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Positive Coaching Alliance Connector
June 18, 2010
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45,000 Double-Goal Coaches for Texas Schools
 In one of the most significant partnerships in PCA's 11-year history, University Interscholastic League (UIL), which oversees sports for all Texas public high schools and junior high schools, has become the first state organization in the U.S. to provide all of its coaches with PCA's Double-Goal Coach� training. "Partnering with Positive Coaching Alliance is key to advancing Texas' rich history and tradition of excellence in high school and junior high school athletics," said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. "Soon, all 45,000 of our coaches will be trained to teach life lessons through sports, so they can extend that excellence beyond the playing field into all facets of our student-athletes' lives. Our UIL athletic programs are designed to develop leaders that best serve our students and therefore best serve the future of our state."
PCA will provide its training at no cost to UIL and its coaches thanks to the support of the Jenesis Group, a Texas-based foundation. "Coaches have a tremendous influence on their athletes, perhaps more so than anyone outside the family," said James Jensen, Managing Director of the Jenesis Group. "This partnership will equip Texas junior high and high school coaches to become outstanding character educators, which will greatly benefit the youth of our state. The Jenesis Group hopes to see the day when every coach in this country is a Double-Goal Coach. UIL is to be commended for this historic action, which is a significant step toward this goal."
Much of the training will occur through a version of PCA's Double-Goal Coach online course customized for UIL and featuring video instruction from PCA National Spokesperson and Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, as well as PCA National Advisory Board Member and former U.S. National Women's Soccer Team Captain Julie Foudy.
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Proof Positive! Congrats, Phil and Doc
The "All-PCA NBA Finals" that concluded last night were proof positive that Positive Coaching works at the highest levels of sports. PCA National Advisory Board Members Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers led the Lakers and Celtics, respectively, in a thrilling series.
Most importantly to the PCA Movement, their coaching techniques reinforced the research underpinning PCA workshops, online courses and books that shows coaches get more from their athletes through positive reinforcement.
Congratulations to Phil on his remarkable 11th NBA title as a coach, one where he mentored the unpredictable Ron Artest to become a crucial part of the Lakers' success. Congratulations to Doc on a masterful job, in which the Celtics confounded all the critics by defeating two higher-seeded teams and coming within a couple plays of his second NBA Championship in the absence of his starting center.
PCA could not ask for two finer representatives.
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Sports Parenting Tips from Former Women's World Cup Star Joy Fawcett
 Keeping sports fun for players is key to their success in youth sports, according to PCA National Advisory Board Member Joy Fawcett in the latest podcast from the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Program Powered by Positive Coaching Alliance.
Joy is known as the "ultimate soccer mom," because she and her husband, Walt, raised their children while Joy was competing at the highest level of soccer. After her World Cup and Olympic playing career, which earned Joy induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Joy and Walt launched Saddleback United Soccer Club, which serves youth in Southern California.
Here is an excerpt from the podcast on what Joy looks for in her children's youth sports experience and performance. "I look to see if they're enjoying it and having fun with it. I know that's something that kept me in the game for as long as I've been in it, is that I really, really enjoyed playing. And also, if they're out there working hard, and giving it their all and being good teammates out there on the field....
"Sometimes, with them, I'll set goals, as well, and help them look for those small achievements in the game so that they can find success. My youngest, who's eight, they don't win a lot of games right now, because they're playing at a pretty competitive level. But, helping them stay positive and look for the successes they can find out there on the field keeps them having fun, and keeps them wanting to play and get better."
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Ask PCA: Managing Schedule Conflicts
Thanks for your responses to last week's question about the effectiveness of imposing a "24-hour rule" before players' parents approach a coach to discuss issues such as playing time. Most comments on the Ask PCA blog supported the 24-hour rule.
To review last week's question and PCA's answer, you can continue scrolling through this item, but for now, consider this week's question:
Can I Expect My Players To Avoid Scheduling Conflicts?
"I coach seventh- and eighth-grade boys lacrosse in a competitive league. We are not an elite team -- these are all local kids from the same town -- but we do conduct tryouts. I tell families that this team should be players' primary commitment during our Spring season, meaning no other sports or activities should conflict with our practices or games. Many families agree to these rules in preseason but still sign up for other sports. Conflicts often arise and I am left in the awkward position of limiting these players' time on game day. Am I being too strict here? At this age level can I ask players to commit to one sport and one sport only?"
-- Glen Boggini, Tolland, CT Following is the previous "Ask PCA" question and PCA's response: "Conventional wisdom is that a parent should wait 24 hours after a game before approaching a coach to discuss such issues as playing time. The theory is that after 24 hours a parent may have cooled down and is less likely to say or do something regrettable and that coaches can think more clearly about the game. However, those same 24 hours may let the situation fester and lead to even more regret. As a parent and a coach, I'm up in the air on this one and can see both sides. What do you think?" PCA Response by Eric Eisendrath, Lead Trainer-New York
I understand your points concerning "festering" and venting to the wrong people, but I am still a strong advocate of the 24-Hour Rule. The cooling off period lets you collect your thoughts and talk to your child about his or her feelings...an important step that often is missed.
The one exception to this is a situation that threatens children's imminent safety, health or well-being. In that case, immediate intervention is best, preferably by an official of the school or youth sports organization.
Coaches who are approached immediately after a game are more likely to react defensively and may label you as a complainer. Just as PCA trains coaches to avoid instructing or correcting players during "non-teachable" moments, we suggest parents similarly restrain themselves when raising issues with coaches.
Whatever danger may lie in festering is outweighed by the increased clarity and objectivity gained by taking a step back for 24 hours.
Read all the Ask PCA blog comments on this question.
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Long-Life Lessons From John Wooden
by Jim Thompson, PCA Founder and Executive Director
In one of my favorite John Wooden stories a UCLA alum asks him how the upcoming season's team was going to do. Wooden, winner of 10 NCAA Men's Basketball Championships in 12 years, as UCLA Basketball Coach from 1948-1975, said, "I'll let you know in 20 years."
Wooden embodied the idea of a Double-Goal Coach, who strove to win while using sports to develop Major League People. Here he meant to convey that he was concerned with the men his players became as much as their win-loss record. You couldn't judge them solely based on the scoreboard that season.
In April, PCA gave John Wooden our highest award, the Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement. Ron Jensen, RJ to his friends, used to say, "From success to significance."
RJ, who had been phenomenally successful as a businessman, turned his attention to making a significant difference in his later years. John Wooden had phenomenal success as a basketball coach -- but his cultural significance came from his life after retirement.
At April's National Youth Sports Awards Dinner and Auction sponsored by Deloitte, PCA Founder and Executive Director Jim Thompson (L.) greets Good to Great Author Jim Collins (C.) and Jim Wooden, who accepted PCA's Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement on behalf of his father, John Wooden.  |
As Jimmy Carter redefined the role of the "former President" with his vigorous work on behalf of many causes, including peace around the world, John Wooden redefined the role of the retired coach.
Up until the last year of his life at the age of 99, Wooden was actively spreading significance. Jim Wooden, John's son, who accepted PCA's award for his father, referred to his "500 brothers by another mother," the many UCLA basketball players who remained in touch with their coach over many years.
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, was our keynote speaker at our April awards event. He mentioned that he had recently spoken at an event honoring the life of management guru Peter Drucker. When he saw a chronological display of the many books that Drucker had written during his life he asked which book was written when Drucker was 65. It turned out that 2/3 of Drucker's writing took place after he turned 65!
Perhaps because I recently completed my second 30 years, the examples of John Wooden, Jimmy Carter and Peter Drucker are deeply moving to me. Their examples show us that our potential for significance intensifies as we get older. The success we may have in our younger years pales in comparison to the impact we can have in our third 30 as Elders. I find this incredibly inspiring.
Last summer, Wooden was voted the greatest coach of all-time by Sporting News. Andy Hill, who played for Wooden from 1969-1972, said, "...the titles didn't make him great. What the titles did was get all of you to notice how great he was."
John Wooden's true greatness was his significance, which extended well beyond his successes on the basketball court.
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Support PCA
PCA is a non-profit committed to transforming youth sports so that all athletes through high school age can benefit from the life lessons that are uniquely available through sports.
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