Key Takeaways
- One million youth sport coaches in the U.S. have completed evidence-based youth development training through the Million Coaches Challenge since 2021
- The initiative addresses a gap in which fewer than one-third of six million U.S. youth sport coaches had received positive youth development training
- Two new resources launched to expand access: a 12-strategy practice guide for coaches and a policy-focused vision document for the field
- Coaches trained through partner programs report increased confidence (93%) and athletes report stronger relationships and more enjoyment in sport
- 18 partner organizations collaborated on the national effort, led by the Susan Crown Exchange
Building Coach Training Infrastructure Across the Country
The Million Coaches Challenge announced on October 6 that one million youth sport coaches across the United States have completed training in evidence-based youth development practices. The initiative, launched in 2021 by the Susan Crown Exchange, brought together 18 partner organizations to scale coach education nationally.
Before the effort began, fewer than one-third of the estimated six million youth sport coaches in the U.S. had received training in positive youth development approaches. The milestone represents direct outreach to approximately 17% of the total coaching population over four years.
“Training one million coaches marks a turning point in ensuring every young person has access to a coach who helps them thrive on and off the field,” said Susan Crown, founder of the Susan Crown Exchange. “But this milestone is not the finish line.”
New Practice Tools Released for Coaches and Organizations
Alongside the announcement, the Million Coaches Challenge released two resources designed to support coaches and youth sport organizations:
A Practice Guide for Youth Sport Coaches: 12 Coaching Strategies to Support Positive Youth Development provides research-backed strategies for creating safe and empowering environments. The guide offers actionable approaches coaches can implement directly with young athletes.
The Million Coaches Challenge Calls to Action: A Vision for Youth Sports Coaching outlines a policy and practice agenda organized around four areas: policy development, organizational practice, narrative change, and research priorities.
“These new resources are the bridge from milestone to movement,” said Vincent Minjares, Ph.D., of the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program. “When we invest in coaches, we invest in kids, communities, and the future of sport.”
Measuring Impact on Coach Confidence and Athlete Experience
Data collected from coaches who completed training through Million Coaches Challenge partner programs shows shifts in both coach capability and athlete outcomes. According to the initiative, 93% of trained coaches feel more confident in their ability to support youth development, and 94% believe every coach would benefit from youth development training.
Athletes coached by program graduates report increased joy in sport and stronger relationships with their coaches, though specific measurement details were not provided in the announcement.
The partner network includes the Aspen Institute’s Project Play and research support from the American Institutes for Research, among other national and regional organizations.
What Comes Next for Coach Education in Youth Sports
Crown noted that the next phase focuses on making quality coach training a standard expectation rather than an optional enhancement. The newly released Calls to Action document is designed to guide stakeholders across the youth sports ecosystem, from facility operators to league administrators to policymakers, in integrating evidence-based training into their structures.
The initiative aims to sustain momentum by equipping organizations with frameworks for embedding coach development into everyday operations, rather than treating it as a one-time program.
via: PRNW
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