One of the most powerful ways to boost the payoff from school sports lays in helping coaches build developmental relationships with student-athletes. Developmental relationships are close connections through which young people develop character skills to discover who they are, gain the ability to shape their own lives, and learn how to interact with and contribute to others. All this prepares them for success in school, work, and life. Coaches can implement five practices to foster developmental relationships with student-athletes: Express care, provide support, challenge growth, share power, and expand possibility.
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