Weekly Practice Plans for T-Ball Coaches - Youth Sports YMCA

YMCA of Greater OmahaTHE MISSION OF THE YMCA“To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit,mind, and body for all.YMCA PHILOSOPHY OF YOUTH SPORTSPlayers will gain body, mind, spirit, and social development by learning basic sports skillsand improving fitness and conditioning, learning to control their emotions and developingpositive feelings of self-worth, and by learning how to be part of a team and displayappropriate sportsmanship.TEACHING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTCommunicate to your players that sportsmanship is an important part of the program.Teach the four values (caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility) to players so they knowwhat those values mean. Give them examples.Include the values in each practice session.Consistently model those values in your behavior so players can see what those values looklike.Celebrate those values and hold them up to players as what is right; this helps them learn tobelieve in the values.Ask players to practice the values, over and over again.Consistently reinforce and reward behaviors that support the values, using the specific valueword that is relevant.Confront a player whose behavior is inconsistent with the values, but do so in a way that doesnot devalue him or her.Be prepared to talk to parents about the character development portion of the program.Be a good role model. Set an example with your words and actions.Know what level your players are capable of understanding and applying values. Children donot think about moral decisions the same as adults.Learn to identify situations during practice (teachable moments) that relate to the fourvalues.