The Positive Coaching Alliance

The Positive Coaching Alliance (www.positivecoach.org) is a nonprofit organization based at the Stanford University Athletic Department. This national organization focuses on creating "a movement to transform the culture of youth sports so that all youth athletes have a positive, character-building experience."

PCA Trainers conduct workshops for youth sports coaches, parents, organizational leaders and athletes. PCA Champions are volunteers who are advocates for creating a positive youth culture in sports.

In addition to support from elite coaches and athletes from professional and olympic sports, PCA has partners, trainers, workshop attendees, National Advisory Board members and thousands of individuals, foundations and corporations leading their movement.

We are thrilled to be PCA Champions and encourage you to make positive choices when guiding your children in youth sports.

Kim & Ed

Please Buy: THE LIAR'S DIARY

Today, over 300 bloggers, including bestsellers, Emmy winners, movie makers, and publishing houses have come together to talk about THE LIAR'S DIARY by Patry Francis.

In support of Author Patry Francis, recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and unable to promote her book, we are urging you to purchase her newly released book THE LIAR'S DIARY in paperback.

Please feel free to read Patry's blog and her blog post about her cancer.

Here are the publisher's words:

Answering the question of what is more powerful—family or friendship? this debut novel unforgettably shows how far one woman would go to protect either.

They couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship that will alter both their fates. When Ali Mather blows into town, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts (despite the fact that she is pushing forty), she also makes a mark on an unlikely family. Almost against her will, Jeanne Cross feels drawn to this strangely vibrant woman, a fascination that begins to infect Jeanne’s “perfect” husband as well as their teenaged son.

At the heart of the friendship between Ali and Jeanne are deep-seated emotional needs, vulnerabilities they have each been recording in their diaries. Ali also senses another kind of vulnerability; she believes someone has been entering her house when she is not at home—and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali’s soul.
When a murderer strikes and Jeanne’s son is arrested, we learn that the key to the crime lies in the diaries of two very different women . . . but only one of them is telling the truth. A chilling tour of troubled minds, The Liar’s Diary signals the launch of an immensely talented new novelist who knows just how to keep her readers guessing.

Click on any of the following links to purchase THE LIAR'S DIARY:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Powell's
• Penguin to save 15% (after you add the book to your cart, just enter the word PATRY in the coupon code field and click ‘update cart’ to activate the discount).

Thank you for your support.

Kim & Ed

Your Child's Responsibilities....

Yes, your child should have responsibilities, even as a child-athlete. How many times have you arrived at the soccer field without a soccer ball? How many times have you arrived at the football field without a water bottle? Or how many times have you arrived at the hockey rink without a single skate?

My guess is that many of us can relate in some way to the above scenarios. Whose fault is it? Yours? Your child's?

Okay, I agree with you--it's most likely the child's fault. However, I encourage you to keep in mind that, as parents, most of us are over-scheduled and constantly in a hurry. Parents tend to throw in a load of laundry, microwave a hot dog, change a dirty diaper, and/or take a last minute phone call all while getting several children out the door to several different practices. Sound familiar?

A key responsibility for your child-athlete is getting themselves and their gear ready for a practice or a game. The following tips will help you and your child to avoid or persevere through moments of blame and forgetfulness:

1. Stay calm. Becoming irate does not help an already stressful situation. Take a deep breath and try to think clearly before reacting to your child's forgetfulness.
2. Assign a specific location to keep each child's gear. A specific location for each child's gear will help you and your child with being able to locate the proper gear quickly.
3. Assign a specific area for all sports-related dirty laundry. Dirty uniforms are often discovered just before a game. Prevent this by having your child place their dirty uniform or equipment in a specified area. You're more likely to have it ready if you are actually away that it's dirty!
4. Store away all old gear. Gear that is too big, too small, or not necessary for your child's current sport should be stored away. If you keep old gear mixed with new gear, you and your child will be confused when you're in a rush to get out the door.
5. Create an equipment check list. If your child is repeatedly missing equipment when he arrives at practice, consider using a check list that is your child's responsibility before you leave the house.
6. Suffer the consequences. Age permitting, if your child repeatedly forgets equipment, consider having him sit out of a game or practice. This is hard to do, but it might be a good lesson to learn.

Once again, remember that bringing equipment is your child's responsibility. But it is your responsibility to guide and teach your child. Try out some of the above tips, and let us know how they work for you.

Holiday Break.......

Hmmmm. Do sports parents ever get a break? Not much.

Fortunately, our two younger children have very little sports over the holiday break. Our oldest child will be playing in an out of town hockey tournament two days after Christmas.

In the spirit of being good sports-parents and in support of our son being a true team-player, I will smile and enjoy watching more games! The timing is not good, but you do what you have to do.

How about you? How do you feel about sports over the holidays?

......HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!

Showing Interest in Your Child

Recently, I realized that I have very few pictures of my children--especially in sports. Sure, I took a few when my first child started playing soccer. Eventually, I took a couple pictures of my second child. As for pictures of my third child? Almost none.

Don't worry--I don't lack interest in my children, nor do most of you. However, when my son said, "You don't have any pictures of me.....," I felt guilty. Yes, I'm at most of his games, but looking at his point of view, I probably don't appear all that interested.

I headed out last week and bought a new camera, and I've been snapping away pictures all week. Finally, we have documentation that we do celebrate Thanksgiving, that my kids have friends, that my children actually have grandparents, and that all three play sports! Needless to say, my kids were thrilled to see the pictures.

Snapping a few photos shows your child that you're supportive. Supporting your child can lead to more confidence. Documenting their childhood with pictures gives your child wonderful memories to look back on.

So.....start snapping away today! (FYI--The picture at the top is proof that I actually took a picture!)