Why is PLC a mandatory program?
Simply stated, we owe our children the best we can give them. Preparing coaches to work with children demonstrates our respect and responsibility for our children. Most youth and high school sports organizations now recognize the need for coach and parent education and the percentage of trained volunteers is escalating rapidly. Informed youth sports leaders are no longer asking “Should we mandate coach education?” but “How much coaching education should we mandate?” Coaches need to be prepared just as any other teacher is prepared through professional development and in-services. Research clearly shows that effective teachers know the subject matter and know how to communicate it effectively. The same is true for effective coaches. Although many youth sport coaches know their sport, many do not know how to relate to young players. Most of the problems in youth sport today can be avoided if coaches are prepared to treat children in developmentally appropriate ways.
