annoyed
Do you know when special / stressful events are happening for your young people? Consider how you demonstrate you are aware of these and how it might affect attendance and participation levels
birthdays / anniversaries
school exams
change in social / peer groups
community events

26. IDEAS for developing COMPETENCE
Consult with your group to find out what their interests are and what types of activities they enjoy
Observe your groups to find out the different stages of physical and social development that they have. Note ideas for individuals who may need additional support
Pitch activities of the right level for your participants and for what they want to achieve out of your session
Act as a role model when coaching - dress appropriately, be on time, courteous, healthy behaviours (smoking, eating, drinking, exercise)

27. Try and have your session meet some of these aspirations
IDEAS for developing LIFESTYLE SKILLS
Respect the independent choices young people make - even if you disagree
Understand the national recommendations for physical activity for young people
Try and have your session meet some of these aspirations
Department of Health link for guidance on physical activity levels for 5-18 year olds

28. If you are interested in finding out more about developing your own capabilities or those of fellow coaches please consider the following areas for support
Check out the free ‘Coaching for Participation’ section on the sports coach UK website
It is full of resources, tools, top tips, blogs and links that have been designed with coaches in mind
Download the Coaching New Participants Top Tips – full of ideas and things for coaches to try
Download the Coaching Youth Recreational Participants Best Practice Tips – links directly to this online learning content
Download the Participation Coaching Curriculum in full – includes sections for adult and returner recreational coaching
Check out the links and support available from Us Girls via the Guidance for Coaching Young Women webpage
Consider attending or hosting our newest workshop ‘How to Deliver Engaging Sessions’ workshop and request it is tailored for youth coaching
with any comments or suggestions about what you would like to see being developed to support youth recreational coaches

29. The full copy of the Participation Coaching Curriculum is available from the sports coach UK website.
It has more detail included than this online learning presentation.
Please feel free to download the curriculum
The capabilities discussed are also available as an interactive online tool
(link to be attached when finalised)

30. Congratulations and thank you for your time in completing this online presentation sports coach UK hope you have learned a few new things and that you will try something new in your coaching as a result of this presentation If you would like to discuss any aspect of this presentation you are invited to take part in an online WebEx meeting on Tuesday 20th November at 12.00pm If you would like to attend the online meeting please with your questions We will send you joining instructions prior to the meeting and answer as many of your questions as possible during the online WebEx meeting

31. Development Lead Officer for Participation sports coach UK
Happy Coaching!
Liz Burkinshaw
Development Lead Officer for Participation
sports coach UK
You can follow Liz on
for regular tweets about participation and coaching