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March 22, 2024
Virginia USA-based non-profit, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), has announced a new grant program to ensure that park and recreation agencies have access to no-cost, high-quality training programs. As part of the Million Coaches Challenge, NRPA will award trainings to 30 agencies in partnership with leading national providers to upskill coaches on youth development practices.
Across urban, rural or suburban communities, park and recreation agencies provide a wide range of youth programming daily. 58% of agencies operate community centers while 57% operate recreation centers. As the organization notes, “in these settings, park and recreation staff, youth sports coaches, enrichment instructors and community volunteers play a vital role in creating positive experiences and supporting the holistic development of youth.” However, as is increasingly being recognized, many coaches feel that they don’t have the skills, knowledge and confidence to support positive youth development.
Even while most coaches understand how important it is for them to help their players grow, they frequently don’t feel like they have the support they need. The current trainings, according to coaches, are either too expensive, too time-consuming, too difficult to administer, or don’t include youth development techniques. A number of coaches shared that coach training programs are created to win games, not always to support children in their development.
Million Coaches Challenge trainings focus on two main areas: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social and emotional learning (SEL). They are meant to add to and improve existing training and make sure that everyone working with youth has essential skills to promote relationship building, leadership and teamwork, cultural humility, conflict resolution, unconscious bias, building understanding and more.
According to the findings of a study that was carried out by researchers at Ohio State University, coaches play a big influence in the lives of their athletes’ role models (91%) in comparison to those who do not receive any instruction (77%). Furthermore, the study revealed that 70% of coaches stated that they required training in youth development. The data also imply that teaching strategies related to positive youth development and SEL can increase the level of motivation, satisfaction and engagement among young athletes. However, coach participation in training beyond safety protocols such as CPR is limited.
The grant looks to ensure coaches are prepared to help their players thrive. Training partners include the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, Nike in partnership with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Positive Coaching Alliance and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. This grant can support training for full-time professionals, seasonal staff, enrichment program instructors, community volunteers and coaches and leagues renting field/court space. Grant applications will be accepted through May 8, 2024, with awards anticipated to be made on June 1. Training will run from June 15 to December 31, 2024.
Funded by the Susan Crown Exchange, the organizations of the Million Coaches Challenge are on a mission to create evidence-based training programs for coaches across the United States. NRPA, an Expert Advisory Council member of the Return to Play Fund founded by Beyond Sport and ESPN, is dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. To achieve its mission, the organization invests in and champions the work of its 60,000+ network of professionals and advocates in service of equity, climate-readiness and health and wellbeing. Investments include professional development, advocacy, grants and programs, research, publications and more.
Sources: NRPA Blog, Million Coaches Challenge
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