Coaches – Project Play – Western New York

The top priority for a youth sports coach is to provide children with a sports experience that’s fun and that lays the groundwork for them to become healthy, happy adults. As a volunteer or professional coach, you are always on the run from one practice or game to the next, but these resources can help you up your game on your time and from your own home or office.

Calls For Coaches

Coaching kids goes beyond simply winning games - it’s also critical to develop each athlete. As a coach, if you are able to focus on the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of the whole child, you can help youth athletes feel safe and supported, and foster important traits such as responsibility and perseverance, and guide them in building an emotional foundation for success. LEARN MORE

How to Coach Kids

Are you a volunteer coach or interested in becoming one? Then check out this FREE, 30-minute interactive online training course for volunteer coaches for kids under age 12. Co-created by Nike and the U.S. Olympic Committee, with the support of our partners at the Aspen Institute, How to Coach Kids also offers a complete resource center with tools for coaching kids in any sport.

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Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo – Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds for Youth Sports

In 2016, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established an endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to help support localized programs across the eight counties of Western New York that provide opportunities for all children to be active through sports. Grants between $10,000-$50,000 are available for eligible nonprofit organizations and programs through an annual application process. Visit the Community Foundation’s website for grant guidelines and the current timeline. LEARN MORE

Mini Grants

Throughout the year, Project Play Western New York provides mini-grants to coaches to cover the cost of attending coaching development seminars, conferences and workshops. Check back soon to take advantage of our upcoming mini-grant opportunities.

#SHE CAN COACH

September 29, 2019

Check out this event on September 29 at the Koessler Athletic Center at Canisius College.

Free Play Challenge

In May 2019, we restored the power of free play with a variety of games, music, giveaways and more. The Project Play Western New York Free Play Challenge, hosted by nationally recognized play enthusiast Kevin Carroll, had something for everyone, from volleyball and soccer, to relay races, nature play and a bounce house. Guests had the chance to watch as their favorite pro sports alumni duked it out in dodgeball and local celebrities showed their competitive side in a two-square tournament. Check back for future dates and details.

Coaches Training Clinics

Starting this fall, Project Play WNY will be hosting a series of coaches training sessions for WNY youth sport organizations. These sessions will be led by the Institute of Youth Sports and Dr. Dan Gould. Check back for dates, times and registration procedures.

Community Conversations

Project Play WNY hosts conversations for families, coaches and youth sport organizations on how we can all work together to ensure that kids in our regions have an opportunity to be active through a quality youth sport experience regardless of zip code. Check back for future dates and details.

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Resources