The Aspen Institute

There are more than 6.5 million youth spo rts coaches in the U.S., according to original data developed for the Aspen Institute Project Play by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association . Of these coaches of children ages 14 and under, fewer than 30 percent have received training in sport – specific skills and only 19 percent in effective motivational techniques. This is of particular concern given that a primary reason kids drop out of sports is be cause of a bad experience. Once kids leave sports, it’ s difficult to get them back. They may well miss out on the benefits of sports and physical activity for the rest of their lives.