Positive Coaching Alliance and Little League

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Positive Coaching Alliance and Little League

• Transforming youth sports so sports can
  transform youth

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Agenda

• About Positive Coaching Alliance
• Little League Double-Goal Coach
• How to Develop a Positive Coaching Culture
• Next Steps
• Questions

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There isnt any other youth institution that
equals sports as a setting in which to develop
character. There just isnt. Sports are the
perfect setting because character is tested all
the time. It means a great deal if that time in
sports is well used.

• John W. GardnerFounder, Common CausePCA
  National Advisory Board Founding member

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• "This special partnership gives our programs
  volunteers the tools to teach Little Leaguers
  much more than just the skills of hitting,
  throwing, and catching a ball. Positive Coaching
  Alliances Double-Goal Coach method affords
  Little League International the opportunity to
  enhance its educational material for our adult
  volunteers, so they can present the most
  well-rounded, healthy and positive experience
  regardless of skill level.
• Stephen D. Keener
• President and CEO of Little League Baseball and
  Softball

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About Positive Coaching Alliance

• Non-profit created in 1998 at Stanford University
• Partner with youth sports organizations on a
  Systems Approach (Leaders, Coaches, and Parents)
• PCA tools promote winning and character education
• Incorporate latest educational and sports
  psychology research
• Unique sets of tools to help all constituents
  build a positive coaching culture leaders,
  coaches, sport parents and student-athletes

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Little League Double-Goal Coach

• What is a Little League Double-Goal Coach?
• - Goal 1 Strives to Win
• - Goal 2 Uses sports to teach life lessons
• Three Principles of being a Little League
  Double-Goal Coach
• Redefine Winner (ELM Tree)
• Fill Emotional Tanks (51 Ratio)
• Honor the Game (ROOTS)

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Redefine Winner (ELM Tree)

• Redefines winner through mastery rather than the
  scoreboard.
• Victory is a by-product of pursuit of excellence
• Effort focus on effort
• Learning focus on learning rather than
  comparison to others
• Mistakes Mistakes are ok. ( 300 - Hitter)
• Coach teaches players that a winner is someone
  who makes maximum effort, continues to learn and
  improve, and doesnt let mistakes or (fear of
  mistakes) stop them.

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Redefine Winner (ELM Tree)

• Children with ego-involved goals use comparison
  with others to measure their success (Nicholls,
  1984b).
• When students perceive themselves as having low
  ability compared to others, they may lower their
  effort and further reduce their chances of
  learning (Nicholls, 1984c).
• Ego involvement can reduce a child's intrinsic
  interest in an activity (Nicholls, 1984a).
• Individuals feel more competent when they feel
  they have learned (Nicholls, 1984a).
• Children with task-involved goals are likely to
  feel competent and successful when their
  performance of specific tasks improves (Nicholls,
  1984b).

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Redefine Winner (ELM Tree)

• Task-involvement produces the most desirable
  educational outcomes (Nicholls, 1984b).
• In task-involved individuals with high perceived
  capacity, goals will look realistic and therefore
  performance will not be impaired by anxiety,
  self-protective effort-reduction, or a sense of
  hopelessness (Nicholls, 1984b).
• A mastery orientation will more often lead to the
  exhibition of maximum effort, contribute to the
  development of perceived ability, and encourage
  positive achievement behaviors (Duda 1987)

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Fill Emotional Tanks (51 Ratio)

• Refuse to motivate through fear, intimidation and
  shame.
• Every player has an emotional tank like a car
  has a gas tank.
• Compliments, praise and positive recognition
  fills emotional tanks.
• When correction is necessary, criticize in a way
  that doesnt undermine the players sense of
  worth.
• Use 51 ration praise to correction

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Kid Friendly Criticism

• Avoid giving criticism in nonteachable moments.
  The immediate aftermath of an error is not the
  time to criticize, even in the form of technical
  advice on footwork or throwing motion
• Criticize in private. Players who do not have to
  deal with public embarrassment are much more
  likely to be receptive and thus heed your advice.
• Ask permission. Simply ask the player whether he
  or she is ready to receive advice. If the answer
  is no, respect that. Appreciate the honesty of
  the answer and realize your criticism then and
  there would cause greater harm than good. You
  might reply, Okay. Let me know if you change
  your mind.

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Kid Friendly Criticism

• Make a criticism sand-wish. Start with a
  positive, then suggest a way to improve
  performance in the form of a wish, and end with
  another positive.
• Provide information, not controlling statements.
  Rather than, do it this way, say, If you step
  correctly, you will trigger a stronger swing.
  The latter lets the player feel in control.
• Allow time for acceptance. Insisting that a
  players change their swings or throwing motions
  -- now -- incites resistance. Its fine to say,
  Why dont you think about this and see whether
  what Im saying makes sense to you?

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Honor the Game (ROOTS)

• Rules respect for the rules Dont cheat
• Opponents respect for worthy opponent
• Officials respect for officials- they will miss
  a call
• Teammates- respect for each other- encourage each
  other
• Self respect for self have high standards

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Benefits of being a Little League Double-Goal
Coach

• Pursue winning while developing positive
  character traits in your athletes
• You and your players will have more FUN!
• Tools to help create a positive parent-coach
  relationship
• Supplement your knowledge of the game with
  lessons from the Sports Psychology field
• Give yourself a Coaching Edge!

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Testimonials

• "The PCA Program has been extremely effective in
  reminding us all at Danville Little League of
  what is truly important in youth sports - our
  children. As a result of the instruction and
  thoughtful messages provided in the workshops and
  program materials, we have seen an improved level
  of cooperation and support from our Board
  members, coaches and parents. Also, through the
  efforts of our overall DLL Training Program, we
  have seen greater skills development and
  competitive success on the field with our
  children, including with our All-Star tournament
  teams. Thanks to everyone at PCA!"
• -Vice President, Danville Little League
• We recently conducted the 2 hour Leadership
  session with our Board of Directors and received
  overwhelmingly positive feedback. The PCA
  philosophy adds a structured format to the best
  coaching techniques that you have seen on the
  field which allows a league to improve the
  consistency of quality coaching throughout the
  league by applying common terms, philosophy
  framework, and tools.
• -President, Saratoga (CA) Little League
• "My son's baseball experience has been
  transformed by PCA. His league and coaches are
  enthusiastic practitioners of positive coaching,
  with the result that the parents are happier, the
  coaches are happier, and the players are not only
  happier, but they're performing better. It's
  been great for him and everyone involved."
• -Tim Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics

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Effects of Culture Building

• Builds an outstanding educational-athletic
  program
• Creates an environment where Leaders, Coaches,
  Parents and Athletes are on the same page
• Players have more fun and play baseball longer
• Reduces sideline confrontations
• Improves ability to recruit and retain coaches,
  officials, and volunteers

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Next Steps

• Learn more by visiting www.positivecoach.org/Litt
  leLeague
• Get in touch with PCA to have a representative
  attend your next meeting. Phone [phone]
• Encourage your coaches to become Little League
  Double-Goal Coaches!