Youth Sports Training Equipment: The Complete Setup Guide for Coaches and PE Teachers
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Most youth practices do not fall apart because of bad coaching. They fall apart because of setup: cones missing, no way to split teams fast, kids waiting in line while an adult untangles equipment. This guide covers the gear that keeps a session moving, in the quantities that actually work for a group of 10 to 25 kids.
The core kit, in order of importance
1. Training cones
Cones are the grammar of every drill: boundaries, gates, slalom lines, stations. For a typical youth group you want at least 40 mini disc cones, because drills consume cones faster than you expect. Four colors matter more than people think, since color-coded gates let you run two drills side by side without explaining anything twice. See our training cones collection for mini, regular and jumbo options, or start with the 40 pack mini cones most coaches pick first.
2. Pinnies
The fastest way to lose five minutes is sorting kids into teams. A 12 pack of mesh pinnies in two colors splits a squad in seconds and survives weekly washing. One size fits most youth and adult players. Browse pinnies and scrimmage vests in nine colorways.
3. Spot markers
Flat rubber spots tell each kid exactly where to stand, which is half the battle with younger groups. PE teachers use lettered and numbered spots for lineups and math games; therapists use hands and feet markers for motor skill work. Start with a round 12 pack and add shapes as your sessions grow. Full range in spot markers.
4. A play parachute
For PE classes and younger groups, nothing matches a parachute for cooperative play. Size it by group: 6 feet suits toddlers, 12 feet handles a typical class, 20 feet and up covers big groups and field days. The full size guide lives on our play parachutes collection.
5. The extras that earn their spot
Agility hurdles add jumping and footwork progressions, a speed chute builds sprint power for older kids, and bean bags power a dozen toss games. All live in other products.
Quantities by group size
- Up to 10 kids: 40 mini cones, 6 pinnies, 12 round spots, one 6 or 12 foot parachute.
- 10 to 20 kids: 80 mini cones, 12 pinnies in two colors, 24 spots, a 12 or 16 foot parachute.
- Full PE class or club: double the cones, two 12 packs of pinnies, lettered and numbered spots, a 20 foot or larger parachute, plus hurdles for stations.
Setup habits that save sessions
Lay out every station before kids arrive. Use one cone color per station so instructions become point and go. Keep a spare set of pinnies in the bag for the kid who forgets. Collect cones with a carry strap instead of armfuls, which is exactly why every GSI cone set ships with one.
Buying for a school or club? Request a bulk quote and get volume pricing within one business day.