Great coaching isn’t about being the loudest voice or having the longest playbook. Especially at the youth level, the best coaches are shaping habits, confidence, and understanding — not just the scoreboard.
Here are a few signs you’re in the right environment.
Positive, but Never Passive
The best coaches are relentlessly positive — but they’re not soft.
They believe in their players enough to hold them accountable. If a player is being lazy, disengaged, or cutting corners, a good coach will address it head-on. The difference is how they do it.
You’ll hear things like:
“You’re way too talented to play that casually.”
The message isn’t punishment — it’s belief.
Great coaches demand effort because they expect greatness.
They Encourage Smart Risk-Taking
Development doesn’t happen without mistakes.
Good coaches give players permission to try things — to dodge, throw the skip pass, push tempo, and learn from the result. They don’t pull kids after one bad decision or shut them down for being creative.
Players who are afraid to make mistakes never learn how to solve problems on their own.
They Emphasize Understanding Over Memorization
Strong coaching builds lacrosse IQ.
Instead of barking instructions every possession, good coaches ask questions:
- What did you see there?
- Why did that slide come?
- Where was the space?
This teaches players how to think about the game, not just run through it.
They Connect the Game to Life
The best coaches understand that youth sports are bigger than sports.
They use the game to teach:
- Accountability
- Communication
- Leadership
- Discipline
These lessons last far longer than any season or stat line. My youth football, wrestling, and lacrosse coaches had an immense impact on my development as a young man, and I hope there are many more coaches like them out there today.
They Teach Team Lacrosse — Not Just “Feed the Best Kid”
Winning by riding the most physically developed player might work today — but it fails players tomorrow.
Great coaches value ball movement, spacing, off-ball effort, and shared responsibility. They build offenses where everyone learns how to contribute, not just the early-bloomer who happens to be bigger or faster at age twelve.
Team lacrosse creates smarter players, better teammates, and stronger people.
Is it Really That Deep?
Short answer, yes, finding the right coach for your kid is extraordinarily important. A great coach can help make your kid a great athlete and a great person, and a bad coach can cause your kid to lose their love for the sport. Picking a coach is an investment in the development of your kid, and as such, it needs be an investment that has a serious diligence process.