The Challenge of Finding Coaches for Youth Sports

Kevin Bahadur, the hardball coordinator in London, Ont., has about a month to find a coach for the South London Baseball Association U11 team; otherwise, it may not happen this year.

“That would be an extreme disappointment for those kids in the organization,” said Bahadur, who also serves as the association’s vice-president. “They may have to find a different sport or play somewhere else. The most heartbreaking thing is not having kids able to play.”

He’s one of several youth sports coordinators in London who mentioned that finding and keeping volunteer coaches, usually parents of players, gets tough as summer approaches.

“It’s getting more and more difficult to find coaches, especially when you’re adding more teams in your program,” said Milton Gougoulias, president of AEL FC Canada and soccer coach.

Milton Gougoulias is the president of AEL FC Canada and a soccer coach in London, Ont. He says it is getting more difficult to find coaches for youth sports teams. (Kendra Seguin/CBC)

He noted that his academy has enough returning coaches for its 20 teams this year but can’t add any new teams without extra help.

Time commitment and costs are common reasons people hesitate to take on coaching roles, according to Jeremy Cross, executive director of the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO).

“Many of our coaching opportunities come from volunteers who take time away from their jobs and families to coach,” he explained.

A report from CAO in 2024 revealed that over 70 percent of coaches in Ontario are unpaid volunteers while 11 percent receive small honorariums.

“It is not a well-compensated role, but the responsibilities are quite high,” Cross stated.

Coaches typically spend about 15 hours each week on practices, games, and lesson planning. New coaches also need time for certification courses that cover ethics, safety, and season planning.

Jeremy Cross is the executive director of the Coaches Association of Ontario and a youth basketball coach in Toronto. He says time, commitment and cost are the top three barriers to coaching youth sports. (Submitted by Jeremy Cross)

While not all sports require certified coaches, Gougoulias insists that all AEL FC coaches complete basic training which makes it hard to find individuals willing to step up.

“The feedback I’ve received from many coaches highlights how much commitment you need towards completing these courses,” he said. He added that course durations can range anywhere from a few days up to six months.

Certification course fees vary too; Gougoulias mentioned they can start around $300 for basic courses but climb into thousands for higher-level coaching certifications.

Unpaid volunteer coaches often end up spending money traveling for games as well-covering gas expenses along with hotel stays and meals according to Cross.

Incentives for coaches

The ongoing struggle to recruit coaches isn’t new according to Bahadur. Most current coaches tend to stay as their children progress through league levels; however finding new ones for younger teams remains challenging.

Bahadur pointed out that losing even one coach creates issues not just for that particular team but also impacts others down the line. If he can’t secure a coach for his U11 team this summer leading players away could make filling his U13 team tougher next season.

“You lose those kids in your system … It starts creating gaps in continuity as players move through your organization at various age levels,” Bahadur explained while expressing hope about partnering with another local organization so his players can still play if no coach is found.

Kevin Bahadur is the vice-president of the South London Baseball Association. He is searching for someone to coach the association’s U11 hardball team this summer. (Submitted by Kevin Bahadur)

Gougoulias mentioned his academy offers incentives like free registration along with uniforms or gear so committed coaches can support their own kids’ participation too.

He stated being a coach comes with personal rewards as well.

“Personally speaking , I’ve had players since they were four or five years old now they’re thirteen,” Gougoulias shared. “We’ve seen them grow over time starting off unable even kick ball now we have pro clubs interested.”

“It’s just satisfying seeing both player development alongside helping them grow into better individuals.”

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