We previously posted “How to Coach Generation Z” based on our experience coaching kids born as of 1995 to 2009 (post-Millenials Gen Y born as of 1984) and gone are the days where a generation was 30+ years, now they are 15 due largely to the exponential growth of the Digital Era.

Below is a great infographic produced by McGrindle in Australia that compares Gen Z to the next Gen Alpha’s (will next gen be the Bumble B’s?)

As I highlighted about Gen Z, some of their key differences from the Millenials is they grew up completely in the digital era starting with the introduction of Google in 1997 and the Alpha’s generation born entirely in the 21^st century with life expectancy in the 22^nd century.

So Who are the Alpha’s ?

The year of Gen A, are ones born as of 2010 to 2025, which coincidentally was year that the iPad (and other tablets since) were introduced and became babysitters of the iGeneration, like Baby Boomers kids who watched Disney VHS Tapes (anyone remember a VHS player?).

It is also the year that Instagram was introduced, Gen Z and now Gen Alpha’s preferred medium for social media networking vs Millenial and Baby Boomers Facebook preference so if you are coaching and using social media for team updates, time to come up to speed with Instagram.

Parents of Gen A are the infamous Millenials that Simon Sinek and many others including yours truly feel we as adults let down that led to their “sense of entitlement”, participation trophies, and dopamine fixation with screens (smartphones, tablets, video games, computer screens)

Having grown up on iPads, accessing Google and Youtube with vigor, they have the ability to absorb information at record paces even beyond their Gen Z counterparts.

What they are lacking, however, due to increase screen time and parents reliance on same (even when they are at dinner by themselves I see couples pulling out their phones only to “chat” with their online counterparts than the very person they are sitting across or beside) are basic social skills prior generations had.

As they spend much more time one on one playing games on their phones, tablets as their “babysitters” vs. stay at home Moms to feed the neighborhood kids after playing outside for hours on end (can’t afford to do so) or being at daycare with others they also have been deprived of unsupervised Free Play.

Unsupervised activity outside where they previously developed the core motor skills we all took for granted, running, biking, swimming, throwing, catching, falling, getting up, jumping, climbing and so on.  It amazes me how often I talk to coaches of the Gen A’s from 5-9 years of age who share how few of them can do all the basic motor skills, but worse yet, how they struggle to overcome adversity, lack problem solving, creativity and ability to make decisions with direct instruction.

Why?

Because they have not played for the sake of playing, all of their activities are structured and their former active play time we had as kids has been replaced by inactive screen time on average 7.5 hours a day.

Here are some things that you need to know about the Alpha’s so that you can connect with and coach/teach them better:

#1 – They are the most diverse cultural generation EVER in North America

As of 2010 census bureau and Stats Can surveys, as a result of aging populations, the growth to both USA and Canada has been via immigration from across the world.  This in itself is leading to challenges with verbal communication if the alpha’s are still speaking their native language at home and English is a second language so more than evet coaches and teachers must rely on non-verbal communication (which represents over 80% regardless of the words coming out of your mouths)

#2 – They are even more digitally literate then they Gen Z predecessors

“Generation Alpha is part of an unintentional global experiment where screens are placed in front of them from the youngest age as pacifiers, entertainers and educational aids.”

Mark McCrindle – Australian Futurist

In my day, pacifiers were call “susses” and they were only given to kids who were going thru really bad teething and a trick used by many parents was to dip the suss in whiskey to ease the pain for babies and permit them and their parents to sleep.

In the case of Gen Z, as a baby boomer parents of two Gen Z “kids”, my wife and I avoided giving either of my susses as I knew how dependent some kids would be on them and remember seeing some kids with them a 5-7 years of age when I started coaching hockey and softball. I also avoided giving both any electronic devices until they were teens, including their first cell phones at 15 years of age and even now we do not permit any electronics at the dinner table for face to face conversations as well as curfews for use and total time.

Did we face scrutiny from other parents as a result?

Yes.

Do you know who also raised their kids tech-free?

The two whose livelihoods and companies they created dominated the digital era, Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Steve Jobs (Apple)

Hmmm ….. both when interviewed stated they limited to ensure that their kids used technology in moderation so perhaps the Millenial parents now could do the same?

#3 – Their parents will be the oldest and most educated of ANY generation

On average mothers will become mothers for their first in their early 30’s (vs. late 20’s for the Baby Boomers) and first-time fathers a few years older into their mid 30’s

What this means for coaches, many of which will be parents starting out coaching their 5-9-year-old kids in various organized sports that have been adapted for age-appropriate programming is coaches will need to understand the importance of engaging parents more than ever.  The parents will also EXPECT the reasoning for seasonal planning to be supported by the science, not old school coaching practices this is the way we have always done it.

They also will seek measurement tools to prove that their kids have DEVELOPED, not rely strictly on results on the scoreboard to ensure that your seasonal planning incorporated baseline, mid and end of season testing.

This includes communicating what is Physical Literacy, Fundamental Movement Skills, the various stages of the development pathways so the Millennial parents understand the reasons for the madness so to speak why we no longer play full ice or full field games, incorporate small area games and skills stations in practices and competition is pushed to later age groups.

This is why coaches and board members of all sports must implement parental support and engagement vs. the current us vs. them or dealing with parents.

#4 – The Alpha’s are the age group that literally coincide with the introduction of LTAD models by the majority of National Sports or National Governing Bodies as of 2010

These have been identified by various LTAD adaptations (as Sport for Life has recently released v. 3.0 and NGB’s have their own variations like Hockey Canada’s LTPD, USA Hockey and many other US NGB’s AGM) as Active Start (0-4 yrs old) and Fundamentals (5-8 yrs. old). The emphasis for these age groups is focusing on Physical literacy and Fundamental Movement skills.

Although LTAD models have been around now for a couple of decades, for whatever reason there are various versions LTAD, LTPD, LTAD, ADM and updates with the latest version now being introduced by Sport for Life called “Long Term Developing in Sport and Physical Activity 3.0” The reason they omitted athlete for v. 3.0 is they did not want it to be a reference only for athletes, but to promote physical literacy for all people to be active for life BUT there are still sports orgs and grassroots coaching catching up to the concept of 1.0.  If Nike changed their swoosh every few years do you think they would have the same powerful brand and consistent messaging they do today?  Just my two bits.

#5 – Like their Gen Z counterparts, they have the attention of a flea (less than 8 seconds which is the attention of a goldfish)

What this means – Cut to the Chase QUICKLY, avoid board time at all costs with Initiation (5-6), and Novice (8-9 yr) age groups, keep your instructions simple and better yet DON’T coach, let them figure it out by providing general guidance for disguised drills

Many national sports orgs now have “an APP for that”, video, audio, drills you can share via email, text or show directly on phones, tablets or better yet, dongle right to TV’s.  Embrace the technology that the Alpha’s know very well to help you coach and connect with them.

Below are just a few examples how National Sports Organizations have adapted their coaching certification programs to guide coaches how to coach of Generation Alpha to coincide with their version of LTAD programs they have recently or are going thru revisions on since 2010:

Baseball Canada Rally Cap Program – Initiation to Baseball (first phase of LTPD)

The main reason kids were quitting T-Ball or early years of baseball (which I did coach) was the kids did not have fun, largely in part to the lack of movement or engagement, standing in lines to take their turn to hit in practices, also due to fact the kids did not have the core skills needed to throw, catch, run, slide, hit.

The focus of the program is to help kids understand the fundamentals of the game while having FUN vs. the old t-Ball program.  Check out the great video Baseball Canada made of a Rally Cap Session in one my many stops growing up a kid in the outskirts of Montreal, Lasalle.

• 5 More touches
• 15X more hits
• 5 More Steps
• More Dynamic
• More Movement
• More engagement
• 3X more positions played

The Best Part – Kids want to come back after each session as they had FUN.

USA Hockey – ADM Model and Hockey Canada LTPD (Long Term Player Development)

Both now have incorporated that we highlighted in Cross Ice Hockey Benefits (smaller area of ice surface leading to similar results as the Rally Cap program for more puck touches, contact confidence, shots, passes, saves etc.)

Next Season, both USA Hockey and Hockey Canada will be rolling out revamped development programs for the Atom age groups (9-10 years old) which coincidentally coincides with the first Gen Alpha’s entering those pathways who were born in 2010.

Both National Organizations have introduced Digital APPs to help coaches to better connect with the iGeneration of kids they are now coaching also

Soccer Canada LTPD

Soccer Canada now has mandatory age-appropriate coaching certification for all age groups, including the Alpha’s with their first two of four community stream clinics (rec level) and incremental licensing for competitive levels

• Active Start – U4-U6
• Fundamentals – U6-9 (boys), U6-8 (girls)
• Learn to Train – U9-12 (boys) and U8-11 (girls)
• Soccer For Life – 13+

As John Herdman, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s National Soccer Team, shares in the LTPD Grassroots highlight video by Canada Soccer, the principals are there, that 5 to 12, is to FALL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME.

Many other sports organizations are implementing similar models so they can ensure that their coaches have the tools to coach the next generation of Alpha’s so they have fun and love the game more at the end of the season than they did at the beginning.

 BONUS – Download a FREE printable PDF of this blog HERE