The PCA Blog

PCA Updates

PCA’s High School Character & Leadership Development Program Expands

09.18.2019


Positive Coaching Alliance – Tampa Bay is entering its sixth year of delivering the Character & Leadership Development Program to Tampa Bay area high schools. The program provides student-athletes with valuable skills that will benefit them in athletic competition, the classroom, the community and in their future careers.

PCA’s partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools began in 2013 with HCPS Director of Athletics, Lanness Robinson, seeking to “ensure that athletics support the mission of the school district, which is to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in life.”  Since then, high schools in Pinellas and Manatee counties have joined the program, and Pasco County has added the Character & Leadership Development Program to all of their high schools and a special series of workshops to their middle schools.


The Character & Leadership Development Program includes seven workshops designed to educate student-athletes on PCA’s foundational principles and how to put those principles to use every day. Topics, such as leadership, goal setting, bullying, the use of social media, and emotional intelligence are discussed during each session, integrating group learning and case study techniques.

Fifty student-athletes in each school are selected yearly by athletic directors, coaches and administrators to participate. The students are selected based on having demonstrated leadership and their potential for impacting the overall culture of athletics in their schools. Certified PCA trainers who have undergone rigorous training and have strong athletic backgrounds as athletes and /or coaches post-high school lead each workshop.

Both PCA and Manatee County Schools are excited about the continued, and expanded, sponsorship and community involvement of Champs Sports Charitable Foundation. Champs Sports’ mission closely aligns with PCA’s principles of creating positive character-building experiences for student-athletes with sports as a platform.

“We are so excited to partner with PCA this year for their Character and Leadership Development Program,” says Bryon Milburn, SVP and GM of Champs Sports and Eastbay. “Giving back to the local community is crucial to Champs Sports as an organization, and we look forward to continue helping student athletes in building their potential.”

Champs Sports’ generous commitment to helping student-athletes achieve success in the classroom and community, allows all Manatee County public high schools to complete PCA’s seven-workshop series.

“We are thankful Champs Sports is our partner and that they believe in the value of our full Character and Leadership Development Program,” said Mason Cathey Brady, Executive Director of PCA –Tampa Bay. “Both PCA and Champs Sports are committed to positively impacting student-athletes in our community, and it is with Champs Sports’ increased contribution that we can do this more fully.”

Through its work with coaches, student-athletes, parents, community partners and supporters, PCA – Tampa Bay continues to find meaningful ways to improve the culture of high school sports.

For more information, contact PCA-Tampa Bay:
Mason Cathey Brady
P: 352-514-2797 
E: mason_cathey@positivecoach.org