Coaches are the frontline of youth sport. They are the bridge between young people and their sporting experience—and with that comes great responsibility. While research shows that poor coaching isn’t a primary reason for dropout, coaches still have a powerful role to play in keeping young people engaged, motivated, and thriving in sport.

Listen First: Put the Young Person at the Centre

At the heart of effective coaching is listening. Coaches should regularly check in with their athletes—both informally and through structured group discussions—to understand what’s working and what isn’t. It’s essential to remember: it’s their sport, not yours. By giving young people a voice, coaches can tailor experiences to better meet their needs and motivations.

1. Support Physical Wellbeing

Surprisingly, physical wellbeing was identified as the top reason for youth sport dropout in recent research. Coaches can address this by ensuring sessions are safe, age-appropriate, and focused on long-term physical development. This includes proper warm-ups, injury prevention, and helping athletes build the physical literacy they need to enjoy sport confidently.

2. Foster Social Support and Belonging

A lack of social support—such as not having close friends in the group or feeling disconnected—can lead to dropout. Coaches can help by creating a team culture that values connection and inclusion. Organising social events, encouraging peer support, and fostering a sense of community can make a big difference in helping young people feel like they belong.

3. Boost Internal Motivation

Internal motivation—doing sport for the love of it or the desire to improve—can fade if not nurtured. Coaches can reignite this by making sessions fun, varied, and challenging. Celebrating progress, offering meaningful feedback, and giving athletes some autonomy in their learning can all help maintain motivation. For more on this, check out our videos with Amanda Visek and Tom Mitchell on the ICOACHKIDS YouTube channel.

4. Build Competence and Confidence

Young people are more likely to stay in sport when they feel competent. Coaches should design sessions that allow for success and progression. This might include creating personal development plans, adjusting difficulty levels, and using progress tracking tools to make learning visible. When athletes see themselves improving, they’re more likely to stay engaged.

Conclusion

Coaches have a unique opportunity to shape positive, lasting sport experiences. By focusing on wellbeing, social connection, motivation, and competence—and by truly listening to young people—coaches can play a key role in reducing dropout and enhancing participation.

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