Team Websites Can Help You Reach Your Goals Sports team websites are valuable tools for coaches, team managers and parents for a variety of reasons. Chief among them is the visibility it can lend to your team’s progress. In youth sports, the one thing that is more important than winning, making the team - just about anything - is growth. Kids should be able to develop as player and people through the game. By the end of the season, the youngsters will have learned a number of skills pertaining to athletics and teamwork. By setting up a team website, you can track the goals and progress you make through the course of the season, encouraging the kids to perform up to their potential and giving positive reinforcement. Here are a few things you can keep tabs on through your sport software: Team statistics: While stats can be tricky in the realm of youth sports, there are a few team numbers that can measure your team’s ability to work hard and give a good effort. Defense is a good one to keep track of because it generally does not focus on any single individual and hinges upon how hard the team works as a unit. You can set goals in term of points allowed and other sport-specific metrics. For sports like swimming and track and field, stats are great. Posting individuals’ times can clearly show the athlete’s progress over the course of the season. In-game goals: Some coaches keep track of intangibles - plays made possible by hustle and drive that don’t show up in the box score. These can include making the extra pass, diving for a loose ball and beating an opponent down the court or field. Coaches can create a category called “Hustle Plays” or “Intangibles” and keep a tally throughout the season. Because these plays don’t depend on talent, every player has an equal chance to make them. Extracurricular efforts: Many teams take part in fundraising or food and goods drives to support local charities. It’s an excellent endeavor, and another opportunity to show how far the team has come during the season. You can set a goal and keep an updated count on how close the team is to reaching that goal. Using the team website to show the progress will encourage the young athletes to get all the way there by the end of the year. Tracking goals has a positive effect on the group trying to achieve those goals. Since they can witness their progress, they will have more drive to go all the way. tags in this article Athlete Fan Issues & Advice SportsEngine