There’s no denying the growing prevalence of travel teams and tournaments on fields and courts across the country. As players further develop their game skills and realize the benefits playing sports offers for their esteem, health and overall enjoyment, many are seeking out more competitive opportunities.

It’s important for these players to work with coaches that will remind them that while competition is healthy and winning is fun they shouldn’t lose focus on the benefits that make sports so great, like sportsmanship, teamwork and pride.

The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS), America’s leading authority on youth sports since 1981, is excited to announce the launch of National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) Select, its newest volunteer coach education program aimed at preparing coaches for the ever-challenging role of working with and instructing travel teams and advanced level athletes.

“NAYS has a reputation for offering great programs,” said Nico Hindie, a high school coach with more than 14 years of experience. “When they offered the NYSCA Select program, I had no doubt that the program was a worthwhile investment for any coach looking to further their education in sports.”

Hindie coaches girls’ soccer and tennis at Kinnick High School, which serves U.S. military families based in Yokosuka, Japan.

Since the program is offered online, coaches can complete their training on their own schedule. “I think the online training was very convenient and allowed me to view things at my own pace,” said Hindie.

NYSCA Select provides an online experience following the recommended eight key topic areas outlined by the National Association for Sports and Physical Education's 2006 National Standards for Youth Sport Coaches:

• Philosophy & Ethics
• Sports Safety and Injury Prevention
• Physical Preparation and Conditioning
• Growth & Development
• Teaching & Communication
• Organization & Administration
• Skills & Tactics
• Evaluation

“The course materials have reinforced many of my concepts that I encounter while coaching and traveling with the team to tournaments,” Hindie said. “Additionally, it takes into account modern aspects of coaching that we deal with, such as concussions.”

In addition to covering concussions, NYSCA Select also draws attention to other health risks that may increase as children advance to a competitive environment, like steroid use and overuse injuries.

“While some things, like the love of the game, are universal no matter what level of sport the coach is coaching at or a player is playing at, coaches that instruct travel teams and high school athletes have a different set of concerns than their recreation counterparts,” said John Engh, chief operating officer for NAYS. “They have to teach their players to avoid gamesmanship while still playing for a win. They have to know how to strengthen their players in a way that is appropriate. One day their players will look back and see what a difference these kinds of things made on their experience in sports, and that’s why volunteer coach education is so important.”

NYSCA Select is offered to existing NYSCA members who have been trained in at least one sport. Learn more about becoming a NYSCA member or about NYSCA Select training or contact NAYS headquarters at (800) 688-KIDS (5437).

NAYS is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla. More than 3,000 community-based youth sport programs across the country use NAYS programs and services for everyone involved in youth sports experiences, including professional administrators, volunteer administrators, volunteer coaches, officials, parents and young athletes.