ABSTRACT
Coaches who regularly coach children will probably have coached a child’s first experience in a particular sport. Learning among children can be enhanced by the coach giving the child the choice about when he or she receives performance feedback, also referred to as knowledge of results. However, before information is provided on how to enhance learning among children, coaches should be aware of the differences between children and adults in their capacity to deal with information. A factor to consider in coaching is developing self-awareness regarding how coaches might feel when children behave in different ways. A systematic review provides evidence that coaches can be successfully taught how to display autonomy-supportive coaching behaviours. The main reasons children participate and continue participating in sport are because it is fun and enjoyable. A coach can maximise the enjoyment of a child by creating tasks that promote feelings of competence, providing feedback that denotes competence, and providing children with an element of competition.
