Coaches May Be One of the Most Powerful (and Overlooked) Supports for Kids' Mental Health 

When we think about the adults shaping our kids’ lives, we usually think of parents and teachers first. But there’s another group quietly influencing millions of children across the country: coaches. Whether it’s soccer, baseball, swim, or even recreational programs, coaches often become trusted adults kids look up to. And now, research suggests they may play a much bigger role in kids’ emotional well-being than many parents realize.

A new report from the Million Coaches Challenge, a national initiative launched in 2021, found that training coaches in youth development and mental health support can meaningfully improve kids’ experiences — both on and off the field. The initiative has already trained more than one million coaches across the U.S., and the results are striking.

Why Coaches Matter More Than We Think

For many kids, coaches are more than just the person running drills. They’re role models, mentors, and often a steady adult presence. And there are a lot of them. In the U.S., roughly six million coaches interact with about 38 million young people, making youth sports one of the largest youth development systems in the country.

That’s why the Million Coaches Challenge focuses on training coaches in skills that go beyond winning games — like building confidence, recognizing mental health warning signs, and creating inclusive environments.

According to the organization’s findings:

In other words, coaching isn’t just about sports anymore. It’s about helping kids grow.

And if your child isn’t into sports right now, this doesn’t exclude your family entirely. The principles behind the Million Coaches Challenge — relationship-building, emotional support, confidence, and belonging — apply to any structured activity kids participate in, too. That includes dance, gymnastics, theater and performing arts, martial arts, robotics and STEM clubs, even various after-school programs.

The bigger takeaway for parents is that kids benefit from having more caring adults in their lives. And coaches in any setting can be one of those adults.

Many parents are already worried about kids’ mental health. Rates of anxiety, loneliness, and stress among children and teens have been rising in recent years. Experts say supportive relationships can be one of the strongest protective factors.

That’s where trained coaches come in. When coaches understand how to encourage effort instead of perfection, foster belonging, build confidence, or even spot emotional struggles, they can better help create environments where kids feel safe and supported, says the learnings from the Million Coaches Challenge. This is far from pressuring kids to perform. 

How Parents Can Get Involved

The Million Coaches Challenge isn’t just for professional coaches. Parents, caregivers, and community members can also get involved the following ways…

Encourage Training in Your Community: If your child participates in sports or activities, ask whether coaches receive youth development or mental health training. Many organizations now offer it.

Volunteer as a Coach (Yes, Really!): Many youth programs need volunteer coaches, and training resources are increasingly available to help parents step into those roles confidently.

Advocate for Positive Coaching: Parents can also help shift the culture by supporting coaches who emphasize growth, fun, and development, not just wins.

Learn the Skills Yourself: Even if you never coach, the same principles (like empathy, encouragement, confidence-building) work at home too.

The initiative’s broader message is simple: youth sports (and youth activities overall) can be powerful tools for helping kids thrive. When adults focus on connection instead of competition, kids gain more than skills. They gain resilience, confidence, and a sense of belonging. So whether your child is scoring goals, building robots, or just trying something new, that’s a win worth cheering for.