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Tips For Understanding Coaching Generation Z

By FloSoftball Staff, 09/04/19, 7:00PM PDT

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Our challenge in developing these athletes is to understand them and adapt our teaching to reach them effectively.  On the development side of this generation is a need for fast-paced, multi-faceted information so as a coach, you want to give them that as much as possible. 

When it comes to coaching Generation Z, technology is the key to communication. 

The players of today, from Generation Z, have never known life without Siri, Alexa, Smartphones and Wi-Fi.  According to the American Psychological Association, Generation Z consists of anyone born after 2005, so essentially every athlete on the field in the 14U bracket. The Millennials (those born from 1997-2005) represent our collegiate, 18U and 16U athletes who introduced technology to the world through social media and the now famous “selfie.”  

According to Millennial and Generation Z expert Tim Elmore, there are six defining characteristics of Generation Z that we must first understand before we can talk about development. These characteristics are:

  1. They are Cynical
  2. They are Private
  3. They are Entrepreneurial
  4. They are Multi-tasking 
  5. They are Hyper Aware
  6. They are Technology Reliant