Tools for Coaches

PCA has partnered with nationally recognized professional coaches, athletes, sports psychologists and leading researchers to develop tools and resources that are currently being used by thousands of youth and high school coaches around the country.  Take advantage of these easy-to-use expert tools today to help bring positive coaching to your youth athletes.

New! Click here for a web page of resources on child-abuse prevention or click here for a PDF version

Download PCA's Child-Abuse Prevention Policies and Procedures Template

Additional free resources:

Sign-up for our brand new PCA Talking Points

• A 13-week free email subscription to help guide the season. Sign up for Talking Points.

Download one of our free Tools for working with parents:

• Parent-Guardian Meeting Agenda Coaches can proactively enlist cooperation from players' parents by communicating expectations clearly early in the season. This agenda will help you plan your pre-season parent meeting.  Parent/Guardian Meeting Agenda (PDF)

• Parent-Guardian Letter You can send this letter to your players' parents, letting them know what to expect form you as a coach, and what you expect from them in terms of supporting the team. Parent-Guardian Letter (PDF)

• Parent Pledge: Ask your players' parents to sign this form, committing to the supportive behavior of a Second-Goal Parent. Parent Pledge (PDF)

• The Double-Goal Coach Job Description reminds you of your responsibilities as a Double-Goal Coach: to teach and model Redefining "Winner" through the "ELM Tree" of Mastery, Filling Emotional Tanks and Honoring the Game.  Double-Goal Coach® Job Description (PDF)

• Positive Charting This download provides instruction and a chart to help you track the positive plays and behaviors of your athletes. Positive Charting (PDF)

• Sample Script for the ELM Tree of Mastery This script helps you explain "ELM" -- Effort, Learning and Mistakes -- to your athletes.  PCA Positive Coaching Script - ELM Tree (PDF)

• Sample Script for Filling Emotional Tanks This script covers the importance of teammates supporting each other with specific, truthful praise.  PCA Positive Coaching Script - Emotional Tank (PDF)

• Sample Script for Honoring the Game This script teaches the basis of sportsmanship through an acronym, ROOTS, for respecting Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and Self.  PCA Positive Coaching Script - Honoring The Game (PDF)

To deepen your knowledge and practice of Positive Coaching you may:

Take one of our Online Courses:

• Double Goal Coach I: Coaching for Winning and Life Lessons
• Double Goal Coach II: Culture, Practices and Games
• Double Goal Coach III: Developing Triple-Impact Competitors
• View our Online Courses and Get Started

 Purchase one of PCA Founder and CEO Jim Thompson's books written for coaches:

• The Power of Double-Goal Coaching (2010)
• Positive Coaching In A Nutshell (2007)
• The Double-Goal Coach (2003)
• Shooting In The Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership (1998)
• Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-Esteem Through Sports (1995)
• Learn more about these titles