Friday, October 21, 2011

The Power of Positive COACHING, in Youth Sports and in Life!

Happy Friday Parenting Enthusiasts,


I am excited to share a link to an article I read in today's NY Times that comments on the current state of parents, coaches and children in youth sports in this nation. My kids are too young to participate right now, AND YET, just like with bullying, I am ever watchful of trends. And what I'm reading about and seeing in the media regarding youth sports is alarming. Far too many kids drop out of sports after middle school, citing it became too competitive, too selective and not much fun. I see what they mean: parents are booing and harassing referees because they're not happy with the play calling. Teams jeer one another, sometimes within their own ranks. In more severe instances, actual fighting breaks out. What messages are we sending our kids with these behaviors? Not good ones, I assure you.


Enter, the P.C.A., the Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization working to spread the message that youth sports is about giving young athletes a positive, character-building experience ― not to become major league athletes, but to become “major league people.” They teach that the feedback that most helps young athletes develop their potential is not praise for good performance or criticism for bad performance.  What works best is the "ELM Tree of Mastery", which helps children understand that they control three key variables: their level of Effort, whether they Learn from experiences, and how they respond to Mistakes. The P.C.A. has worked with most major youth sports organizations, reaching hundreds of thousands of coaches with their tools and training. Their goal is to create positive, life-long change in youth sports culture. They have big-hitters backing them such as coaches from championship NBA teams. I liked what they had to say and invite you to read this article and come to your own conclusion.


When the time comes, I want my kids to enjoy sports for the benefits they impart: improving their own game, helping their teammates improve their game, and improving the game as a whole.  P.A.C. contends those same benefits translate into real life by "improving yourself, being a leader who helps others flourish, and working to make society better". I completely agree. That's what I call a 'win-win parenting solution'!


Happy Parenting!





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