February 18, 2020 – The Recreation Association of Highland (RAH) has created a new partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a national non-profit movement developing “Better Athletes, Better People.” PCA works with youth sports organizations and schools to provide research-based tools, resources and training for amateur sports administrators, coaches, parents, athletes, and officials.  The intent of the programming is to establish and/or elevate a positive, character-building youth development culture so that kids actually learn the valuable life lessons that sports can teach when done right.

Through this partnership the RAH Board, coaches, players and parents will be exposed to PCA’s sports and educational psychology and organizational behavior research-based philosophies. PCA’s programming also integrates practical advice, tools and resources from a National Advisory Board of top pro and college athletes and coaches who use PCA principals themselves at the highest levels of competition.  Programming will be delivered through live interactive group workshops, online courses and books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson along with additional online resources through PCADevZone.org.

PCA has partnered with roughly 3,500 schools, districts, conferences, youth sports organizations and park-and-rec departments delivering over 20,000 live group workshops and impacting over 20 Million youth since inception in 1998.  The programming creates a Development Zone® culture, where the goal is using youth and high school sports to develop stronger social-emotional learning and leadership and reasoning developmental opportunities.

“Through conversations with Mike Oyler and the RAH Board, it has been great to see and feel the energy and passion that they pour into providing kids an opportunity to learn and grow through baseball, softball and basketball,” said PCA-Cleveland Partnership and Development Manager, Ryan Virtue.

“When done right, sports are a great platform for youth to develop character and life/social-emotional learning skills that will stay with young people long beyond their playing days.  We look forward to elevating that mindset with the adults and kids involved in RAH.”

“We are very excited to partner with Positive Coaching Alliance,” said Mike Oyler, President of Recreation Association of Highland (RAH). “The RAH Board is committed to building a positive culture centered around player development and life skills gained from team sports. Positive Coaching Alliance will enhance the mission of our program and elevate the experience of players, coaches, and parents."

For information about this partnership, please contact either Ryan Virtue (PCA-Cleveland) or Mike Oyler (RAH).

Ryan Virtue, Positive Coaching Alliance
Tel: 440-465-6552
E-Mail: ryan_virtue@positivecoach.org

Mike Oyler, Recreation Association of Highland
Tel: 330-697-7581
E-Mail: rahpresident@highlandyouthsports.com

About Positive Coaching Alliance

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a national non-profit organization with the mission of creating a positive, character-building youth sports environment that results in BETTER ATHLETES, BETTER PEOPLE.

Youth sports currently involves 40M children, which presents a tremendous platform on which to develop youth character and life skills. Research has shown that in order for youth to accrue these benefits from sports, sports needs to be done in a way that creates a positive youth development culture. PCA ensures sports are ‘done right’ with programming that is research-based and designed to have an impact at three levels in a youth sports organization or school:

• Youth experience improved life skills and character development.  They also perform better!
• Coaches become more positive and increase their focus on using sports to teach life lessons.
• Youth Sports Organizations & Schools see their cultures become more positive and everyone involved has more fun.

Since its founding in 1998, PCA has established 18 chapters nationwide, partnered with roughly 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations to deliver more than 20,000 live group workshops, reaching over 20 million youth. PCA offers interactive online courses and has thousands of multimedia tips and tools for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders available free of charge on PCADevZone.org. PCA also runs two annual awards programs: a scholarship program for high school student-athletes and a coach award program to recognize youth and high school coaches who strive to win and teach life lessons.

PCA gains support from a National Advisory Board of elite coaches, professional and Olympic athletes, organization leaders, and academics who share PCA’s mission including Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach, Lindsay Gottlieb and others such as Joe Thomas, Dusty Baker, Carol Dweck, Herm Edwards, Julie Foudy, Phil Jackson, and Steve Kerr. PCA is proud to partner with more than 50 national governing bodies, youth serving organizations and professional leagues and teams including Boys & Girls Club of America, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and US Lacrosse.

About The Recreation Association of Highland

The Recreation Association of Highland is a tax-exempt 501c(3) organization that has been helping local children develop and mature through sports since 1975. In 2019, RAH had approximately 700 children playing on 50 Rec and Travel teams.  RAH’s purpose may support and emphasize:

• Skills development through the learning of proper fundamentals of baseball, softball, t-ball and basketball in a safe and enjoyable learning atmosphere;
• Well maintained and continuously improving facilities, reflecting community pride;
• Continuous evaluation of our program, ensuring high standards of quality;
• The education of coaches, assistant coaches and volunteers;
• Fiscal responsibility; and
• Quality leadership

For more information about the RAH, please visit https://www.highlandyouthsports.com/.