If you have a child that plays team sports, you will need to decide where your child will play for the upcoming season. The team coach can make a huge difference in your child's development and love for the sport.

When you meet a prospective coach, listen to your gut. Do you like this person or feel uneasy? Even if you have heard rave reviews about him or her, a feeling of discomfort should be heeded.

Ask the coach about his or her playing philosophy. Kids that are still in elementary or middle school may not be ready for a highly competitive environment. You want to hear the word 'fun' used in connection with learning the game at these ages. Ask if the coach believes in equal playing time or benching kids that aren't as good as other teammates. If your child is a star player, you may want a coach that gives more playing time to the elite players. Conversely, if you have a child who is middle-of-the-road or struggling, you will want the equal playing time philosophy.

Ask other parents who have kids who played for the coach previously for recommendations. Preferably, ask those who have kids of equivalent skill levels to your child to make a fair comparison. The parent of the child who doesn't play well may not like a perfectly good coach even though the issue may be that the child isn't cut out for the sport rather than poor coaching.

If possible, try to attend a game so that you can see the coach in action. Does he or she berate players, bench them for the rest of the game when they make an error, encourage fouling, or yell constantly at the refs? Are they paying attention to the game or talking on the sidelines? Or do you see an interest in pointing out when a child could have made a better choice, a commitment to teaching the game, and praise when a child performs well?

Some kids will do fine with a coach who is more vocal and intense while others may wilt and grow to hate the game. Kids need to hear praise when they do a good job as well as get correction when they do not. A coach that constantly points out the bad and not the good can be crushing to a child's self-esteem.

Ultimately, you need to select a coach that you think will be a good fit for your child, and this can vary based upon your child's personality and passion for the sport. By taking the time to research and meet coaches before joining a team, you will have the best chance at matching your child with a compatible coach.