Coaching Children

Coaching Children: Sports Science Essentials is the first book in Australia specifically aimed at helping community coaches and fitness professionals design safe and effective training programs for children. As obesity rates soar and levels of physical activity decline, this timely resource provides guidance for enhancing children's engagement in sport, developing their motor skills and managing performance anxiety. It provides straightforward research-based advice on nutrition and explains in clear terms how to tailor exercise to address children's social, physical and psychological needs.

A quick-find resource with application to both individual and team activities, Coaching Children presents technical information in a highly practical and reader-friendly manner. Everyday questions and answers include:

• At what age should children specialise in a particular sport?
• Do sports drinks enhance children's performance?
• Should children do weight training?
• How often should children train?

Focusing on effective communication strategies with both children and their parents, each chapter includes a list of insightful reflective questions. Coaches are encouraged to apply scientific knowledge to motivate children in all aspects of training and competing in sport.