How Coaching Shapes the Youth Sport Experience — and a Free Course by the USOPC to Help

"An athlete doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” 

What Makes Youth Sports Truly Transformative 

As fall approaches, families across the country prepare for the familiar back-to-school whirlwind – new routines, new supplies, and, for many, the start of a new sports season. Amid the excitement lies many important choices like selecting the right program for your child or building the right environment as a coach or administrator. 

At the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), we’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the most elite athletes in the world. When we ask what made the greatest difference in their athletic journeys, their answers almost always point to one thing: a great coach. 

But what defines a “great” coach? It’s not just about wins, skills, or game plans. Time and again, we hear that it’s about relationships, trust, encouragement – and the way coaches shape athletes as people first, not just athletes.