Beginning in August of 2011, KIDSPORTS will provide a free online coach education course from the Positive Coaching Alliance, and as well, a Concussion Awareness Training course through ACTive Coach, to all KIDSPORTS volunteer coaches.

KIDSPORTS believes in supporting our volunteer coaches with safety and educational information. It is KS goal to help each of our coaches become the best that they can be. All coaches will be required to complete the Certified KIDSPORTS Coach Program in order to coach kids in our organization.

Along with parents and schools, coaches are key to developing character in children. At KIDPORTS, our volunteer coaches take this responsibility to heart. As John Wooden once said, "...a coach has a most powerful influence on those he or she leads; therefore it is the obligation of that coach to treat such responsibility with great care. I consider it a sacred trust; helping to mold character...and provide a positive example to those under my supervision."

Less than 10% of the 3.5 million volunteer coaches in the US have had any type of coaching education. (National Youth Sports Safety Foundation) KIDSPORTS believes it is time to support the 1200+ volunteer coaches in this community by offering a free online coaching education and concussion safety awareness programs to help coaches continue to provide a safe, positive, and supportive environment for children involved in 21st century youth sport activities.

For almost 60 years, KIDSPORTS volunteer coaches have done their part to be a positive force in the lives of many children throughout this community. The Certified KIDSPORTS Coach program will not only enhance this service, but as well, begin to take a step towards a back to the basics and big picture youth sport culture.

KIDSPORTS is partnering with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a non - profit organization founded at Stanford University with the mission to transform youth sports so sports can transform youth.

Many people in our community and throughout the United States want to change the culture of youth sports, however, it will not just happen. Organizational leaders, coaches’, officials, and parents must model, show, and demonstrate what a positive youth sport environment is by setting examples and not just talking about it.
Coach education is all about being a responsible coach who strives to win and yet at the same time, has a second but more important goal of using sports to teach life lessons.

At KIDSPORTS, winning is important. Competing is important. However, when winning and the focus on competition trump the values and importance of kids learning, developing, having fun, and being part of something bigger than themselves, then we all lose no matter what the scoreboard says.

Through the KIDSPORTS Certified Coach Program the goal is to help coaches and parents keep more kids playing and playing longer in a safe and positive environment.
PCA provides practical and commons sense tools to redefine winning to get coaches, parents, and fans of youth sports to focus on:

-- Effort and personal improvement, rather than simply on the results of the game.
-- The understanding that mistakes are an inevitable and important part of the learning process and that a key to success is being able to rebound from mistakes with renewed determination.
-- The desire for children to learn by focusing not on the opposition or competition, but on being the best that one can be. Some days being your best may result in a win, but on other days it may not, even though, personal standards are achieved and surpassed. Coaches, parents, and fans need to acknowledge and reward the small personal victories that occur on the fields of play every day!

For the most part, coaches and parents throughout this community and the nation play their part in nurturing a positive youth sport environment. The challenge however usually comes when a game is on the line and an official makes a “bad” call, or a child drops the ball, or when respecting the rules gets in the way of winning the game.

Can we all, coaches, players, fans, and parents uphold a positive culture if it might result in losing the game?

We say yes. And at KIDSPORTS we are committed to supporting our coaches and parents in saying yes. Our vision needs to stretch far beyond winning a specific game to making a lasting impact on the lives of our children and players.

Please visit our website www.kidsports.org, or come in and see us to be a part of the KIDSPORTS team. We want and need you to coach, parent, and be fans of kids as they play, develop, have fun, compete, and learn valuable lifelong lessons.

Join the KIDSPORTS legendary coaching team and honor past coaches by going forward with the organization’s first ever comprehensive (and community’s) youth sport coach certification program that says yes! to a positive, safe, and supportive youth sport environment for kids.