By Kathy Toon

Being involved with youth sports, I enjoy reading articles and  insights from coaches and trainers. One of my favorites is Coach Kathy Toon.  I strongly recommend you visit her site. Great articles and philosophies on all aspects of sports.

Since I work with the Positive Coaching Alliance , this article by Coach Toon struck a chord. 

Are You A “Positive Coach”

A seemingly simple question. Yet when asked whether he was a “positive” or a “negative” coach, one of my coaching mentors replied, “neither, rather I am an honest one”. He went on to say “I feel that the connotations for “positive” are the whole hovering helicopter parent phenomenon and the give trophies to everyone movement. The always give positive feedback movement has not been a good one for our kids.”

Now, many of you know I worked for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for 8 years and remain a senior trainer for the organization. My mentor’s comments made me pause. I thought back to my first introduction to PCA – an article in the SF Chronicle featuring Phil Jackson. I still remember my eyes rolling when I first read the phrase “positive coaching” and thinking that’s for little kids. I’m a college coach. Still to this day, I describe myself as a “challenging” coach vs a positive one.

Next, my curiosity drove me to Webster’s. What does the word “positive” actually mean? I discovered 17 different entries! Number 3 dealt with mind set so I started there. It reads a) “having the mind set or settled; confident; assured [a positive person] b) overconfident or dogmatic”.

Here in lies the rub. As coaches we want our athletes to be confident and assured yet not overconfident. I guess what really matters is what a coach is, not what they are called.

What kind of coach are you?

For more great informaton visit Coach Toon 

Related posts:

1. What is the Positive Coaching Alliance
2. Recommended Reading – Get Your Game Face On by Kathy Toon
3. Grown-Ups Get a Little Lesson In Sportsmanship

If you’re a coach for a youth program and you don’t think you can make a difference, you need to read this parents story.

A son, all the talent and drive in the world, abruptly decides to walk away from the game he loved. Why?  What happened?  What caused  him to decide he no longer wanted to play the game any longer?

Read this disturbing account posted by the Positive Coaching  Alliance A Change in My Son

Share your comments and thoughts.

Related posts:

1. Recommended Reading – Get Your Game Face On by Kathy Toon
2. Are You a “Positive” Coach?
3. Pep Talk Video – Three strategies that will help you play like a champion in the game of life

Single Dad Life is recommending a limited-time opportunity to download  free a new book, Get Your Game Face On, by Kathy Toon, a long-time Positive Coaching Alliance Trainer and former PCA Product Development Manager. Get Your Game Face On incorporates many Positive Coaching Alliance techniques, such as using a Mistake Ritual to help athletes bounce back from mistakes.

In true PCA fashion, Game Face knits together life lessons and sports. For example, while the book prescribes specific mental steps to take during competition, it also explores how daily life away from sports contributes to athletic performance.

For your sneak peek at Get Your Game Face On, only through May 31, click here.

Related posts:

1. Why Her Son Pitched the Game of His Life and Never Pitched Again
2. What is the Positive Coaching Alliance
3. Are You a “Positive” Coach?

Here is an interesting case study from The Positive Coaching Alliance. What are your thoughts?

Coach Coates is a yeller. He yells constantly during practices and games. He yells at his players and criticizes them when they do things wrong.

He even yells when they seem to be doing things right. His teams consistently have winning records, and as far as you can tell, the players seem to handle the yelling without getting down on themselves or each other.

• Is Coach Coates a good coach? Why or why not?

• Would you want your child to play for this coach?

• Does his winning record excuse his yelling?

• Would your answer change depending on the age of the athletes?

Related posts:

1. Parents – Grab A Whistle and Give it a Try
2. Should My Child Specialize in One Sport?
3. What is the Positive Coaching Alliance