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The Solution to Every Youth Sports Problem by Jim Thompson
I realize I am making a big claim here, but I believe we have in our grasp the key to improving youth sports and the answer to pretty much every problem bedeviling youth sports. A simple, even an elegant, answer. But not by any means an easy one.
Still, we believe in this answer so strongly that PCA, Deloitte and Thrive Foundation for Youth are putting our money where our mouths are, expanding the Triple-Impact CompetitorTM Scholarship program from its Northern California roots out to the metro areas of Chicago, Houston, New York and Washington, DC. Click here for more program information and a link to our online scholarship application and continue reading below to understand our solution.
If you have not surmised by now, the answer to every youth sports problem is to make the Triple-Impact Competitor model the standard for high school and youth sports. A Triple-Impact Competitor makes self, teammates and the game as a whole better.
Triple-Impact Competitors make themselves better by focusing on personal mastery, which provides a way to navigate the inevitable setbacks that are inherent in sports and life. They cultivate a Teachable Spirit and, like a sponge, soak up anything that will make them better. Triple-Impact Competitors know that effort over time will make them better so they give their best effort every time. They use a mistake ritual to develop the ability to bounce back from mistakes quickly.
Triple-Impact Competitors make their teammates better by filling their Emotional Tanks when they need it (and most of us need it a lot of the time). They also have a mature understanding of the concept of the Window and the Mirror. They appropriately look through the Window to help teammates get better, and into the Mirror to take responsibility for their own shortcomings. This habit of making people around you better is called "Leadership." Leadership, a much-misunderstood term, is not just for team captains and it is not about telling people what to do. Leadership is making other people better, and Triple-Impact Competitors are Leaders!
They also make the game better by competing by a code of Honoring the Game. With the acronym ROOTS as a memory aid, Triple-Impact Competitors show respect for Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and Self.
The problems of youth sports will be largely resolved when the Triple-Impact Competitor model becomes the dominant aspirational model for youth sports. Widespread adherence to this model can erode -- perhaps eradicate -- such ills as use of performance enhancing drugs, win-at-all cost behavior and hazing.
Beyond sports, we'd like to believe Triple-Impact Competitors would not sling mud at each other in politics; would not economically exploit other, less powerful people; and would not despoil the environment to make a buck.
As I mentioned, the Triple-Impact Competitor model is simple but not easy. It requires that high school and youth athletes take on this model as part of their identity. When confronted by the temptation to cut corners or cheat or disrespect others, they must say to themselves, "I am a Triple-Impact Competitor. What would a Triple-Impact Competitor do in this situation?"
And they do the right thing, not because they will be rewarded for it or punished for acting badly. But because being a Triple-Impact Competitor is part of who they are, and they want to live up to their higher self.
Which is why I am so excited about the expansion of the Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship Program and grateful for the past two years of support from Deloitte and Thrive Foundation for Youth during our scholarship pilot program in Northern California. Now we are expanding that to other cities to begin to solve ALL the problems with youth sports!
-- Jim Thompson, Founder and Executive Director
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Coaching Tip from Doc Rivers
Despite the differences between the NBA and youth sports, Doc's advice rings true for the inevitable times that coaches are compelled to raise their voices: "There's no doubt that positive reinforcement is better than negative reinforcement. And even when I get on a player (and I do), I try to remind them later, and even at the time, that if I'm screaming at you or if I'm gettin' on you, it's never personal. And I'm not trying intimidate you to do something well. I'm trying to coach you to make you better. And there's a difference between a coach who yells at players, and what I call 'instructing loudly.' Sometimes you have no choice because of the environment you're in. It's a hostile crowd. It's noisy. But the words you say have to be positive.
"An example, if I said, 'Glen Davis, what are you doin'? That's stupid,' that's negative. If I say, "Glen Davis, what are you doin'? You're better than that. You can do better than that,' that's positive. You have to be very careful when you 'get loud'. Make sure that message is a positive message."
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Ask PCA: Using Sports Psychology with Youth Athletes
Thanks for all the response to Jim Thompson's Ask PCA feature on whether coaches should try to demoralize opponents. This week's question should draw some great insights from the PCA community on the Ask PCA blog:
Using Sports Psychology with Youth Athletes
"Coaching my daughters' teams (ages 6-13) I have started using what you might broadly categorize as 'Sports Psychology.' I have been pleasantly surprised - and occasionally blown away - by the quality of the outcomes. I ensure alignment with PCA principles of focusing on effort and fun. Question is, how much sports psychology is OK, and at what ages? Also, can you refer me to specific books, websites, and other resources?"
-- Mark Westgate, Danville, CA
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Sports Parenting Insights from Joe Ehrmann
In his few short months as a PCA National Advisory Board Member, former NFL star and Coach for America Founder Joe Ehrmann has fueled the Positive Coaching Alliance Movement in many ways. We want to do everything we can to bring you the powerful ideas that Joe and PCA share.
"Any coach who has the chance to hear Joe speak should drop everything and go," says PCA Founder and Executive Director Jim Thompson.
To understand the sensibilities Joe brings to his moving public presentations, including those slated for San Marcos, TX (Feb. 10); Atlanta (Feb. 20); and Carbondale, IL (March 21), click the image below to watch a short video.
In addition to providing impactful insights born of his stunning range of life experiences -- from humble roots to the heights of NFL stardom -- Joe supports PCA with special attention to our community. Here is a report from 2008 Double-Goal Coach Award winner Tom Pecore, soccer coach at Oklahoma City's Putnam North High School:
"He talked about changing the culture of coaching from the 'inside out,' and he challenged the community to be more loving and supportive of kids.
Our team got to spend time with him while he was at North, and then the entire team (78 boys) got on a bus and went to Norman for another seminar with Joe. I also spent about another hour-and-a-half with him alone...what a powerful person."
Joe Ehrmann and Tom Pecore
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Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarships Expand to New Cities
To help us make the Triple-Impact Competitor the standard for youth and high school sports, we invite your support, which would join the tremendous support for the scholarship program provided by Deloitte and Thrive Foundation for Youth.
To present a scholarship in your name, or otherwise contribute financially, contact PCA's Valerie Wilson. Remember, a Triple-Impact Competitor makes self, teammates and the game as a whole better. And, as you can see by clicking the image below to watch video of a scholarship winner, Triple-Impact Competitors create impact far beyond sports.
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