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A youth sports coach is usually a sports parent as well, so he or she can understand the many needs and aspirations of the adults surrounding a team. It’s paramount, however, that the coach ensures everyone’s focus is on helping young athletes enjoy the best experience possible when playing on a sports team.

Following are 10 tips that PlaySportsTV suggest youth sports coaches use throughout a season:

• Make it fun. As a coach, bring out the enjoyment and positive experience of sports. Give all the players ample opportunities, put the learning ahead of winning and use methods for all the kids to leave with a smile on their face.

• Have realistic expectations. Sports is about competing and having a good time. Those aspects are more everlasting than the wins or losses. At the youngest level, coach in a way in which kids develop a passion for the sport; learn skills, rules and sportsmanship; and experience the fun of playing on a team.

• Get to know the parents. Start with a preseason meeting with all the parents to set the tone for the season and to get them comfortable with you. Explain your goals and expectations for the team, practice schedules, playing time, etc., and ask for volunteers to help with various tasks throughout the season. Provide contact information for you and your assistant coaches.

• Make good use of your assistant coaches. It’s likely your assistants decided to coach for the same reasons as you. They, too, want the best for the kids, so rely on upon them, delegate responsibilities and ask for their opinions about players, drills and strategies. And don’t forget to have a team parent or two, who can help with planning snack schedules or fundraisers.

• Coach responsibly. Ask parents to provide information for any special medical needs with their child. Use common sense with any medical condition or injury, and do not take any unnecessary chances with the kids. Have a first-aid kit available at practices and games.

• Know your sport. Do some homework. Read about the sport, watch videos and learn as much as possible about it.

• Have proper equipment. You’ll need it for an entire season. Never assume kids know anything about the proper equipment and how to use or wear it. Explain it to them.

• Run excellent practices. It begins with the coach being organized and knowing what he wants to accomplish before a practice. Decide what skills to focus on and which drills work best. Decide how your assistant coaches will factor into the practice. Even factor in water breaks.

• Praise, praise and more praise. Let the players know you support them and are always behind them.

• Avoid the PGA — the post-game analysis. Your emotions run high after a game, so it’s best to avoid what went wrong during a game.

• Help turn the sport into a lifetime sport. The No. 1 reason children will give up playing a sport is that it stops being fun for them. Make it fun and it’s likely they will continue doing it for a long time.