Becoming a Youth Basketball Coach

By Gary Pearson

Are you looking for a new hobby? Perhaps you would be interest in something that enriches the lives of others. This is what I think about coaching youth basketball. There is really nothing like working with young people to help them build their self-esteem and get good exercise too.

Now that it's been a few months and we've worked out the kinks, we are loving it. Our 'kids' as we call them have become our second family. We both look forward to the weeknights when we coach, and can't wait for the next game to come. Win or lose, we are all having a great time.

The great thing about youth basketball coaching is you can, with very little experience or background in sports, be the one to keep kids away from bad or dangerous influences in their lives. It is a scary world out there, what with crime, drugs, and all manner of other temptations which plague our youth today. Why, when I was a kid, we did not even know what drugs were. But anyway, using youth basketball coaching - especially when working with a good, well organized community center - you can help kids to say no to crime, drugs, and any other dangerous or destructive influences in their lives. You have to see it to believe it. The difference it makes is amazing.

I do not know why my work in youth basketball coaching has done so much for kids, but they have told me all about it themselves. It is really true. I have one kid - Mikey - who joined about when I started youth basketball coaching. Before he joined the team, Mikey was bad news. He had a mother with a drug problem and was getting in to drugs himself. He had friends who were very bad influences. It was kids like Mikey who made me decide to volunteer for youth basketball coaching in the first place.

Even if you know nothing about basketball there is still no reason for you to not become a youth basketball coach. Simply buy or rent some self-teaching videos and books, and see if your local community centre offers any training programs. In no time you will be out there helping make a positive influence on some kid's lives. Believe me, it's well worth giving up a few nights in front of the TV.

About the Author:

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about benefits of youth sports visit Youth Sports for current articles and discussions.