Positive Coaching Alliance, aka PCA, has developed an entire online resource center to help coaches, parents, players and organization administrators make the most out of their youth sports involvement. PCA's motto: Better Athletes, Better People.

The Positive Coach uses the power of positive reinforcement to pursue winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. "Encouraging athletes with positive reinforcement helps them hear and heed the necessary corrections. With that winning combination of truthful, specific praise and constructive criticism, athletic performance improves and so do the chances that kids stick with sports longer and learn all the valuable life lessons inherently available through organized competition."

Kobe Bryant and His Impact on Women’s Sports

How to Encourage Positive Fan Behavior:  "Honor the Game" Gameplan

  

Positive Coaching Alliance

Positive Coaching Alliance Development Zone

The ROOTS Of Honoring The Game And Sportsmanship

Videos: The Power of Positive and Power of Positive with Brian McBride

Video: Coaches Can Measure Success Based on How Many Kids Want to Play Next Year

Video: Tony LaRussa: Developing a Player in All Aspects

Two Little League® World Series Coaches Win Positive Coach Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award

PCA Presents: Coaches Crossing The Line

Million Coaches Challenge

As an introduction to the program, this is an opportunity to experience some of the transformational moments of the past year as well as gain an understanding of the key pillars that make up the foundation of our SCBR initiative.     EXPLORE NOW

Make that courageous conversation. To prepare and help you in establishing a dialogue with your athletes regarding equity and inclusion, we offer a conversation guide to better develop solutions that work to battle racism within the environment of sports.     EXPLORE NOW

Hear the points of view of some of the most inspiring thought leaders in sports, as well as, prolific athletes of color who have broken through racial and gender barriers, heralding lasting positive change in their wake.    EXPLORE NOW

As an opportunity to proactively problem solve and create a dialogue around equity, we invite you to sign-up and take part in our free Sports Can Battle Racism roundtable happening this Wednesday, June 9th. 

We are pleased to offer free access to a 15-minute version of our Sports Can Battle Racism workshop webinar which will provide a brief inside look at how the program furthers a culture of equity and inclusivity for all.     EXPLORE NOW

This past year as a community and a culture we have made the commitment to support issues of inclusivity and equity. We now invite you to lend your voice to ours, so that we may all stand together for positive change.     EXPLORE NOW

• 5 Takeaways From Inclusivity in Sports Panel
• 10 Tips Offered by Roman Oben on the Importance of Showing Players You Care About Them
• Doug Bruno On His Choice To Coach Women Over Men
•  How Adults' Attitudes are Ruining Sports for Kids - Fox News Interview
•  Paul DeJong on Overcoming Mistakes

• How Sports Done Right Helps Youth Affected By Trauma
•  Marlon Stewart on Handling Mistakes
• Matthew Slater:  Postgame Speeches, The Significance of Authenticity
• Matthew Slater:   The Importance of Off-the-Field Impact within Professional Sports
• Mike Brey Talks About Staying Calm and Poised as a Coach
• Steve Kerr: Core Values In Action
• Steve Kerr's 4 Core Values:  Joy, Mindfulness, Compassion Competition
•  What Coaches can do to Protect Youth Athletes from Sexual Abuse with Irene van der Zande and Ruben Nieves

Get the right start to your coaching career with these tips.   View Resources

Double-Goal Coach Job Description

How PCA Helped Transform a Coach

11 Tips for the First-Time Coach

The 8 Benefits Of Mindfulness For Coaches And Athletes

How to best prepare before the season begins. View Resources

Dealing With Tryout Anxiety

How To Lead Player Tryouts For A Youth Sports Organization

Guidelines and advice for game time play at all levels. View Resources

Doc Rivers On Sports Parents Seeking More Playing Time

Here's What Happens When Parents Remove Pressure From the Sidelines

How Coaches Allocate Playing Time

Parents Shouldn't Be Involved In Playing Time Discussions

Playing Time

Playing Time: Underclassmen Ahead Of Seniors

When Playing Time Issues are Extreme and Effort is There, Then What? 

Avoiding the Question "Why Am I Not Playing" by Over-Communicating

Brandi Chastain On Coaching Her Son

Steve Kerr Coached His Son's Team The Same As He Coaches The Warriors

AJ Hinch On Coaching Your Own Child

Tips for Coaching Your Own Child: A Coach Hat

Why More Mothers Should Coach Youth Sports

Coaching Your Own Child

• 7 Ways Coaches Can Create an Inclusive Environment
• 9 Safety Tips to Ensure Emotional and Physical Safety of Players
•  Coach Self Care
•  Coaching With Empathy
• Defining the Role of a Coach:  Game Changing Tips
  

• Healing Centered Coaching:  Asking "What is Right with you?"
  
• How Coaches Can Stop Bullying by Youth Sports Parents
•  How Kids Learn Best:  Key Elements For Learning and Development
• Key Points of a Coaching Philosophy
• Why More Mothers Should Coach Youth Sports

• Coaches And Parents Need Not Praise Effort When It's Not There
• Combating Lack of Focus and Effort in Youth Sports Practices
•  Dealing With Players That Are Too "Unselfish"
•  Gratitude Minute
  

• Greg Dale: Playing For A Coach Who Never Admits They Are Wrong
• How Body Language Affects Motivation and Performance
• How Coaches Can Correct Athletes' Bad Body Language

• Positively Chart Your Players' Success
• Reward Effort Until Effort is its Own Reward
  

• Sometimes You Have to Let Kids be Kids
• What To Do When Your Most Talented Player Has The Worst Attitude
  

• Why Character Beats Results In The Long Run

• 4 Reasons Athletes Make Mistakes And How Coaches Can Help Correct Them
•  A Mistake, a Mindset, and the Best Two Seconds of the 2014 World Cup
•  Bounce Back From Mistakes With A Good Attitude
• Coaching for Mastery:  The ELM Tree of Mastery Tool Kit for Coaches
•  Coaching Grit Without Being Too Tough On Kids
• Correcting Bad Body Language

• Developing a Mistake Ritual
• How Curtis Granderson "Flushes" His Mistakes Away
• How to Handle Mistakes
• How to Handle the Pouting Athlete With Attitude Problems
• Joe Maddon On Teamwork - Every Play Is Connected
  
• Positively Chart Your Players' Success
• Running As Punishment For Poor Performance

• Tim Howard: Separate Good From The Great
•  Using a Mistake Ritual to Refocus; an NFL Example

• Adjusting To A New Coach
• Balancing The Drive To Win With Needs to Develop Players
• Can You Coach Character?
• Coaches Must Let Athletes Know That They Value Effort
• Coaching Grit Without Being Too Tough On Kids
• Dave Kaval: Failure Is An Opportunity
• David Shaw On The Importance Of Character In His Players
• Discussion Guide:  A League of Their Own - story of perseverance, strength of community, teamwork, leadership
• Dusty Baker On Motivation Through Fun
• Dusty Baker On Overcoming Failure
• Emotional Tank Toolkit for Coaches - Positive Reinforcement
• How to Handle the Defeated Mindset and Fill Your Player's Tank
•  How To Handle The Pouting Athlete With Attitude Problems
• How To Use Drills In Practice To Develop Character In Youth Athletes

• Lisa Mitzel: Preparing Mentally to Perform Physically
• Grit And Resiliency Learned In Sports Lasts For Life
• How To Deal With Players Missing Practice
• Julie Foudy On Coaching Young Kids
• Magic Ratio - Filling Emotional Tanks
• Motivational Sports Quotes
• Sports Are What I Do, They Are Not Who I Am
• Steve Young: Positive Coaches Find Unique Ways To Include Everyone
• The Mindset Myth: Natural or Bust
• When Coaches Believe Everyone Can Develop, Talent Springs Up Everywhere

• Brad Stevens: Give Kids The Freedom To Play
•  Claude Julien: Tips To Avoid Over-Coaching
•  Don't Over Coach (K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid)
• For Coaches, Sometimes Less Is More In Game Situations

• George Karl: Resisting The Urge To Over-Coach
• More Complex Coaching Can Mean More Mistakes
  
• Over-Coaching: How Much Is Too Much?
•  Reasons To Resist The Temptations To Overcoach

• 3 Must-Use Strategies For Coaches to Gain Support From Parents
•  3 Steps To Take With Over-Exuberant Parents
• 7 Tips for a Positive Parent-Coach Relationship
• A Message To Parents: Why It Bothers Me That You Coach From The Stands
  
• Avoiding the Question "Why Am I Not Playing" by Over-Communicating
• Coaches Need To Interact With Parents And Get Them Involved
•  Coaches Shouldn't Spread The Myth That Specializing Makes You Better
• Handling the "Mean Girl" Culture Within Sports
• How Parents And Coaches Can Break The Ice Between One Another

• • Importance of Collaboration Between Coaches and Parents
  • Key Points of a Coaching Philosophy - Pre-Season Parents' Meeting
  • Know The Difference Between Negative Coaching And Abusive Coaching
• Parents Handling A Closed Practice Policy
•  Parent/Guardian Meeting Agenda For Coaches
•  Pat Fitzgerald: Sports Parents Seeking More Playing Time
• Should Parents Intervene When the Coach is Being Unfair?
•  Silence On The Sidelines Lets Kids Learn And Coaches Coach
• Summer Sanders: Respecting Boundaries In The Parent-Coach Relationship
  
• View All Parent/Coach Relationship Resources
  
• What Happens When Coaches And Parents Set The Wrong Example In Tough Times

• Bruce Bochy On Resilience Through Positivity And Perspective
•  Grit And Resiliency Learned In Sports Lasts For Life

• Helicopter, Snowplow, And Curling Parents Aren't Teaching Resilience
• How Self-Compassion Helps With Resilience And Handling Failure
  

• AJ Hinch: Being A Teammate In All Aspects Of Life
•  Brad Stevens: Playing Muliple Sports Leads To Better Athletes
•  Coaches Shouldn't Spread The Myth That Specializing Makes You Better
•  Common Myth: Sport Specialization Will Make My Kid The Best
•  How To Make Sports The Best 2 Hours Of A Kids Day
•  Impacts of Early Sport Specialization
•  Issues With The Youth Sports "Pipeline"
• Joe Maddon On The Importance Of Playing Multiple Sports
• MLB Pitcher: The Absolute Worst Thing You Can Do Is Specialize Young
  

• Multi-Sport Athletes May Learn More Life Lessons
  

• Nomar Garciaparra's Views on Specialization
•  Parents Can Guide Their Kids In Sports, But Kids Need To Make The Choices
•  Pat Fitzgerald On Specialization In Youth Sports
• Right Age for Travel Teams and Player Cuts
•  Specializing In One Position At An Early Age Harms Youth Development
• Stanford Golf Coach: Coaches Love To Recruit Multi-Sport Athletes
•  Tommy Amaker on Playing Multiple Sports
•  Why The Cleveland Indians Prefer Multi-Sport Athletes

• 4 Pillars of Team and Organizational Culture
• 6 Steps for Maintaining Positive Team Culture
• Chris Collins: Building A Winning Culture At Northwestern Basketball
• Creating A Challenging Culture That Kids Want To Be A Part Of
• Discussion Guide:  Remember the Titans
• Dusty Baker on Team Culture
• Handling The "Mean Girl" Culture Within Sports
•  Herm Edwards: 3 Goals to Establish a Winning Culture

• How to Define Your Team Culture Goals with Your Athletes
•  Julie Foudy On Team Culture Adversity
• Pat Fitzgerald On Creating Team Culture
• Sandy Brondello on Team Culture Within a Sports Program
• Team Chemistry and Team Culture
• Working Together To Stop The Madness

• A Message To Athletes: Your Social Media History Is Your Online Resume
• Accountability Now Is A Life Lesson For The Future
• Coach Self Care
• Coaching with Empathy
• Dealing with Players' Social Media Use
• Defining the Role of a Coach:  Game Changing Tips
• George Karl: Positivity Is A Choice
• If Coaches Do Their Job Right, Players Will Want To Come Back Forever
• John Wooden's Pyramid of Success
• Protect Athletes From Sexual Abuse: Key Actions For Parents & Coaches

• Recruiting: Observing Parents In The Stands
•  Stanford's David Shaw: Dealing with Players' Social Media Use
• Steve Kerr: Coaching Isn't Controlling (In Basketball Or Any Sport)
• The Best Coaching Philosophy In Youth Sports
• The "Parent Ball": Make Lasting Memories And Teach Life Lessons
• Understanding Trauma's Impact on Behavior
• Using Sports Psychology With Youth Athletes
• What Is The Right Age To Start Watching Game Film?
• Why Every Kid Needs Playing Time At The Youth Level No Matter What

• 21-Day Gratitude Challenge For Athletes, Coaches, Parents, And Leaders
•  Being A Good Teammate Makes You Better
• Filling Emotional Tanks
• Getting Players To Get Along With Each Other
• Steve Kerr: Don't Be A "Know It All" Coach

• What Coaches Can Do When An Opponent Trash Talks
• What Makes A Great Teammate?
•  What Team Building Activities Can I Use To Help My Team Move on from Mistakes
• What to Do When Your Most Talented Player Has the Worst Attitude
• Why It's Important To Play With Other Kids That Are The Same Age

• 5 Ways Young Athletes can Improve their Mental Health During the COVID-10 Pandemic
• 10 Tips for Emotionally Supporting Athletes during COVID-19
• 12 Coaching Tips for the Post-Lockdown Return to Sports
• Dealing with Disappointment During Coronavirus Cancellations, Postponements
• • Free Online Student-Athlete Courses
  • • Every Tuesday:  Weekly Facebook Live Sessions with PCA Trainers
    • • Every Thursday:  Weekly Facebook Live Sessions with a PCA National Advisory Board Member
• PCA Movie Discussion Guides (using movies to teach life lessons)
• PCA "Power of Positive" Podcasts
• PCA Sports Parent Conversation Starters
• Using the Sports Shutdown to Recover the Joy of Sports 

• Julie Foudy Shares Creative Ways to Remain Active and Have Fun Together
• David Krichavsky Talks About the "Jr. NBA at Home" Initiative
• Ruben Nieves Shares Tools that Parents Can Use at Home With Their Kids
• Kelly Kratz Defines Mistakes and the Tools Parents and Coaches Can Use to Help Kids Bounce Back After Making One
• Dr. Colleen Hacker Shares How to Use and Practice a Mistake Ritual at Home
• Jason French Shares What Coaches Need to Know During COVID-19
• Herm Edwards Shares His Philosophies About Life, Coaching and Being a Parent
• Claire Perry Discusses What it Means to be a Trauma-Informed Coach
• Ruben Nieves Discusses How to Fill Athletes' Emotional Tanks
• Steve Smith Discusses "Isolation" Tactics
• Tom Farrey Discusses How to Increase "Free Play"
• Ruben Nieves Discusses How to Develop a "Growth Mindset"
• Kelly Kratz Talks About Coaching During COVID-19