Topic Resource Page For PCA Trainers

KEY TOPICS

WHAT IS SEL?: Social and emotional learning (“SEL”) is the process through which children acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.” [CASEL.org]
WHAT IS PYD?: Positive Youth Development (PYD) is a "strength-based”, positive approach to youth development. Youth involved in programs or schools with PYD environments develop strong social emotional learning skills in the areas of social awareness, relationships and self-management [CASEL.org]. PCA programming helps youth sports organizations and school sports programs create and sustain PYD environments.
A FRAMEWORK: SEL has become a framework for how educators, families, and community partners promote students’ social, emotional, and academic learning. PCA’s work in youth sports is informed by an SEL framework produced by a leader in this space, The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). See appendix 1 of the first resource below for detailed framework.
HOW DOES PCA PROGRAMMING FIT IN?: PCA programming specifically targets SEL skill development. Our primary target outcome is youth character development.

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WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED COACHING: When coaches and program leaders are trauma-informed it means that they recognize that anyone they interact with may have been impacted by trauma at some point in their lives, and understand that a variety of emotional (e.g., anxiety, depression, anger) and behavioral (e.g., substance use, self-harm, isolation) challenges may present themselves as a result of the traumatic experience(s) (Gutierres & Van Puymbroeck 2006; Nadew 2012; Schäfer & Fisher, 2011;).
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF TRAUMA-INFORMED COACHING: The overall purpose of trauma-informed programming is to provide individuals experiencing such challenges with the opportunity to develop skills that will help them improve their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors. Bergholz and colleagues identified a number of principles that are critical in the development of a trauma-informed sport program.
WHAT ARE 5 WAYS THAT PROGRAMS CAN BE TRAUMA-INFORMED: The sport program must: 1) Place an emphasis on creating a physically and emotionally safe environment; 2) Be designed for long-term engagement, rather than short, one-off programs; 3) Create opportunities for the development of meaningful relationships with others; 4) Have a supportive structure (e.g., rules of play, planned predictable activities/schedule, the reasonable ratio between coaches and athletes); and 5) Integrate local cultural practices (e.g. local practices for healing from trauma).

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