MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, September 17, 2021 – Positive Coaching Alliance (“PCA”) has partnered with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA (“Laureus USA”) to bring PCA’s coach training to schools and youth sports organizations across the country. As part of Laureus USA’s national training initiative, PCA will focus on school districts, YMCAs, youth sports leagues and other youth development organizations to help them provide a positive, inclusive environment for all kids to play sports..

“PCA and Laureus USA have worked side-by-side in the sports-based youth development space for years,” said Jason Sacks, PCA’s Chief Development Officer. “We are thrilled to now officially be partnering together to reach more coaches, organizations and most importantly youth - and to be able to provide them the best possible experience through sports.”

There is no better place than sports for kids to develop the social, emotional learning (SEL) skills they need to thrive, as a recent Laureus report makes clear the connection between youth involvement in sport and the many benefits derived from it. Therefore, developing a partnership with an organization that is passionate about ensuring kids have the best SEL-based training available in the youth sports space made perfect sense.

As part of this partnership, PCA has already partnered with school districts in Sacramento and Portland, as well as YMCAs in Florida, to bring its coach training workshops to these communities. Additional organizations and schools will be named as PCA coach training recipients in the Fall of 2021.

National Program Officer for Laureus USA, Stewart Young, shared, “Having observed the growth and impact of Positive Coaching Alliance over the years, we are excited to get a chance to collaborate to expand training opportunities for coaches at a critical time. We look forward to championing together the value of a trained coach and working together to capture and share the positive effect trained coaches have on youth.”

PCA has been a catalyst for a positive youth sports culture for more than 20 years. PCA has grown from a small, local non-profit to a strong, national organization hosting thousands of workshops every year, and partnering with some of the largest organizations, pro sports teams, and national governing bodies. The partnership with Laureus USA will help bring PCA’s training and resources to more coaches and youth sports participants across the country.

About Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA:

Laureus USA is a non-profit, grant-making organization that works to improve the lives of youth and unite communities through the power of sport. Since 2012, we have impacted the lives of over one million youth by investing $20 million in sports-based youth development organizations around the country that unleash the power of sport to enhance physical and mental health, improve educational and employment outcomes, and address critical social justice issues. We have also provided trainings focused on positive youth development and social-emotional learning for over 1,400 coaches. Laureus USA is a member of the global Laureus network, which includes 7 National Laureus Sport for Good Foundations, 1 Global Foundation, the Laureus World Sports Academy (and Ambassadors), and the Laureus World Sports Awards. Learn more about Sport for Good at www.LaureusUSA.com.

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. For more information, visit www.positivecoach.org.