From Kindergarten to Courtside: How Character Skills Shape Lifelong Success in Youth Sports
In the early 1980s, a groundbreaking experiment in Tennessee, known as the STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio) project, embarked on a journey to understand the impact of class size in education. It randomly assigned over 11’000 students from kindergarten to third grade into small and regular-sized classes and observed their progress. This experiment provided a unique opportunity for later analysis, leading to unexpected insights by economist Raj Chetty.
In the 2000s, Chetty revisited the data to explore how early education impacts adult success. His findings revealed something remarkable: the influence of kindergarten teachers on the future earnings of their students. Chetty’s research suggested that students who had more experienced teachers were earning significantly more by the age of 25. In a class of 20, an above-average kindergarten teacher could increase lifetime income for the class by $320’000. But, why was this the case?
The analysis showed that these teachers were not just imparting cognitive skills; they were also teaching critical life skills. Skills such as proactivity (solving problems before they occur), prosocial (communication and sharing), discipline, and determination played a crucial role in shaping these young minds. These foundational skills, which are often neglected in traditional education metrics, turned out to be more critical for long-term success than basic academic skills such as reading and math.
This is highly relevant for youth coaches. Often the focus at the novice stage is on either developing technical skills or selecting the most talented players. However, the STAR project experiment highlights the importance of coaching beyond the game. By emphasising character and life skills, youth coaches can build deep foundations which will impact the future successes of their athletes.
The STAR project experiment shows us that the true value of a coach is not measured in wins, trophies, or medals. It is measured in the lasting impact that the coach has on the personal growth and development of their athletes. It is a reminder that in youth sports, the goal isn’t to create great players but to cultivate and inspire great people.