Teaching Teamwork Skills in Youth Sports

 

Youth sports provide perfect opportunities for young people to acquire and develop these skills.

Six Ways To Develop Teamwork Skills In Youth Sports

Cohesion is a term often used to describe how a group bonds together toward a common goal. But it requires more than just glue for a group to stick. Skills like leadership, hard work, communication, conflict resolution, self-discipline, and accountability are also necessary for a group to work together successfully.

Here are a few pointers on how to encourage teamwork with your athlete or team:

1. Leadership means learning to lead others as well as learning to follow those who lead. While a team may have a well-defined captain, leadership roles should be fluid with players stepping in and out of them depending on the game situation.
2. Hard work is essential to the success of the group. While performance may vary, effort should remain constant. Remember that there is no such thing as giving 110%. Everyone giving 100% would be more than enough!
3. Communication is the key to successful teamwork. Strong communication makes it possible for the team to know the strategy, what is coming next, how to correct an error, and how to praise success. Develop ways to strengthen communication throughout your team rather than just hoping that players talk to each other.