Every year, hundreds of thousands of parents across the United States volunteer to become youth football coaches.

Some are former players and veteran instructors returning to the field for another fall season. Others will be holding a whistle and clipboard for the first time.

No matter what experience a youth football coach brings, the individuals who devote their free time to teaching this sport to the millions of young athletes who enjoy playing it are important to the growth and development of those players.

Rich Ross, commissioner of the Northwest Junior Football League in Washington state for 18 years, said he looks for strong communication skills, confidence and a balanced approach when recruiting new coaches. It’s important for parent-coaches to work with the entire team, not just their own children.

“Being able to relate not only to parents and other fellow coaches but to kids,” Ross said. “When I look for (a coach), he is open to ‘What can we do’? They come to me like, ‘What can we do for you, Rich, to make your program better?’”

Coaches need to be committed to teaching the sport the right way, said Danny Roberts, the Pearland (Texas) Youth Football Association monitoring director and Player Safety Coach. That includes teaching Heads Up Football skills and techniques.

 “If they’re willing to put in the time and the effort, nine times out of 10 they’re also willing to learn the proper way to do things,” Roberts said.

Roberts emphasizes communication and working with parents to balance their concerns and the needs of the children. Many parents didn’t play football when younger or may have had a bad experience. It is important to educate them so they are comfortable in how their children are being taught.

“It’s a give-and-take situation on the coaches’ side,” Roberts said. “You’ve got to be able to deal and work with the kids and get them to understand what you’re trying to say. On the same note, you’ve got to talk to the parents because if the parents understand what you’re trying to do on the field, they can help you out at home.”

As a Player Safety Coach, Roberts oversees coaching education and implementing Heads Up Football in his league. He came into coaching with no background in football, but with USA Football’s help, he is now teaching other adults.

“The Player Safety Coach Clinic that I went to last year to learn the Heads Up Football way was a great asset along with all the other tools they offer to be able to bring back to your teams and teach proper technique,” he said.

For NJFL Player Liaison Erika Freitas, who works with Ross in administering the Washington league, a coach being certified by USA Football is more important than an extensive background in the sport.

“If they’re not certified, they don’t get a badge to stay on the field,” Freitas said.

Winning and losing does not factor into how Freitas and Ross judge whether a coach is successful. They look at whether the players had fun, improved their skills and learned the sport.

“Some teams can go lose every game but then you look at the rosters the next year, and that coach brought them all back,” Ross said. “There’s something happening there that is way beyond the scoreboard, and that’s what we strive for.”

For more information on getting into coaching, check out the resources available under the “Coach” tab at http://usafootball.com/coach.