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Chris Petersen: What Is Important To Coach In Youth Sports

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Chris Petersen (@CoachPeteUW) became the head football coach at the University of Washington in December of 2013 after molding Boise State University into a national powerhouse, leading them to a 92-12 record over eight seasons. He is the only coach to win the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award twice (2006 and 2009), an award that recognizes leadership, patience, and inspiration both on and off the field.

Here, Petersen explains what is most important in youth sports during a break in the action at "Winning On and Off the Court," an event co-hosted by Positive Coaching Alliance Sacramento and the Sacramento Kings.

From a young age, kids understand the scoreboard aspect of sports. What kids might not understand are the life lessons of sports. Therefore, it is a youth sports coach's job to teach athletes life lessons, sportsmanship, and how to be a good teammate, while encouraging them to play hard and compete and helping them feel good about themselves.