ICOACHKIDS Champion: Tim Brentjes
About
Tim Brenjes is Youth Secretary for Deutshe Basketballjugend (DSB). Like many coaches of his generation, Tim started coaching younger teams at an early age, under 18, first at school, then at clubs and camps. He ran his first mini basketball camp shortly after he finished school. Over time, youth teams became adult teams too.
“My entire coaching career was voluntary, while sports and event management became my profession and ended up leading me to the German Basketball Federation DBB. Here, the work for the basketball minis under the age of 12 quickly became my focus and the DBB gave me the great opportunity to transform the existing program and build a new one over more than 10 years which has doubled up in participation during that period. The fact that I am now the manager of a children's sports program and part of a unique community of coaches and experts that is highly respected nationally and internationally is thanks to the cooperation and passion of many role models, companions and friends over the years”
“As a coach, manager and father, it makes perfect sense to me to build sport for children in such a way that it allows a positive experience for all children. There is nothing better for coaches in children's sport than children who enjoy themselves, come back and find a home in sport. I am convinced that sport can make an incredibly valuable contribution to children growing up, both in terms of physical and mental health. To do this, however, sport must appeal to children, offer a safe environment and be accessible and designed for them. We therefore need to put children at the center and make the sporting experience fun and safe. That way we can enrich children's lives and grow the sports community at the same time. To be approached today by someone who was in one of my youth teams many years ago and now works as a coach himself is priceless for me”
Tim’sTop Tips for Youth Sport Coaches:
When we work with children, we should be professional and well prepared without always taking ourselves too seriously.
We need to communicate with the children honestly and at eye level, listen to them, take them seriously and treat them fairly.
A fear-free learning environment with a positive error culture is equally important for the learning process and the children's personal development.
Chaos also means creativity and is not always bad, sometimes it is perhaps worth allowing a little chaos.
We need to rethink our definition of success in children's sport, and this also applies to the evaluation of coaches and training.
In order to deal with all these points, continuous self-reflection on the part of coaches is essential. In addition to self-reflection, colleagues and networks are extremely helpful for exchange, feedback and further development.
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