The PCA Blog - Tampa Bay

Why The Tampa Bay Rays Support PCA

05.05.2017

The partnership between PCA-Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay Rays has highlighted – and will continue to do so – the powerful impact sports have on the development of non-cognitive skills in youth and high school student-athletes. By working with the Tampa Bay community, and partners like Hillsborough County Public Schools, PCA-Tampa Bay will create a positive culture in youth and high school athletics that provides student-athletes with life lessons benefitting them long after their playing days have ended. PCA-Tampa Bay and the Rays share an infectious desire to unlock the potential of athletics allowing youth and high school sports to fulfill their promise as one of the most powerful character development vehicles.

Last year we did a Q&A with Matt Silverman, President of Baseball Operations and Chair of the PCA-Tampa Bay Board. Below are a few excerpts from that Q&A:

WHAT DOES “BETTER ATHLETES, BETTER PEOPLE” MEAN TO THE RAYS ORGANIZATION?
The Rays place great importance on serving the Tampa Bay community. This goes for everybody in our organization. We expect our players to perform admirably on the field. We also encourage them to be stand-up teammates and to engage in making Tampa Bay a great place to live.

DESCRIBE A TIME WHEN A COACH MADE AN IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE BEYOND THE PLAYING FIELD.
Tom Adams was my high school baseball coach. He preached the power of teamwork, the value of being a good teammate and the joy and satisfaction that can that come from team accomplishments. Though I didn’t play very often (as a backup infielder), he treated me, and all my teammates, with equal respect and attention. That culture spilled over into our team performance.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME SO CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH PCA-TAMPA BAY?
I was drawn to PCA’s mission of creating better athletes and better people.

I believe PCA can change the culture of youth sports. That culture spills over into the cultures of our schools and eventually into our wider community.


WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A PROSPECTIVE PARTNER OF PCA?

Join our team! We are anxious to provide our services and to support the great people in our community who are making youth sports a great place for kids to develop into young adults.

Join PCA

Matt Silverman (President, Tampa Bay Rays) is the Chair of the PCA-Tampa Bay Board

Read Our Q&A With Matt