How I got into coaching children and young people

• I have been coaching sport since I was 16 years old initially as a way of giving back to my school where my friend and I coached the U12 C netball team. From that point on, I have coached sport (mostly youth sport) almost every year – either summer or winter across a number of codes. I enjoyed those early coaching experience and went on to complete a Bachelor of Sport Coaching degree at university. I have been fortunate to be able to coach within my professional career but the best experiences Ive had coaching have been as a volunteer in community sport.

• Now as a mother, I am coaching my sons’ (12 years old) rugby and cricket teams and have coached my daughters’ (7 years old) netball team. I coach to give back to my community and because I believe sport is a wonderful way of bringing communities together and is a great vehicle for teaching life skills and values. I love seeing kids develop their skills, have fun with their team mates.

Why I am passionate about putting kids first in sport

• My role as a coach is to make sure the young people stay in sport for as long as possible so they can get the most out of their experiences.

• Sport teaches so many incredible life skills – resilience, team work, communication, and importantly, values.

• Putting kids first for me is about making sure sport is about their enjoyment, its their experience and so putting their needs first is critical.

• Coaches should be problem solvers, not problem setters. Our kids learn more and faster when they are empowered to take charge of their own progress. This is the craft of coaching and the part that I get the most kick from achieving.

Kelly's Top Tips for working with young People in Sport

• Understand their ‘why’ for playing sport - What do the kids that you coach want from their sport experience. It might be about developing their skills or having fun and playing with their friends. This needs to be front and centre when we are coaching

• Understand who they are – more than just the sport. Knowing a bit more about the young people (and their families) that are in front of you will help you shape your coaching and ultimately their experience. Parents and families are an important part of the youth sport environment and can be real assets to the wider team culture and atmosphere.

• Character and values trumps winning every day. While winning might be an outcome, the journey to get there is more valuable and important. As coaches, consider how you can use sport to teach values and life lessons.

• Make sure its fun! If kids have smiles on their faces and are having fun they will come back. And we want them to come back every week.

• Celebrate the small moments – when they nail the skill they’ve been working on, or the play the team has been practicing goes to plan celebrate those moments (more than the scoreboard!).