#245: A Clear Vision and Mission are Essential in Leading Youth Sport.
Coaches and teachers must check these on the list to be effective leaders.
The scenario is all too common in youth sport. A coach jumps in to work with kids and is well intentioned but they are not organized.
Many figure it out as they go.
A recent clip from All Blacks Rugby Coach Scott Robinson caught my eye, because he clearly mapped out the role of vision and mission in leading others and making an impact as a coach.
I have posted the clip below.
The role of vision and mission in youth coaching is critical in leading others.
Think of your vision as the “what” and “why,” and the mission is the “how.”
The “what” and “why” can be very simple at the youth sport level in the early stages. (10 and under) but gets more complex as the youth athlete gets older.
Let’s explore. f
In 10 and under, the “what” (vision) can be simple and very general. Examples include:
1. Create a positive experience for the youth being coached.
2. Improve their physical literacy.
3. Improve social skills.
The “why” for 10u , could include:
1. There are very few other options to develop these in school or otherwise.
2. Critical to raising young people with self-confidence and a host of social, emotional and physical skills.
The “how” is when in starts to get tricky and very subjective.
To be most effective, the vision must be standards that are not subjective, but rather objective and agreed upon by all stakeholders.
We want to encourage a process of developing a strong vision and mission that the people leading the teams and organization can get behind. This includes all stakeholders around youth sport : the parents, the athletes, the volunteers including the coaches, the officials and administrators.
If the vision and mission are clear and communicated well, then the experiences will be positive and many will want to be involved in the organization.
If these are not clear, or shared amongst the stakeholders, then the experience gets diluted, and the intentions fragmented.
Being a good coach, teacher, parent starts with strong sense of self. To establish a vision on how to raise your kids or coach your team, the individual must understand their strengths. Otherwise, how can we lead others?
The sense of self comes from purpose, comes from a strong why, and a passion to help others. I would venture to say that most coaches are not involved for the accolades.
“A coaching vision statement is like a lighthouse guiding coaches towards their intended destination. It provides clarity, inspiration, and motivation, ensuring that every action is in alignment with their ultimate vision.” 1
As our young athletes get older, the vision statement becomes a little more complicated and requires more careful thought.
Some examples: 1
Vision Statement:
“Our coaching philosophy is to cultivate athletic excellence, focusing on innovative training and mental resilience, grounded in values of hard work and determination.”
Explanation:
Emphasizes athletic development and mental toughness, grounded in values of hard work.
Vision statement
“Building champions through teamwork and discipline, we focus on continuous improvement, instilling values of sportsmanship and personal growth.”
Explanation : Concentrates on teamwork and discipline, aligning with values of sportsmanship.
Vision statement
“Fostering elite performance, our focus is on developing physical skills and strategic thinking, anchored in values of perseverance and excellence.”
Explanation: Focuses on physical skill and strategic acumen, underpinned by values of perseverance.
“Empowering athletes to surpass their limits, we provide dedicated coaching and cutting-edge techniques, focusing on values of passion and excellence.”
Vision statement
“Shaping the future of sports, we nurture young talent, driving innovation in training, and instilling values of teamwork and integrity.”
Explanation: Focuses on developing young athletes and innovative training, aligned with values of teamwork and integrity.
The path to getting there : the mission is equally critical to creating a lasting impact as a coach and teacher.
An example from Oregon Park District: 2
The Oregon Park District recreational youth sports programs are designed to allow all children to have the opportunity to have fun, participate and learn fundamental sports skills. Participants should learn sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, fair play and self-confidence. The sports environment will be safe and well maintained. Prudent behavior by adults is mandatory. The Oregon Park District also believes that the safety and well-being of the youth participant is the highest priority.
From Oak Hills Youth Athletics: 3
Oak Hills Youth Athletics is dedicated to the development of well rounded youth through positive sports competition. We strive to develop fundamental skills through active participation of our players and to promote good sportsmanship from our players, coaches and parents.
Oak Hills Youth Athletics is dedicated to the support of the organized sports in the Oak Hills Local School District. OHYA believes that our mission is to provide these organized sports with as many athletes as possible, that are as well prepared as possible for that next level.
In summary:
Clear and concise vision and mission statements youth sport organizations and their leaders with the roadmap to excellence, defined by and overall positive experience.
Skipping these steps creates the opposite effect.
Coach Scott Robinson clip on vision and mission:
https://twitter.com/deasuno/status/1756256529722872118?s=46&t=1-eRquQY0c0zDItePEy3MA
1 https://lovepixelagency.com/coaching-vision-statement-examples/
2 https://oregonpark.org/programs/youth-sports-mission-statement/
3 https://www.ohyouthathletics.org/page/show/726049-mission-statement