PLAYING LIKE A CHAMPION

Over the last couple years, I have been fortunate to become involved with Play Like a Champion Today (PLACT), an initiative at the University of Notre Dame that is working to promote a positive sports culture through a series of coaching clinics and parent workshops. Through their train-the-trainer format, they have trainers throughout the United States that have spread their message to thousands of coaches.

It was at their Annual Leadership Conference in June 2014 that I was trained to conduct their “Coaching for Character” and “Coaching as Ministry” clinics for coaches, as well as their “Parent Like a Champion” educational workshop for parents. I have presented a handful of workshops both at Saint Agnes, where I am Principal as well as parishioner, and St. Thomas in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

I love the program and these are four reasons why:

• It’s mission-oriented. – The “Coaching as Ministry” program promotes the idea of coaching as a service for young people.
• It’s character-building. – It provides opportunities for coaches to explore the important characteristics of a champion athlete.
• It recognizes the spiritual nature of sport. – Coaches must foster the spirituality within their athletes.
• Their “GROW” approach – Goals. Relationships. Ownership. Winning. This is PLACT’s approach to motivating athletes to success.

I’m looking forward to continuing to share my own research, as well as more about Play Like a Champion Today, with you in future posts.

If you would like more information about Play Like a Champion Today feel free to email me at coachhoytbasketball@gmail.com or access their website at http://playlikeachampion.nd.edu. If you are interested in bringing Play Like a Champion Today to your league or school, please contact me.

Resources Mentioned in This Blog:
Website: Play Like a Champion Today, http://playlikeachampion.nd.edu