Quality youth sports experiences require more than facilities and equipment; they demand skilled leadership who understands the profound impact sports can have on participants. Whether delivered by volunteers, seasonal staff or full-time professionals, programs delivered by trained staff create lasting impressions that extend well beyond the playing field.

Designed to strengthen the capacity of coaches and youth-facing staff in parks and recreation, this resource hub includes practical guides and evidence-based tools to support the delivery of high-quality youth programming.

 

Courses and Resources by Topic

From foundational youth development principles to specialized approaches, these training programs equip staff and volunteers with confidence and skills to deliver transformative youth programming. Each training opportunity supports your department's commitment to ensuring that all staff members — regardless of background or experience level — can facilitate environments where every young person experiences belonging, growth and success.

 

Foundational Learning

  • Coach-Mentor Training: Developed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Coach-Mentor Online Training supports coaches to serve as mentors who create positive connections with youth, building safe welcoming youth sports experiences for all kids.
  • How to Coach Kids Course: Co-created by Nike and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and inspired by Project Play, this 30-minute online course helps coaches of kids ages 7-12 in any sport. Available in both English and Spanish.
  • Positive Youth Sports Culture Index: This innovative tool created by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) provides a clear depiction of the traits that define a positive youth sports environment and evaluates the effectiveness of youth sports programs in fostering positive youth development. The Index helps organizations assess their current status, set goals, implement strategies and track their progress toward improvement.

Coaching Girls

  • Body Confident Sport: Co-developed by Dove and Nike, this program aims to equip coaches with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to build body-confident athletes and help girls focus on what their bodies can do, not what they look like. It includes three online coach training modules as well as a curriculum to be delivered by coaches to girls ages 11-17. Available in both English and Spanish.
  • Coaching Girls Guide: Created by Nike and the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, this guide equips coaches and program leaders with research-backed strategies to create inclusive, empowering sports environments that help girls thrive. Available in both English and Spanish.
  • Coaching HER: Co-developed by Dove and Nike, these research-backed online courses feature interactive modules, real-world scenarios, guided reflections, and practical strategies to improve coaching practices and keep girls ages 11-17 engaged in sports.
  • How to Coach Girls Course: Co-created by Nike and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and inspired by project play, this 20-minute module supports adults working with girls ages 7-12, specifically how to create a sports culture that girls love to play in. Available in both English and Spanish.
  • Positive Coaching Alliance's Coaching Girls Resources: Positive Coaching Alliance has a variety of free resources geared towards coaching girls including recruiting and retaining more women coaches, best practices for coaching girls in sports, and tips for male coaches coaching girls
  • United for Girls by U.S. Soccer Foundation: The U.S. Soccer Foundation provides comprehensive resources including the United for Girls Playbook with evidence-based strategies to recruit and engage women coach-mentors, increase participation among girls from underserved communities, and address challenges that prevent girls from accessing soccer programs, helping organizations create welcoming environments where young girls can thrive.

Resource Hubs for Coaches and Administrators

  • Center for Healing and Justice through Sport Resource Hub: The Center for Healing and Justice through Sport provides comprehensive coaching resources including summer programming toolkits, bilingual guides, self-assessment checklists and research-backed playbooks to help coaches create healing-centered sports experiences that build connection, resilience and well-being in youth athletes.
  • Nike Coaching Hub: This full suite of Nike and expert-backed coaching resources are designed to support coaches to create welcoming sport experiences, with a focus on empowering girls through transformative coaching approaches that create lifelong impact.
  • Positive Coaching Alliance's Resource Zone: Whether you are a parent/caregiver, coach, or leader/administrator, this online resource center offers tangible, specific resources to help build a positive sports culture.
  • United States Tennis Association Coaching Hub: USTA offers park and recreation professionals' easy access to tennis training, practice plans, safety tools and exclusive resources to strengthen community tennis programs and improve player experiences.
  • U.S. Olympic & Paralympics Committee (USOPC) Youth Hub: USOPC's tools emphasize how to create safer youth sports experiences, including the American Development Model.

Resource Hubs for Parents

  • Take Back Sports Hub: Created by ESPN in partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance, the hub provides youth sports parents, caregivers and coaches with educational resources, tips and tools to improve children's sports experiences. The site features articles, checklists, assessments and a Q&A tool covering topics like first-time parent guidance and self-evaluation for sports parents.
  • Youth Sports Resources for Parents: Presented by Aspen Institute Sports & Society Project Play, this hub offers resources that park and recreation professionals can provide to support parents in getting and keeping their kids healthy through sports.

Paid Courses

  • Center for Healing and Justice through Sport: CHJS offers live, in-person and virtual workshops that help coaches and youth-serving organizations create healing-centered and welcoming sports environments. Tailored for organizations large and small, trainings are delivered in-person or online and range from 90 minutes to year-long engagements. All focused on building welcoming, resilient and empowering sport cultures
  • National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS): NAYS several training courses for volunteers involved in youth sports. Some of these courses are offered for free or at a minimal charge. Topics include Basic Youth Sports Safety and First Aid Training, Concussion Training, Bully Prevention Training and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training.
  • Play Safely: In partnership with the CoachSafely Foundation, Play Safely Sports offers a comprehensive approach to safety — physical, mental, emotional and social —protecting the whole athlete. This self-paced 60-minute course covers nine major areas of an athlete's wellbeing.
  • Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA): Offers a variety of live and online courses, all research-based and designed to help coaches, parents, athletes and officials ensure that winning happens both on and off the field in youth sports.
  • US Soccer Foundation: Developed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Coach-Mentor Training is a highly interactive, in-person 2-hour session for up to 40 coaches, delivered in a classroom setting to build trust, model positive behaviors and support coaches in serving as mentors who create safe and welcoming youth sports experiences for all kids.

If you have any questions about these training opportunities, reach out to NRPA's Youth Sports Team at youthsports@nrpa.org.

 

PHOTO: Youths listen to soccer coaches before a scrimmage on a mini pitch operated by the City of New Bedford (Massachusetts) Parks, Recreation and Beaches.

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