Coaches shape the environment that young athletes grow up in. They guide performance, character, confidence and mental resilience, but they also influence how a player feels about their sport, their team and themselves.

With so much responsibility placed on one person, many parents and clubs are starting to question whether it is time for mandatory annual behaviour training, the same way teachers, referees and safeguarding staff renew their qualifications. As the sports world grows, the expectations on coaches grow right alongside it, which creates an important question. Should coaches be required to refresh their behavioural knowledge every single year, or is it unnecessary pressure placed on volunteers who already give so much?

This discussion matters because coaching culture affects everyone. It impacts how children learn to compete, how parents interact with the game and how safe and healthy the atmosphere is across training sessions, matches and tournaments. Behaviour training might sound formal, but it covers areas that shape real experiences. Communication, emotional management, conflict, motivation, boundaries, and the ability to create a space where every athlete can show up and develop without fear of humiliation or pressure. When done poorly, coaching can leave long lasting effects on confidence. When done well, it elevates an athlete’s life far beyond sport.

In this post we explore both sides of the debate, the arguments for mandatory annual behaviour training, and the concerns raised by those who disagree. The goal is not to force a conclusion but to open a meaningful conversation about what is best for athletes, clubs and communities.

Why Behaviour Training Matters in Modern Sports

Coaching today is not the same as coaching 20 or even 10 years ago. Children face new pressures. Parents expect more structure. Clubs operate with more safeguarding guidelines. Social media has added another layer of accountability. The standards have changed, whether the training has or not.

Behaviour training is not about coaching technique. It is about how a coach communicates, leads and interacts with athletes. These areas shape the environment as much as drills and strategy do.

Here are the major areas behaviour training can cover:

• How to give feedback that motivates instead of discourages

• How to communicate clearly with young athletes and parents

• How to manage conflict or heated situations calmly

• How to build team culture that is respectful and inclusive

• How to recognise burnout or emotional strain

• How to maintain boundaries while still supporting athletes

• How to handle disagreements or pushy parents professionally

• How to reduce shouting, humiliation or negative coaching patterns

A great coach can be tough without being damaging. They can push athletes without crossing lines. They can be authoritative without being aggressive. Training helps define those boundaries.

The Argument For Mandatory Annual Behaviour Training

Those who support mandatory annual training often highlight five major points.

1. Coaching Standards Need to Evolve

Athletes today face academic pressure, social pressure and mental health challenges that did not exist twenty years ago. Coaches need modern tools and communication techniques that reflect what athletes actually deal with.

Behaviour training helps coaches adapt their approach for today’s environment.

2. It Creates Safer Spaces for Athletes

Many parents fear coaches who shout excessively, embarrass players or punish mistakes aggressively. Annual training gives coaches reminders of how to create supportive, safe environments where athletes actually want to learn.

Safer teams lead to higher retention, happier kids and healthier clubs.

3. It Reduces Burnout and Anxiety

Athletes who fear making mistakes do not learn. They freeze, overthink and burn out. Good behaviour training teaches coaches how to motivate positively and avoid long term emotional harm.

4. It Protects Clubs From Complaints and Conflicts

Untrained coaches often cause accidental issues simply because they have never been taught communication or behavioural skills. Behaviour training protects clubs by reducing complaints, confrontations and misunderstandings.

Training is cheaper than damage control.

5. It Shows Parents That the Club Takes Welfare Seriously

Parents today want transparency, professionalism and accountability. A club that invests in annual behaviour training instantly communicates its values. It says, we care about your child’s experience, and we take it seriously.

For many families, this becomes a deciding factor when choosing a club.

The Argument Against Mandatory Behaviour Training

Other coaches and parents argue that annual training is excessive or unrealistic. Their concerns usually fall into four categories.

1. Most Coaches Are Volunteers

Many grassroots coaches are parents or community members who give up their evenings and weekends for free. Expecting them to attend annual behaviour training can feel like an unreasonable demand on people who are already giving so much.

Some fear it would discourage volunteers, creating a shortage of coaches.

2. Good Coaches Already Display Positive Behaviour

Some argue that the majority of coaches naturally know how to communicate well. They believe mandatory training punishes everyone for the actions of a small minority.

3. More Training Does Not Always Equal Better Behaviour

Critics say that attending a course does not guarantee improved behaviour. A coach who is naturally aggressive or dismissive will not change after a single training session. They believe the focus should be on accountability, not training.

4. Clubs May Not Have the Budget

Many small clubs operate on low budgets. Adding mandatory annual training may require fees, time commitments and administrative work that clubs simply cannot afford.

Where the Real Issue Lies

When discussing behaviour training, the real conflict is not usually about training itself. Most people agree that good behaviour is important. The disagreement is about implementation.

Here are the questions that truly determine the value of training:

• Who creates the training?

• How long does it take?

• Is it online or in person?

• Does it repeat endlessly or evolve each year?

• Does it provide realistic, practical tools?

• Does it help coaches handle real world situations?

Poorly designed training feels pointless. Effective training can reshape an entire team.

The debate is not about whether coaches should behave well. Everyone agrees on that. The debate is about whether formal annual training is the best way to achieve it.

What Athletes Say

When we speak to athletes during photo days, interviews and behind the scenes sessions, common themes appear.

Younger athletes often mention:

• Coaches who shout too much

• Coaches who play favourites

• Coaches who embarrass them during mistakes

• Coaches who use punishment instead of teaching

Older athletes often mention:

• Coaches who motivate well

• Coaches who build confidence

• Coaches who understand emotional pressure

• Coaches who treat every player with respect

These patterns show something important. Behaviour matters more than tactics. Children might forget a drill, but they never forget how a coach made them feel.

What Parents Say

Parents often want two things:

• A coach who is tough but fair

• A coach who supports their child without making them fearful

Some parents have had negative experiences with coaches who:

• Shout aggressively

• Ignore quieter players

• Reward loud or dominant behaviour

• Humiliate athletes during mistakes

• Create jealousy or tension

• Fail to communicate properly

Annual behaviour training could address all of these issues.

What Coaches Say

Coaches who support behaviour training say:

• It helps refresh communication techniques

• It improves relationships with parents

• It reduces pressure and misunderstandings

• It makes their role feel more professional

• It helps with conflict management

Coaches who oppose it say:

• It is unnecessary bureaucracy

• It demands time they already lack

• It labels all coaches as problems

• It feels like being monitored unfairly

• It may push volunteers away

Possible Middle Ground Solutions

Instead of mandatory full training every single year, here are alternative solutions that many clubs have started adopting.

1. Short Annual Refreshers

Instead of multi hour modules, clubs offer short sessions that highlight only the new updates or important reminders.

2. Tiered Training

New coaches get full training, experienced coaches get refreshers, and senior coaches help lead discussions.

3. Online Flexible Training

Online modules allow coaches to complete training at their own pace, reducing pressure on volunteers.

4. Practical Scenario Based Learning

Training that teaches real life situations is more effective than generic content.

5. Behaviour Monitoring and Support Rather Than Punishment

Instead of viewing training as disciplinary, clubs can present it as support and development.

Why This Discussion Matters

Coaches shape confidence, belonging and long term love for sport. Behaviour training, whether mandatory or flexible, is about protecting that positive environment. When an athlete feels safe, respected and motivated, they grow faster in every area of life.

This discussion is not about criticising coaches. It is about understanding the reality that coaching has become more complex, more visible and more accountable than ever before. If behaviour training helps even a small percentage of coaches improve their communication, then entire teams benefit.

Conclusion

The question of whether coaches should undergo annual behaviour training has no simple answer. Supporters argue that it protects athletes, strengthens clubs and ensures coaches stay up to date with modern communication standards. Critics argue that it adds unnecessary expectations to volunteers and may not lead to meaningful change for all coaches. What everyone agrees on, however, is that behaviour shapes a team’s culture more than anything else.

Whether through formal training, annual refreshers or flexible online modules, clubs need to ensure their coaches have the tools to create environments that are safe, supportive and growth focused. When coaches grow, teams grow. When behaviour improves, the athlete experience improves. The goal is not to burden coaches but to empower them, so every athlete steps into a space where they feel valued and confident.