In his engaging presentation, Stephen McKeown — Former Course Director for the BSc Sport Coaching programme at Leeds Beckett University—explores the transformative impact of a multi skills approach in youth sport. Speaking as part of the ICOACHKIDS initiative, McKeown highlights how developing a broad base of movement skills in childhood lays the foundation for lifelong physical activity and athletic success.
McKeown begins by emphasizing the importance of Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS)—the building blocks of physical literacy. These include locomotion skills like running and jumping, object control skills such as catching and kicking, and stability skills like balancing and twisting. He explains that these core abilities are essential for children to engage confidently and competently in a wide range of sports and physical activities.
However, research shows that many children today lack proficiency in these basic skills, which can lead to lower participation rates and reduced enjoyment in sport. McKeown argues that a multi skills coaching approach—one that integrates diverse movement experiences across different sports and activities—is key to reversing this trend.
Rather than specializing early, McKeown advocates for movement variety and exploration. He encourages coaches to design sessions that are fun, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate, allowing children to build a broad base of physical competence. This not only enhances athletic potential but also supports cognitive, emotional, and social development.
A major theme of McKeown’s talk is the role of physical literacy in promoting lifelong health. When children feel confident in their movement abilities, they are more likely to stay active into adolescence and adulthood. Multi skills coaching, therefore, is not just about sport—it’s about equipping young people with the tools to lead healthy, active lives.
McKeown also shares practical insights from his own coaching and teaching experience. He emphasizes the importance of creating engaging environments where children can learn through play, challenge themselves, and experience success. Coaches, he says, should act as facilitators—guiding exploration, encouraging creativity, and celebrating progress.
The presentation concludes with a call to action for coaches, educators, and sport organizations to embrace multi skills as a core component of youth development. By prioritizing movement diversity and physical literacy, Stephen McKeown believes we can help children unlock their full potential—on the field and beyond.
You can watch the full presentation below
Stephen McKeown
Stephen McKeown is former Course Director for the BSC(hons) Sport Coaching Degree programme at Leeds Beckett University in the UK. Having worked as a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University since 2008, Stephen has taught across a range of topics on undergraduate and postgraduate coaching programmes, including multi skills, curriculum development, professional coaching practice and more! Stephen has also worked across other setting in sport. A former physical education teacher, Steve has also coached volleyball at national level, including with the Irish Under 17 National Volleyball Team.
