DATE: Sept. 24, 2002
CONTACT: Paul Krome, pkrome@lacrosse.org

US Lacrosse Renews Partnership With Positive Coaching Alliance

Baltimore — US Lacrosse has renewed its national partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), as announced today by US Lacrosse Executive Director Steve Stenersen. The two organizations will team for the third consecutive year to ensure a positive experience for lacrosse players and enthusiasts around the nation.

PCA is a Stanford University-based non-profit organization that works with coaches, organizational leaders and parents to teach young athletes not only how to win, but also how to learn about teamwork, discipline, respect and goal-setting through their sports experience.

"There is no more important issue to US Lacrosse than ensuring that lacrosse players, at all levels, have a positive experience," said Stenersen. "In our first two years of association with PCA, our coaches, parents and players have seen the tremendous value of Positive Coaching. Thousands of players are motivated and performing better, more coaches throughout the country now feel better equipped with tools they can use in practices and games, and parents better understand the appropriate behaviors they are to model for the kids. We want US Lacrosse to be the leader in Positive Coaching because we believe it is a key to increased lacrosse growth and, ultimately, superior performance on the field."

This year’s partnership with PCA will feature a grant program that will fund Positive Coaching workshops for ten US Lacrosse chapters and youth leagues across the country. PCA will also continue to have a column in Lacrosse Magazine, the most widely circulated lacrosse publication in the world, and will speak at the US Lacrosse National Convention in Baltimore, Jan. 9-12, 2003. The US Lacrosse Chapter Assembly and Youth Festival will also include Positive Coaching presentations.

"US Lacrosse has taken a strong leadership role as a national governing body that is committed to honoring the game at every level within their organization," said PCA Executive Director Jim Thompson. "Their efforts serve as a model for other youth sport organizations to learn how Positive Coaching can become a reality at the national and grass-roots levels. We hope to continue this national partnership far into the future."

PCA was formed in 1998 to "transform youth sports so sports can transform youth." PCA offers workshops for coaches on how to be "Double-Goal Coaches," who want to win while at the same time teach life lessons to young athletes; for parents on how to help their child get the most from the youth sports experience; and for youth sports leaders on how to create an organizational culture that "Honors the Game." For more information on PCA, visit www.positivecoach.org.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse. For more information, visit www.lacrosse.org.

# # #

Click here to visit the US Lacrosse PCA page.