SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Saint Paul Public Schools has established a year-long partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a national non-profit working to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building sports experience.

The partnership provides Saint Paul Public Schools access to PCA’s training for coaches, sports parents, student-athletes, and administrators, through live group workshops, online courses, and additional online resources, such as follow-up tips and reminders for using sports as a positive youth development tool. 

PCA has partnered with roughly 3,500 schools, districts, conferences, youth sports organizations, and park-and-rec departments to create a Development Zone^® culture, with the goal of using youth and high school sports to create a positive youth sports experience. "We look forward to working with Saint Paul Public Schools to create the best possible sports experience for their student-athletes,” said Positive Coaching Alliance President Jason Sacks. “We appreciate the district leadership making a positive high school sports experience a priority for all involved, including student-athletes, coaches, and parents. When sports are done right, we know it can be an amazing opportunity not only to strive to win but more importantly, teach life lessons that will stay with our youth long after their playing days are over.”

“We are very excited about our partnership with Positive Coaches Alliance,” said SPPS district-wide Athletics Administrator Monroe Thornton. “It will provide support for the hundreds of coaches in SPPS, and that will ultimately enhance the student-athletes’ experiences while participating in education-based athletics.”

The workshops began last month.  For information about the dates and locations, please contact SPPS district-wide Athletic Administrator Monroe Thornton at monroe.thornton@spps.org.

About Positive Coaching Alliance

PCA’s vision is to build a world where every child benefits from a positive youth sports experience with a coach who inspires them to become the best version of themselves in the game and in life. We train coaches and partner with youth sports organizations, parents, sports leaders, and communities to make youth sports more positive, equitable, and accessible to all kids regardless of social or economic circumstances. For more information, go to positivecoach.org