Foundations of Coach Talk

Name: Foundations of Coach Talk
Rating: 5.0 (19 reviews)

Youth athletes will enjoy sports more because you will describe sports concepts in words they understand.

Created byAndrew Stuart

Last updated 1/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Recognize words and terms which youth athletes may not fully understand
Understand language and perspective development of youth athletes
Use descriptive and concrete language to effectively describe the sport activity request
Apply language concisely and connected to the sport activity

Course content

7 sections • 6 lectures • 40m total length

Welcome to Coach Talk Training4:23
For centuries, coaches have been instructing athletes to play a sport. This lesson introduces coaches to the unique connection between learning language skills and developing youth athletes who thrive in sport.
Download the participant worksheet as it will be used in each lecture.
Options:
1. Paper - Print and write with a pen
2. Digital - Save the PDF worksheet and fill in electronically.
Upon completing this course, Coaches will:
Recognize language where youth athletes may not fully understand the intended request
Understand language and perspective development of youth athletes
Use descriptive and concrete language with youth athletes
Apply language concisely and connect the request to the sport activity

Youth Athletes Language Development7:58
Do coaches recognize when a youth athlete does not understand the intended sports specific request? Coaches will understand how a general term, abstract word and sport specific jargon might be misunderstood by youth athletes.
Upon completing this course, Coaches will:
Recognize language where youth athletes may not fully understand the intended request
General terms are words that refer to large classes or broad groups.
Abstract words are ideas, concepts, and are intangible (cannot see, smell or feel).
Sport specific jargon are words or phases specific to a sport and the words or phrases may not be understood to those unfamiliar with the sport.

Descriptive and Concrete Language12:52
The key to effective communication with youth athletes is descriptive and concrete language.
Upon completing this course, Coaches will:
Use descriptive and concrete language with youth athletes
Descriptive is the opposite of a General term.
Concrete is the opposite of an Abstract word.
Demonstration of a sport concept or drill in practice makes the action concreate as the youth can see, feel, and hear the concept or drill.

Concise and Connected Language6:16
The ability to pay attention is a central factor in learning how to play a sport. The secret to be an effective coach of youth athletes is delivering concise instructions that are connected to the sport activity.
Upon completing this course, Coaches will:
Deliver instructions concisely and connected to the sport activity request.
Create segmented stages for youth athletes to learn a sports concept of practice drill.
Attention is the length of time a person can focus on a subject before becoming distracted.
Provide context + instruction to ensure comprehension.

Youth Athlete's Perspective Taking6:32
The brain development of children and youth is critically important to understand how they perceive the world around them, and the techniques we use as coaches to teach sport concepts.
Upon completing this course, Coaches will:
Understand perspective development of youth athletes.
Field perspective is the view of the world from your own eyes.
Observer perspective is being able to take a view from above (looking down).
Tailor your instructions to the age and ability of the youth athletes.

Making Coach Talk Happen2:24
How to make Coach Talk happen: be aware of your language when you are explaining a sport concept, set incremental goals, and just like the youth athletes learning a new skill you have to practice to see improvement.
Upon completing this course, Coaches will:
Implement change by setting attainable goals for yourself.
Seek other coaches or managers to provide feedback on your goals and progress.
Progress over perfection.

Requirements

Be a sports coach of youth athletes or intend on coaching in the future.

Description

Coach Talk Training is not a typical coaching course about the fundamentals of sport, the rules of the game or how to motivate youth athletes. Although these aspects of learning a sport are important, Coach Talk Training focuses on the actual words said by a coach to a youth athlete, the importance of connected language and a structured model for providing positive feedback.

The program teaches coaches to identify general terms, abstract words, and sport specific jargon that youth athletes may not understand. The coaches learn how to effectively replace the misunderstood language with descriptive and concrete words, and say them in a concise and connected way to the sport activity.

Great coaches want to see their athletes thrive in sport. Coach Talk Training is designed specifically for coaches of youth athletes. Many children enter organized sports at a young age and the hope is they grow to love the sport. In teaching a sport, understanding the developmental curve of children is crucial. One amazing aspect of children is their rate of brain and language development.

Many coaches are not prepared to teach sport concepts to youth athletes ages 5 to 15. The Coach Talk Training program teaches coaches how to effectively communicate and provide meaningful feedback to youth athletes so they fully grasp the sport concepts being taught.

Coach Talk Training is grounded in child development and language acquisition. The courses and workshops incorporate this knowledge in a practical and usable format to ensure coaches are prepared and feel confident to coach youth athletes to their full potential.

Who this course is for:

Coach Talk Training is not a typical coaching course about the fundamentals of sport, the rules of the game or how to motivate youth athletes.
Although these aspects of learning a sport are important, Coach Talk Training focuses on the actual words said by a coach to a youth athlete, the importance of connected language and a structured model for providing positive feedback.
The program teaches coaches to identify general terms, abstract words, and sport specific jargon that youth athletes may not understand. The coaches learn how to effectively replace the misunderstood language with descriptive and concrete words, and say them in a concise and connected way to the sport activity.

Foundations of Coach Talk

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 4min

Youth Athletes Language Development1 lecture • 8min

Descriptive and Concrete Language1 lecture • 13min

Concise and Connected Language1 lecture • 6min

Youth Athlete's Perspective Taking1 lecture • 7min

Making Coach Talk Happen1 lecture • 2min

Knowledge Check0

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: