Keeping Sports Fun for Smaller Sluggers

Coaches of Excellence was recognized on the front page of today's Denver Post's fitness section with an article called "Keeping sports fun for smaller sluggers." We are extremely thankful for this acknowledgment and are excited to see what opportunities come out of it.

A combination of stories, testimonies and expert advice, the article discusses some of the growing issues in youth sporting events. Coach O addresses the behavior of parents and coaches alike, and how adjustments can make a real impact on the 21st century athlete.

Make sure to read the helpful tips outlined in the article, such as "Advice for parents" and "Car-ride rules: What to say before and after the game." Veteran umpire Jim Evans also shares his perspective with "Advice for--and about--umpires."

Interested in reading the full story? Pick up a Denver Post or read the full article here.

7 Things You Should Know

7 Things You Should Know About Being A Successful Coach by Rod Olson, "Coaches of Excellence" founder/director

Many thanks to Mile High Sports Magazine for featuring Coaches of Excellence in the May 2009 issue. We always appreciate when publications support our cause. Mile High Sports was certainly a pleasure to work with!

Click on the image to the right to view the entire article. Let us know what you think!

In the article, Coach O lays out these 7 pieces of advice:

1. Kids don't care what you know until they know how much you care about them.

2. Success is based on relationships.

3. Motivating the 21st century athlete is tricky.

4. Coaches need balance.

5. "Trigger terms" are essential .

6. Don't place too much emphasis on winning and don't specialize.

7. Even the "big hitters" are on board with Coaches of Excellence.

Coaches of Excellence In the News

With the recent stories surfacing about unruly parents and coaches losing their cool at games (See: “Parent Attacked Ref at Cheyenne Mountain Game”—Feb 1, 2009 and “Father Pepper-Sprayed After Argument With Coach”—March 14, 2009), Coaches of Excellence has recognized a growing need for solutions and ways to combat these negative scenarios.


In the past few months, we have been asked by the media to step up as an expert in the field to address some of these issues and talk about ways parents and coaches can create positive sporting environments.

In March, KOAA covered one of our 90-minute Coaches Workshops in Colorado Springs, where we had the opportunity to speak to over 100 coaches. See the full story…

Rod was also a guest on Fox 31’s Good Day Colorado in May to speak about ways parents can alter their actions and mindsets in order to be better supporters and spectators.



More than anything, we are grateful for the opportunity to spread our knowledge and training in order to reach the hearts of 21st century athletes. For us, getting in front of media outlets is a chance to reach a wider audience and offer real and practical solutions for the negativity we are seeing.

Our goal, of course, is to be an active group, not a reactive group. By traveling to different schools and speaking with coaches all around the country, we are hoping to begin a new style of coaching that will keep athletes motivated and involved for the long haul.

A Few Pointers for Parents

Although Coaches of Excellence works directly with coaches, we strongly believe that there are many "players" in the world of sports which can affect the atmosphere of a game. A lot of parents come to us asking what they can do as spectators, so we thought we'd share 5 important tips to remember:

1. Understand Your Role at a Sporting Event! Realize there are only 4 types of people at a sporting event; the Coaches, the Players, the Officials and finally the Spectators. You cannot be all 4, you are only 1, the spectator…so enjoy the day by not trying to be all 4! Know your role.

2. Pick the “Right Seat” at your child’s sporting event. Do not sit by people that will try to draw you into the negative parent/fan culture of sports. If you end up in a bad seat or section, simply move…there are not any padlocks on your seat cushion. Be a problem solver not a problem spotter!

3. Let the Coaches Coach! Be committed to refraining from yelling out instructions to your child during games or practices. Understand that this is the Coach’s job. Understand that games are chaotic times for children trying to deal with fast paced action and respond to opponents, teammates, and coaches. Simply limit your comments during the game to encouraging your child and the other players… for both teams.

4. Be a Positive Role Model toward Officials! Be a great sport Parent by being sure to Mention good calls by the officials to others in the stands or on the sidelines. Start to create a climate where we recognize this is about the kids and not winning!

5. Keep Your Perspective and Practice Self-Control Routines...do not criticize officials, coaches or especially your child. Remember to have fun and Enjoy the day!

Let the Games Begin!

Hello! This is the start of the Coaches of Excellence Blog. We hope to use this blog as a tool to share the principles and teachings of Coaches of Excellence and connect with you, our community. Let's join together to create a positive & character-building sports world for the 21st century athlete.

Stay tuned for more from Coach O!