PCA training and resources help develop Better Athletes, Better People!

Qualitative testimonials, such as the video at right, and quantitative studies in the links below reveal the impact of our work. Since its founding in 1998, PCA has:

  • Reached more than 19.2 million youth
  • Partnered with roughly 3,500 youth sports organizations, schools, districts, athletic conferences and parks-and-rec departments throughout the U.S. and beyond
  • Delivered 20,000+ live group workshops and hundreds of thousands of online courses.

Surveys of workshop attendees ranking their experience on a 1-5 scale show averages of:

  • Workshop content=4.5
  • PCA Trainer leading the workshop=4.6
  • Likelihood that attendees will use PCA Tools shared in the workshop= 4.5

Reports on impact and evaluation

PCA Impact Comparison Study:  Report of Findings (September, 2016)
Double-Goal Coach® Impact on Athlete Retention and Quality of Experience
(External Report by Jennifer P. Agans, Ph.D. of Cornell University, Andrea Vest Ettekal, Ph.D. of Tufts University, Caroline Stack of Boston University)

Highlights:

In sum, the results of this study, including more than 4,000 coaches, suggest that PCA Double-Goal Coach® training influences coaches to change their coaching behavior, enabling them to more positively influence the experiences of the athletes on their teams.

  • Coaches reported that PCA training had a positive influence on athlete experience and performance.
  • PCA training had a positive effect on retention of coaches.
  • Athlete retention was higher among PCA-trained coaches than coaches untrained by PCA overall.
  • PCA training had a positive effect on infractions by coaches and athletes.
  • Qualitative results indicated that PCA-trained coaches made changes to their coaching by using PCA material, and also saw changes in team culture and the athletes themselves.
  • Among high school coaches, statistically significant differences were observed in overall athlete retention with coaches who received live or online PCA training having higher retention rates than untrained coaches.

PCA would like to thank the following organizations for their involvement in this study: The Amateur Athletic Union, Little League® Baseball and Softball, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., US Club Soccer, U.S. Kids Golf, LLC, and US Lacrosse.

Download the Full Report


The Influence of Positive Coaching Alliance on Coaches, Communities and Youth: Evaluation Findings

(External Report from See Change, Inc.)

Highlights:

  • Organizational leaders (including program directors, coaches, and educators) universally reported that partnering with PCA enhanced the culture of their organizations.
  • Leaders noted that the PCA workshops continue to be a benefit, year after year, and all indicated a desire to continue their partnership with PCA.
  • School-based leaders told stories of improved relationships with teachers, and of athletes who used PCA tools to their benefit in the classrooms and hallways.
  • Parents trust organizations more upon learning that PCA is a pre-requisite for coaches.

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Attitude and Behavioral Changes in Dallas Independent School District Middle-School Athletes
(External Report from See Change, Inc.)

Highlights:

  • 88% believe their sports potential can grow and is limitless
  • Of those, 76% report that PCA influenced that belief.
  • 79% agreed with the statement “I treated my opponents better” (than before the PCA training)
  • 72% believed their sportsmanship improved following training
  • 67% felt their treatment of officials improved after training.

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Evaluation of PCA Online Coach Courses for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)
(External Report from See Change, Inc.)

Highlights:

  • 96% of trained coaches believe the PCA training gives them the tools to help their players get better at their sport
  • 95% of trained coaches believe the PCA training gives them the tools to get their players to support each other and work together as a team
  • Two-thirds of trained coaches use PCA tools "most of the time" or "always"
  • Approximately 90% of trained coaches would "probably" or "definitely" recommend PCA training to other coaches.

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Survey of Coaches Trained through Boston CHAMPS
(External Report from Mendelsohn, Gittleman & Associates, LLC)

Highlights:

  • 84% of coaches reported PCA training impacted them significantly
  • 95% would recommend PCA training for coaches.

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