CKC Athletics · coach packet
The badges
Twenty-six crests: four character badges every coach can award, plus the skill badges for soccer, volleyball, dance and ultimate. Each sport gets two pages — the badges on the front, how to introduce them on the back.
Every badge comes in three metals: bronze at Level 1 Explorer, silver at Level 2 Builder, gold at Level 3 Master. Everyone starts at bronze and nobody loses one.
Print double-sided and hand each coach their character pages plus their own sport. Badge artwork lives on the badge-art pages; the same content sits inside the full run sheet.
Character badgesThe four crests every sport shares. Any coach can award them — they carry the same weight as a skill badge. Introduce these first; sport badges come later.
Keeps trying after failure · effort under difficulty
Bronze L1Attempts a hard skill once or twice; may need encouragement to keep going.
Silver L2Tries repeatedly after missing — 5+ attempts — without giving up or getting frustrated.
Gold L3Pushes through difficulty on their own and encourages teammates to keep trying too.
Attends to instructions · stays on task during drills
Bronze L1Needs frequent redirection to attend to instructions or stay on task.
Silver L2Listens through instructions and starts the drill without redirection most sessions.
Gold L3Consistently focused start to finish; helps refocus distracted teammates.
Encourages others · handles winning and losing · shares and rotates fairly
Bronze L1Plays alongside teammates without conflict; needs reminders to share turns or equipment.
Silver L2Encourages teammates unprompted; handles losing or mistakes without a meltdown.
Gold L3Actively includes and encourages others, especially those struggling; models sportsmanship.
Participation energy · response to feedback
Bronze L1Participates when prompted; may need encouragement to give full effort.
Silver L2Brings consistent energy without prompting; takes feedback without pushback.
Gold L3Brings visibly full effort every session and actively seeks out feedback to improve.
How a badge gets recordedSame as everything else
Write the code — C-Grit, N-Focus, C-Team, C-Effort — next to the kid's name on your session form, with the level if you're sure of it. No level is fine; Elsa records what you wrote. Nothing is awarded on the spot during trial weeks.
Introducing the badgesTwo minutes at the start of Session One, first week only. Say it once per group, then let the badges live on the field.
Circle up — say it roughly like thisHere's the thing about this program: you can earn badges. Not just for being the fastest or the best — for how you show up. Four of them, and every single coach here can give them to you.
True Grit is for when something is hard and you keep going anyway. Laser Focus is for listening the first time. Team First is for picking your teammate up when they mess up. All Effort is for giving me everything you've got, every time.
Every badge has three levels — bronze, silver, gold. Everybody starts at bronze. You don't lose one once you've got it, and I'm watching for these all season, not just today.
Close withSo — show me one of these today and I'll write your name down. Ready?
If you'd rather not read a script
- Lead with the idea, not the list. "You can earn badges here for how you show up, not just how good you are."
- Name all four, fast, with a one-line example each — keep it under 30 seconds.
- Say the three metals and that everyone starts at bronze.
- Say every coach can award them — a kid who sees Coach Amanda on Tuesday and Coach Jeff on Thursday can earn the same badge from either.
- Say they're permanent. Badges don't get taken away.
- Stop talking and start the drill. Two minutes, max.
During the sessionThis is the part that lands
- Call it out loud, by name, in the moment. "Kinslee — that's True Grit right there, fourth try." Naming it out loud is what teaches the badge; the paper record is secondary.
- Aim for a handful per session, not everyone. If every kid gets one every week it stops meaning anything.
- Watch for the quiet kids. All Effort and Laser Focus are the easiest badges for a shy kid to earn and the easiest for a coach to miss.
- Don't negotiate. If a kid asks for a badge, "I'm watching — show me" is the answer, every time.
Soccer badgesCoach Dave · Tuesdays · six crests. Same three metals as the character badges — bronze L1, silver L2, gold L3.
BH
Ball Handler
S-Drib · dribbling
Both feet · touches per 10m · cone weave time
Bronze L1Dribbles with both feet; stops the ball on command with the sole.
Silver L2Completes the cone weave under target time, in control at pace.
Gold L3Directional touch off a pass; beats a defender live; coaches younger kids.
SP
Sharp Passer
S-Pass · passing
Inside-foot accuracy · weight of pass · target hits
Bronze L1Inside-foot pass to a partner 5 yards out; direction inconsistent.
Silver L2Hits a target from 10–15 yards with the right weight, both feet.
Gold L3Passes into space to a moving teammate under light pressure.
ST
Soft Touch
S-Touch · first touch
Control on the first touch · chest and thigh traps
Bronze L1Stops a rolled ball with sole or inside foot without it bouncing away.
Silver L2Receives a bouncing ball with thigh or chest, settled in two touches.
Gold L3First touch takes the ball into space, ready to play immediately.
NF
Net Finder
S-Shoot · shooting
Laces contact · on-target rate · shots off a moving ball
Bronze L1Strikes a stationary ball at goal with the laces; contact inconsistent.
Silver L2Hits the target area from 10 yards off a rolled ball, either foot.
Gold L3Shoots on target off a pass while moving, choosing placement over power.
BW
Brick Wall
S-Def · defending
Body shape · jockeying · clean tackles and recoveries
Bronze L1Closes down an attacker and stays on their feet instead of diving in.
Silver L2Jockeys side-on and wins the ball cleanly in a 1v1.
Gold L3Times the tackle, covers a teammate, and calls out who takes whom.
FR
Field Reader
S-Vision · field vision
Head up before receiving · dribble-vs-pass choice
Bronze L1Looks up after settling; needs prompting on where to go next.
Silver L2Scans before receiving and picks a sensible next action most times.
Gold L3Calls out open teammates; right dribble-vs-pass choice under pressure.
Introducing the soccer badgesDave · two minutes at the top of the first session with each group. The badges are already introduced as an idea — this is just your six.
Circle up — say it roughly like thisYou already know about the character badges. Soccer's got six of its own, and they're the six things that actually make a soccer player.
Ball Handler is your dribbling. Sharp Passer is putting it where you meant to. Soft Touch is your first touch — killing the ball dead. Net Finder is finishing. Brick Wall is defending. And Field Reader is the big one: knowing what to do before the ball gets to you.
Bronze, silver, gold. Nobody skips bronze, and nobody gets one for being the fastest kid out here — you get it for doing the thing right, in front of me, more than once.
Close withCones are out. Show me a Ball Handler.
If you'd rather not read a script
- Name all six fast — one phrase each, under 30 seconds total.
- Tie each badge to a drill they'll do today so it isn't abstract. Cone weave = Ball Handler.
- Bronze, silver, gold; everybody starts at bronze; badges are permanent.
- Say the timing bit out loud — cone weave gets timed, and their own time is the thing to beat, not anyone else's.
- Start the drill. Two minutes, max.
During the sessionThis is the part that lands
- Call it in the moment, by name. "That's a Soft Touch, right there." The out-loud call is what teaches it.
- Field Reader is the one kids never claim for themselves — you have to spot it and say it.
- A handful per session, not everyone. If everyone gets one every week it stops meaning anything.
- Don't negotiate. "I'm watching — show me again" is the answer.
Volleyball badgesCoach Amanda · Tuesdays & Thursdays · six crests, bronze L1 / silver L2 / gold L3.
PP
Platform Pro
S-Bump · forearm pass
Platform consistency · control · passes to the target zone
Bronze L1Contacts with forearms, not hands; bumps a toss back to a partner most times.
Silver L2Consistent platform, aims at a target, moves the feet to get under it.
Gold L3Passes to a target zone under game pressure; reads the serve early.
AS
Ace Server
S-Serve · underhand serve
Contact consistency · clears the net · lands in bounds
Bronze L1Clean step-and-swing contact; ball goes forward — net not required yet.
Silver L2Clears the net consistently from the shortened service line.
Gold L3Serves in bounds from the full line, with placement into a zone.
SH
Setter Hands
S-Set · setting
Hand shape · ball control · sets to a target
Bronze L1Fingertips, not palms; redirects a toss upward without catching it.
Silver L2Sets a bumped ball to a consistent height and general area.
Gold L3Sets accurately to a specific target off a moving ball.
TR
The Roof
S-Block · blocking
Hand position · jump timing · read on the hitter
Bronze L1Gets hands above the net on a tossed ball; timing inconsistent.
Silver L2Times the jump to a hit ball with hands set; occasional touches.
Gold L3Reads the hitter's approach and blocks with a correct hand seal.
HM
Hammer
S-Attack · attacking
Approach footwork · contact · placement off a set
Bronze L1Approaches and swings overhand at a toss; contact inconsistent.
Silver L2Consistent footwork and contact; ball clears the net with direction.
Gold L3Attacks a set ball with placement and pace in game-like play.
CC
Court Compass
S-Rotate · awareness
Rotation order · serve-receive position · coverage
Bronze L1Knows their rotation spot with reminders; unclear on serve receive.
Silver L2Rotates correctly on sideout unprompted; holds a receive position.
Gold L3Reads the play, adjusts coverage, helps teammates rotate right.
Introducing the volleyball badgesAmanda · two minutes at the top of the first session with each group.
Circle up — say it roughly like thisSix volleyball badges. Every one of them is a real thing you'll do on this court in the next few weeks, and I'm the one who hands them out.
Platform Pro is your bump — flat arms, ball goes where you want. Ace Server gets it over. Setter Hands is fingertips, never palms. The Roof is blocking. Hammer is hitting. Court Compass is knowing where you're supposed to be without me telling you.
Bronze, silver, gold — everyone starts at bronze, and you keep them once you've got them. Some of these we won't even start until later in the season, so don't panic if you can't spike today.
Close withGrab a partner. First one's Platform Pro.
If you'd rather not read a script
- Six badges, one phrase each, tied to a drill they'll do today.
- Say the "later in the season" part — blocking and attacking come in weeks 7–12, and kids need to hear that so they don't think they've failed.
- Bronze/silver/gold, everyone starts at bronze, badges are permanent.
- Court Compass is earnable today by the kid who isn't the best athlete — say so.
- Two minutes, then serve.
During the sessionThis is the part that lands
- Name it out loud when you see it. "Setter Hands — fingertips, exactly that."
- Watch the quiet passers. Platform Pro and Court Compass are the badges shy kids earn first.
- A handful per session, not the whole group.
- Don't negotiate a badge with a kid who asks for one. "Show me again."
Dance badgesMs. Nicolette · Tuesdays & Thursdays · five crests. All five skills get worked every single session.
OB
On the Beat
R-Rhythm · rhythm & timing
On-beat accuracy · tempo changes · counts a phrase
Bronze L1Claps or steps on a steady beat with guidance; counts a simple 4 or 8.
Silver L2Stays on beat through a short combo without cues; adjusts to a tempo change.
Gold L3Counts themselves in unassisted and holds the beat throughout, breaks included.
FF
Formation Finder
S-Space · spatial awareness
Holds position · transitions · uses the space
Bronze L1Finds and holds an assigned spot with reminders.
Silver L2Moves between two formations on cue without bumping; adjusts spacing alone.
Gold L3Fluid multi-formation transitions; fixes a group spacing error on the fly.
FO
Full Out
EE-Perform · expression
Full-body commitment · facial energy · performs for an audience
Bronze L1Correct form, minimal energy or expression.
Silver L2Energy and expression match the piece; comfortable in front of peers.
Gold L3Performs full-out for an audience, sustained through the whole piece.
RK
Routine Keeper
S-CR · choreography retention
Follows the sequence · musicality · independent recall
Bronze L1Needs help or watches peers; gets lost in the musicality keeping up.
Silver L2Executes most of it with occasional verbal cues; stays with the music.
Gold L3Full routine without faltering in energy, expression, technique or musicality.
CL
Clean Lines
S-BIF · isolation & flexibility
Isolation precision · flexibility range · personal progress
Bronze L1Isolations not yet clean; flexibility has room to grow.
Silver L2Understands isolations and demos most on request; visible flexibility progress.
Gold L3Sharp, precise, high-energy isolations; personal flexibility goals met.
Introducing the dance badgesNicolette · two minutes after the first stretch, first session with each group.
Sit them down after stretch — say it roughly like thisDance has five badges, and here's what's different about ours: we work all five of them every single class. Not one this week and another next week — all five, every time.
On the Beat is rhythm. Formation Finder is knowing your spot and getting to it. Full Out is dancing like somebody's watching, because in December somebody will be. Routine Keeper is remembering the choreography without looking at me or your neighbor. Clean Lines is isolations and flexibility — and that one I measure against where you started, not against anybody else in this room.
Bronze, silver, gold. Everyone starts at bronze, and nobody loses one.
Close withFirst eight-count. Let's see an On the Beat.
If you'd rather not read a script
- Lead with what's different — all five skills, every class, routine grows toward the showcase.
- Five badges, one phrase each. Under 30 seconds.
- Say Clean Lines is personal progress, not a splits competition — that line matters to the kids who are least flexible.
- Bronze/silver/gold, everyone starts bronze, badges are permanent.
- Point at December. Full Out is easier to explain once they know there's a performance.
During the sessionThis is the part that lands
- Call it by name in the moment — "Formation Finder, right there, nobody had to tell her."
- Full Out is the badge that changes a class. Award it loudly and early to one kid and the energy shifts.
- A handful per session, not everyone.
- Don't negotiate. "Show me in the next run-through."
Ultimate badgesCoach Jeff · Thursdays · five crests. Good Spirit is the one that isn't a throw — it's the spirit-of-the-game badge.
GS
Good Spirit
C-Spirit · spirit of the game
Encourages teammates — and opponents
Single levelCheers on their teammates and even the other team. Award it when you see it; no bronze/silver/gold ladder on this one.
RR
Reliable Reset
S-Dump · dump pass
Distance · wobble · accuracy to a moving player
Bronze L1Throws a short dump pass, wobbly.
Silver L2Medium-distance dump, mostly no wobble.
Gold L3Medium-distance dump into space to a moving player, no wobble.
IC
Inside Curve
S-IO · inside-out throw
Accuracy stationary vs. moving · distance · angle
Bronze L1Makes the throw turn, but not accurately to a short stationary target.
Silver L2Throws into space to a moving target at medium distance.
Gold L3Same, at medium distance and varying angles.
OC
Outside Curve
S-OI · outside-in throw
Accuracy stationary vs. moving · distance · angle
Bronze L1Makes the throw turn, but not accurately to a short stationary target.
Silver L2Throws into space to a moving target at medium distance.
Gold L3Same, at medium distance and varying angles.
MB
Mark Breaker
S-Break · break the mark
Footwork to the break side · wobble · accuracy
Bronze L1Steps to the break side and gets a throw off — wobbly, inaccurate.
Silver L2Steps break side and throws clean and accurate.
Gold L3Steps either side and throws clean and accurate to the break side.
Introducing the ultimate badgesJeff · two minutes before the first throwing block.
Circle up — say it roughly like thisFive badges in ultimate, and I'm going to start with the one that matters most. It's called Good Spirit, and you get it for cheering on your teammates — and the other team. That's not a bonus in this sport, that's the whole sport. There's no bronze or gold on it. You either play that way or you don't.
The other four are throws. Reliable Reset is your dump — the safe pass that keeps the point alive. Inside Curve and Outside Curve are the two ways to bend it around somebody. Mark Breaker is getting a throw off with a defender right in your face.
Those four go bronze, silver, gold. Bronze is getting it to turn. Gold is putting it into space where your teammate is going to be — not where they are.
Close withGrab a disc and a partner. Good Spirit starts now.
If you'd rather not read a script
- Good Spirit first, and hard. It's the one badge that's culture, not skill — leading with it sets the tone for the whole season.
- Say Good Spirit has no levels so nobody asks how to get gold in it.
- Four throws, one phrase each. Bronze = it turns; gold = into space, to a moving player.
- Say the season order — dump first, then IO, then OI, then breaking the mark. Kids relax when they know the curves aren't expected in week one.
- Two minutes, then throw.
During the sessionThis is the part that lands
- Award Good Spirit out loud, the first time you see it, in week one. It teaches the rest of the group faster than any explanation.
- Name the throw badges in the moment — "that's an Inside Curve, clean."
- A handful per session, not everyone.
- Don't negotiate. "Throw it again and I'll watch."