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PCA Begins Partnership With First Tee To Strengthen Youth Character Through Golf

01.14.2021

PCA is proud to announce a national partnership with First Tee— a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf.  With a shared belief that coaches and leaders have a powerful and unique position to impact a child’s life, PCA and First Tee are coming together to provide more resources and opportunities for coaches to strengthen and deepen their relationships with young people across the country.  Through the power of a positive coaching relationship, young people can learn to step out of their comfort zone, take on new challenges, bounce back after mistakes and become model citizens in life.

“We believe that all youth can benefit from a positive, inclusive sports culture that develops social and emotional skills, shapes character, and prepares them to compete beyond the golf course,” said Jason Sacks, PCA Executive Vice President.  “First Tee has long been a leader in the sports-based youth development world, and we have long admired their work and impact. We are so excited for our organizations to be officially partnered together.”

“Our coaches continue to be the lifeblood of our organization and central to our success,” said Jennifer Weiler, First Tee Senior Vice President, Network Relations. “We are proud to partner with an organization like the Positive Coaching Alliance, who shares the same passion for empowering kids through positive coaching relationships.”

As part of this partnership, PCA will be providing online courses to augment First Tee’s coach training, as well as tangible tools and resources for parents on how to reinforce life lessons and support their children’s personal growth.  This partnership specifically will include virtual training collaboration, continued education and professional development for coaches, teachers and youth leaders (live and online), as well as parent-specific education and engagement.

PCA also featured a First Tee – Washington, D.C. Executive Director Clint Sanchez in the latest Sports Can Battle Racism Roundtable webinar on the topic of Growing the Game: Actively increasing access and improving the experiences of young athletes.  Sanchez joined the panel alongside with Olympic Women's Water Polo Gold Medalist Brenda Villa, Former Stanley Cup Champion Jamal Mayers, and the mother of Sloane Stephens, Sybil Smith, who is the Executive Director of the Sloane Stephens Foundation. A recap of this important conversation here.

PCA and First Tee thank the SAGA Foundation for its continued support while serving as facilitator in bringing this partnership to life.

“We are proud that Our Convene, Collaborate and Create campaign has reached a national level," said SAGA President David Bartoshuk. “In the midst of our national crisis the timing of this effort is especially relevant. It proves that on the field as in life there are no limits to what can be accomplished through teamwork and the notion that there is always room for improvement. We are excited to see these two organizations grow to have an even greater positive impact on today’s youth."

About First Tee

First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach more than 3.6 million young people annually through its chapter network, in schools and at youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.

About Positive Coaching Alliance

As a catalyst for a positive youth sports culture, Positive Coaching Alliance provides research-based training and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders to ensure a positive youth development experience for ALL kids, in all communities across the U.S., through sports. PCA ensures sports are ‘done right’ with programming that is research-based and designed to have impact at three levels in a youth sports organization or school:

  • YOUTH experience improved life skills and character development.
  • COACHES become more positive and increase their focus on using sports to teach life lessons.
  • YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS see their cultures become more positive and everyone involved has more fun.

PCA believes that all youth can benefit from a positive, inclusive sports culture that develops social and emotional skills, molds character, and prepares them for competition and life. In more than two decades of work, PCA expanded from a small local nonprofit to a strong, nationwide organization that provides programming in all 50 states, reaching thousands of organizations around the country and positively impacting millions of youth athletes every year. PCA has now partnered with roughly 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide to deliver more than 20,000 live group workshops, reaching over 20 million youth.

To learn more about PCA and First Tee, go here, or visit positivecoach.org and firsttee.org