On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS May 26, #490 Up next…Positive Coaching!
After further review…The Positive Coaching Alliance (www.positivecoach.org) is more than 15 years young and growing rapidly. Founded by Jim Thompson, the PCA’s goal is to help develop “Better Athletes, Better People”. The alliance partners with more than 2000 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide impacting more than five million youths to date.
It accomplishes this with workshops and courses throughout the country. The intent being to help coaches, parents and competitors teach and practice life lessons through sports. These tunneyside columns/blogs are similar in design. It is the belief here there is no better way for people to work together than through positive examples learned from the sports fields and courts. The PCA board of advisors is comprised of an impressive array of coaches and athletes throughout the U.S. who stress by their actions as well as by their words how character can be developed.
The PCA recently assembled a panel (at which I was privileged to attend) who emphasized the importance of coaching athletes from the inside-out. The panel was composed of: Steve Young, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Super Bowl XXIX MVP, 2005 ProFootball HoF inductee; David Shaw, Stanford head football coach who coached the Cardinal to back-to-back (2012 & 2013) Rose Bowl appearances; and Lindsey Gottlieb, Women’s Basketball Coach at Cal Berkeley, whose Bears won the Pac-12 2012 championship and have gone to the NCAA playoffs two consecutive years.
Young emphasized how the character and integrity of his 49ers coach (the late) Bill Walsh was important in helping him. Shaw mentioned that Andrew Luck, whom he coached, was such a role model that Luck’s teammates enthusiastically followed his direction. Gottlieb, when asked by an audience member how to “motivate/inspire young athletes”, responded, “I find it best to say ‘I really enjoy watching you play’”. Those words seemed to me to be the best reinforcement one can give any young performer– be it athlete, band member, cheerleader etc. Those words, given with sincerity, are not just complimentary; but tend to inspire. If the athlete should then ask “What can I do to improve”? The door swings wide open for suggestions.
Will you help others learn through positive words of encouragement?
To contact Jim go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
Jim book “101 Best of Tunney Side of Sports” is available here.
