One Million Coaches Achieved Training Goals, Paving the Way for Youth Sports Growth

In an inspiring milestone for youth sports, the Million Coaches Challenge (MCC) has successfully trained one million youth coaches across the United States. This significant achievement was announced by the Susan Crown Exchange on October 6, 2025, and marks a crucial moment in shaping the future of youth athletics.

The MCC was established in 2021 to address the alarming reality that less than one-third of the six million youth sport coaches in the U.S. had received adequate training in positive youth development. With collaboration from 18 partner organizations, the initiative aimed to enhance the skills of coaches through evidence-based practices, ensuring that young athletes have access to quality mentorship and guidance.

Susan Crown, the founder of the Susan Crown Exchange, highlighted the importance of this achievement: "Training one million coaches marks a turning point in ensuring every young person has access to a coach who helps them thrive on and off the field. But this milestone is not the finish line. We know that great coaching can change lives. And this next chapter is about building on this momentum to make quality coach training the standard, so that every young person, everywhere, has the coach they deserve." Her vision emphasizes the prolonged effort needed to sustain and build upon this initial success.

With the announcement of this milestone, the Million Coaches Challenge unveiled two new resources intended to further expand its impact:
1. A Practice Guide for Youth Sport Coaches: A practical playbook that offers coaches 12 actionable strategies rooted in research, aimed at fostering safe and empowering environments for young athletes.
2. The Million Coaches Challenge Calls to Action: This agenda outlines a vision for the future of youth sports coaching, focusing on essential elements such as policy, organizational practice, narrative, and research.

Vincent Minjares, Ph.D., from the Aspen Institute Sports Society Program, expressed enthusiasm about the new resources: "These new resources are the bridge from milestone to movement. When we invest in coaches, we invest in kids, communities, and the future of sport." This statement reinforces the initiative's belief in the critical role coaches play in shaping not just individual players, but also the communities surrounding them.

Statistics reflect the positive impact that the training has had on coaches and the youth they guide. For instance, 93% of coaches trained through the MCC reported feeling more confident in their ability to support young athletes, while 94% believed that all coaches should undergo youth development training. Moreover, athletes under the guidance of MCC-trained coaches reported experiencing increased joy and stronger relationships within their teams.

The Million Coaches Challenge stands as a transformative force in youth sports, dedicated to building an inclusive and supportive environment for young people. By empowering coaches with the necessary knowledge and tools to foster positive experiences through sport, this movement aims to instill values of confidence, belonging, and essential life skills in the next generation.

In conclusion, while the training of one million coaches is a considerable milestone, it is merely the beginning of a larger journey. As the MCC continues to grow and evolve, the focus remains on creating a culture of excellence in youth sports, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.