In youth football, the way a coach chooses to get his message across can vary from person to person.

There are those who will never yell at a child, especially at the lower, instructional levels. Then there are coaches who often raise their voices, directing older players who are competing at the higher ranks.

Some parents don’t like their children being shouted at at by a coach, and I’ve seen situations where parents are visually upset by it. Personally, I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, there are times it’s appropriate, within reason, for a youth football coach to raise his voice at a player.

Here are five situations:

• It’s an emotional game. I never played organized football, but I’ve been a fan as long as I can remember, and I’ve covered the sport for more than 26 years. Football is a game unlike any other. It is the ultimate team competition where, for the most part, each player needs to do his job for a play to be successful. Coaches get caught up in the moment, and while they aren’t going out of their way to embarrass player – it’s never appropriate to ever do that – it is OK for a coach to raise the decibel level, especially on a noisy, chaotic sideline.
• Player is repeating mistakes. During practice, coaches have limited time to prepare their teams for games. When payers make mistake in practice, coaches will generally repeat the play or drill until it’s done correctly. If a player consistently makes the same error, let’s say running left when he’s supposed to run right, frustration can mount. Coaches are teachers, and it takes a strong will to remain calm throughout this process. As long as it remains instructive, a coach may turn up the volume to emphasize his point.
• A child is misbehaving. This is an important lesson for players, and it applies for all situations in life. If a child shows a lack of respect at home, there are consequences. The same holds true on the football field. If a player shows a lack of respect for a teammate, opponent or coach, the coach will address that situation. If it’s a serious matter, the coach should take the player aside and address it privately. If all it takes is a quick word or two, the coach needs to keep it clean and straightforward, but don’t be surprised if it comes out at a higher volume level.
• Not paying attention. This drives coaches up a wall. It’s important for every player to focus on what’s happening in the game, even while watching from the sideline. That player could be called on, at any time, to enter the game, and he or she has to know what’s going on. Being that I spend a lot of time on the chain gang at my son’s games, I’ve seen and heard kids have conversations about everything but the game. Coaches may need to jolt players out of their side conversations with a quick (voluble) word.
• Let’s get pumped up. In this case, the yelling really isn’t directed at any one player. There are critical times during a game that will call for a coach to rally enthusiasm. It’s a tie game. You have the ball and perhaps it’s been tough sledding against the other team’s defense. The coach might use that opportunity to get the team fired up. A few poignant words about schemes and what to watch out for from opposing players is fair game.
   

The key for coaches is to use a louder voice on a limited basis. The more a coach yells, the less effect it has. Keep the message instructive and positive, only change the volume to get a specific point across.

Without question, there could be a shock value to some parents when they hear coaches yell at players, particularly theirs. If a parent feels that the coach is going overboard, don’t be afraid to request a meeting.

If you are new to youth football, talk to the other parents about yelling and if they think it’s a concern or just business as usual.

Peter Schwartz is an anchor and reporter for CBS Sports Radio and WFAN Radio in New York. You can read his general CBS New York sports blog at http://newyork.cbslocal.com/tag/peter-schwartz/. You can follow him on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. Peter and his wife, Sheryl, are the proud parents of Bradley and Jared. Bradley plays for the Levittown Red Devils of the Nassau Suffolk Football League on Long Island in New York. Jared cheers him on and Bradley returns the favor when Jared is playing soccer.