She almost said no. 

A young mother in the City of Perris agreed to coach her child’s team, only because no one else would. She hesitated because she didn’t have a background in coaching, and she was nervous about taking on the responsibility of a team without any prior experience. She wasn’t sure she had what it took. But she cared. And she showed up. 

She completed NRPA’s coach training — not knowing what to expect. What she found was a roadmap: how to communicate, how to engage every kid on the team, how to build trust and create a space where kids feel supported. 

The training built up her confidence and provided her with the tools she needed to lead her team effectively. That’s the power of a trained coach. 

Every Kid Deserves a Trained Coach 

Across the country, park and recreation departments are where many kids experience their first coach, their first team, their first taste of what sports can be. But too often, volunteers are handed a whistle and a roster — without the support they need to thrive. 

They bring heart. But they need tools. That’s where coach training comes in. 

Last year, NRPA joined the Million Coaches Challenge, and through this initiative, coaches are learning how to support kids both on and off the field. Coach training is building their confidence, their communication skills and their ability to lead with care. 

And it’s working. According to Preliminary Findings from the Million Coaches Challenge Implementation Study: 

• 88% of coaches say the training made them a better coach, 

• 93% reported increased confidence in their coaching abilities and 

• 94% believe all coaches would benefit from foundational youth development training. 

But the most powerful results? They’re showing up in the kids. According to the same study, coaches report that:  

• 67% of athletes are experiencing more joy in sport, 

• 63% are building stronger relationships with peers and  

• 71% of coaches believe the training made athletes more likely to return to the sport — a big win in a time when youth participation is on the decline.  
   

Training That Changes More Than the Game 

In the Lancaster County Park and Recreation Department, a coach credited a championship win to what he learned in NRPA’s training — not about plays, but about people. How to motivate. How to communicate. How to lead. 

Another coach from the City of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation put it simply, “The training helps coaches recognize to coach the kid and not just the player. That we are helping them learn how to become better people and not just successful athletes.” 

Parks and Recreation Can Lead This Movement 

Park and recreation departments are uniquely positioned to lead this movement. You're often the first touchpoint for a child's sports experience — and that first impression sticks. Imagine a coach who knows how to connect with a kid who's shy, who understands how to de-escalate conflict among teammates, or create a space where every child, regardless of background or ability, feels seen and supported. That's the coach you should all strive to put on your fields and courts.  

You are uniquely positioned to make this the norm. To make trained, caring coaches the standard in every program, on every field, in every neighborhood. 

Be the reason a coach says yes. 

If you’re a park and recreation professional, a volunteer, a community leader — you have the power to create real change.

Sign up now for NRPA’s upcoming coach training webinar on June 5 at 2 p.m. EDT. Equip yourself — or the coaches in your program — with the tools to lead. 

Brian McFadden is a program manager at NRPA.