NJ Youth Soccer partners with Positive Coaching Alliance

(Via NJ Youth Soccer) – NJ Youth Soccer has partnered with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a national non-profit developing “Better Athletes, Better People” by working to with its Young Olympians players (birth year 2004) and parents to cultivate a more positive, character-building sports experience.

The partnership provides NJ Youth Soccer access to PCA’s training for coaches, sports parents, student-athletes and administrators, comprising live group workshops, online courses, books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson and additional online resources, such as e-mailed follow-up tips and reminders.

PCA has partnered with roughly 3,000 youth sports organizations, schools, districts, conferences, and park-and-rec departments to create a Development ZoneTM culture, where the goal is using youth and high school sports to develop Better Athletes, Better People, Thompson said. “We look forward to working with NJ Youth Soccer to create the best possible experience for the youth athletes. Our research-based materials combine the latest in sports psychology, education and practical advice from top pro and college coaches and athletes that help improve athletic performance while also ensuring kids take life lessons from sports that will help them throughout the rest of their lives.”

The Young Olympians program is an introductory stage for boys and girls birth year 2004 who aspire to play at a high level. The Young Olympians program provides a path to participate in the Olympic Development Program. Since partnering with the Red Bulls in 2014, this program has also identified boys who have been signed to the Red Bulls’ Academy. “PCA supports the mission of the Young Olympians Program to foster young players’ physical, mental and social growth so they can reach their potential in life through their participation in soccer,” said Mike Petke, NJYS Director of ODP and Player Development.

The Young Olympians Girls event was hosted in partnership with Georgian Court University and Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue Head Coach, Christy Holly and defender Erica Skroski from New Jersey, stopped by the girls field session to share a few words. Then, the Young Olympians took in the Sky Blue FC vs. University of North Carolina where the girls took part in the pre-game walkout with the professionals, participated as ball kids and played in a half-time mini game.