Parents can’t always select their child’s head coach. But in some leagues, especially at the younger ages, parents are able to request coaches.

So what traits should you look for in a youth football coach?

1. Fun and personable: Kids play sports because they're fun, and the fun starts with the head coach. That doesn’t mean every minute has to be all fun and games, or that they should have a great joke to tell at the end of every practice. But it does mean the kids should want to go to practice and games because they're fun. The head coach can make or break a child’s love for the game, especially at a young and impressionable age.

Are you the parent of a youth, middle school or high school football player who’s looking for more tips or resources? Check out our Parent Guide, Parents 101 course, nutritious recipes and more.

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2. Good communicator: Coaches should know how to communicate with players and parents. Sometimes this communication is simple: “This is how you grip a football.” Other times it requires a little more skill and tact: “Let me explain to you why your child won’t be starting today.” A good coach gets the message across in both cases.

3. Knowledgeable about the game: Even at the most basic levels of youth sports, we parents want our kids to learn about the game, so a good head coach knows the ins and outs. They not only know how to teach and correct the individual skills required for success, but also how to teach players to effectively implement them into the team strategy during practice and game situations.

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4. Knowledgeable about kids: The good youth sports coaches are the ones who can manage kids. If there are 10 kids on a team, there'll be 10 different personalities and ways those kids learn best. A good coach realizes their favorite way to coach isn’t the only way, and sometimes isn’t even the best way.

Finding the perfect coach for your child can be a daunting task, and not always feasible. But if you do get a chance to request, ask other parents in the league for suggestions. Like teachers in schools, parents have a good pulse of the situation.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.

This is an updated version of a blog that originally published July 28, 2017.