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Home My WebLink About1996-04-15; Parks & Recreation Commission; 496-3; National Youth Sports CoachesPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL AB# 1TG DEPT 496-3 4/15/96 CSD TITLE: NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS COACHES ASSOCIATION (NYSCA) (ACTION) RECOMMENDED ACTION: Review and discuss a request by Commissioner Davidson to support, where possible, a local Chapter of NYSCA. Take appropriate action. ITEM EXPLANATION: Commissioner Davidson will present information regarding a National Youth Sports Coaches Association which in essence provides a three level program focused on making volunteer youth sport coaches keenly aware of their responsibilities to provide for the psychological, emotional and physical needs of the children on their team. To the extent that Carlsbad Recreation programs rely on the use of volunteer coaches; Commissioner Davidson has requested the Commission consider efforts to assist, where possible, with the implementation of this program. EXHIBITS: 1. NYSCA Brochure 15 National Youth Sports Coaches Association Ml About... provided through a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 16 EXHIBIT 1 History The National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) was created in 1981 to help improve out-of-school sports for over 20 million youth under the age of 16. The non-profit association's staff of professionals work to implement a variety of programs, all in cooperation with na- tional, state, and local associations. Chapters have been developed through parks and recreation departments, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, church recre- ation departments, Optimist Clubs and military youth activities worldwide. The Mission "Better Sports For Children" is the NYSCA Mission. The National Membership Program is open to all volunteercoaches working with children in out-of-school youth league sports. To qualify for annual membership, coaches must attend a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year certification program administered by a NYSCA certified clinician in their community. Coaches completing the certification program, which covers the areas of psychology of coaching youth sports, maximizing athletic performance, first aid and safety, how to organize a fun and interesting practice, and tips on teaching sports tech- niques, are required to complete an exam, sign a Code of Ethics Pledge, and pay a nominal annual membership fee. National Standards For Youth Sports National Standards for Youth Sports place in motion a nationwide policy for youth leagues that strive to operate their programs with the best interests of children as their primary objective. These standards are endorsed and supported by over 200 national agencies and organizations. 17 National Standards For Youth Sports 1 Proper Sports Environment •*• Parents must consider and carefully choose the proper sports environment for their child, including the appropri- ate age and development for participation, the type ofsport, the rules of the sport, the age range of the partici- pants, and the proper level of pnysical and emotional stress. 2 Programs Based on the Well-Being of Children Parents must select youth sports programs that are devel- oped and organized to enhance the emotional, physical, social and educational well-being of children. 3 Drug, Tobacco & Alcohol-Free Environment Parents must encourage a drug, tobacco and alcohol-freeenvironment for their children. A Part of a Child's Life Parents must recognize that youth sports are only a part ofa child's life. Training Parents must insist that coaches are trained and certified. Parent's Active Role Parents must make a serious effort to take an active role in the youth sports experience of their child providing positive support as a spectator, coach, league administra- tor and/or caring parent. Positive Role Models Parents must provide positive role models, exhibiting sportsmanlike behavior at games, practices.and home,while also giving positive reinforcement to their child and support to their child's coaches. Parental Commitment Parents must demonstrate their commitment to theirchild's youth sports experience by annually signing the Parents' Code of Ethics Pledge. Q Safe Playing Situations "^ Parents must insist on safe playing facilities, healthful playing situations, and proper first aidapplications, shouldthe need arise. i A Equal Play Opportunity Av Parents, coaches, and league administrators must pro- vide equal sports play opportunity for all youth regardless of race, creed, sex, economic status or ability. 11 Drug, Tobacco & Alcohol-Free Adults Parents must be drug, tobacco and alcohol-free at youth league sporting events. - -. • •• T".^3 ' Volunteer Coach Certification A three level program focused on making volunteer youth sport coaches keenly aware of their responsibilities to provide for the psychological, emotional and physical needs of the children on their team. ~ 1ST YEAR CERTIFICATION To qualify for membership, the volunteer coach completes the 1st year certification clinic, signs the Coaches' Code of Ethics Pledge, and remits the annual $15 membership fee. 1st Year Certification ClinicVia Two-Part Video Tape Presentations: (Total time approximately six hours, Includes discussion) Part 1: Basic Certification The Basic Certification Video covers the areas of the psychol- ogy of coaching children in youth sports, safety and first aid, and coach's role in steering children away from drug, tobacco and alcohol abuse, maximizing athletic performance, child abuse in youth sports, and other areas that will make coaches keenly aware of their responsibilities to children in sports. This video and discussion occurs during session one of the 1st year certification clinic. 1st Year CertificationPart 2: Sport Specific Information P rovides coaches with key information on how to organize a fun and interesting practice, along with effective techniques in teaching the basic fundamentals for the sports of Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Baseball, Softball, Football, Flag Football, Cheerleading, T-Ball, Ice Ringette, and In-Llne Hockey. -~ 2ND YEAR CERTIFICATION To qualify for continued membership, the coach must success- fully complete a second year recertification clinic one year from the first clinic, sign a Coaches' Code of Ethics and remit the annual membership fee. Recertification entitles the coach to be nationally recognized as NYSCA certified and continue to receive member benefit materials including the $500,000 liabil- ity insurance and subscription to Youth Sport Coach. The 2nd year recertification program is the same for all sports, therefore, if the coach was previously certified in more than one sport, successful completion of this clinic is all that is required for recertification. 18 (Volunteer Coach Certification cong 3RD YEAR CERTIFICATION After successfully completing the 2nd year recertification clinic, the coach qualifies for 3rd year recertification. As in the 2nd _ year program, in order to qualify for continued membership, the x>acn must successfully complete a 3rd year recertification clinic one year from their 2nd year clinic, sign the Coaches' Code of Ethics and remit the annual membership fee. The coach continues to be nationally recognized as NYSCA Cer- tified and receives member benefits including the $500,000 liability insurance and subscription to Youth Sport Coach. The 3rd year recertification program is the same for all sports, therefore, if the coach was previously certified in more than one sport, successful completion of this clinic is all that is required for recertification. AFTER THE 3RD YEAR The coach is not required to attend additional clinics in order to maintain their membership and receive NYSCA benefits. How- ever, all coaches must sign the NYSCA Coaches' Code of Ethics Pledge and pay their annual fee to continue receiving the $500,000 liability insurance and Youth Sport Coach. Mem- bership is renewed by signing a new Coaches' Code of Ethics Pledge and submitting the dues each year thereafter. Membership Benefits • $500,000 Liability Insurance Liability insurance will become effective when the coach suc- cessfully completes the certification process and the clinician, an agent of the NYSCA, receives the $15 membership fee for certification/membership. • Youth Sport Coach The Official Publication of the NYSCA • Official NYSCA Membership Card • Member Patch & Decal The member patch and decal are available upon request. • The NYSCA Members qualify for the National Youth Coach of the Year Awards Program. Coaches' Code of Ethics I hereby pledge to live up to my certification as a NYSCA Coach by following the NYSCA Code of Eth- ics: I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my players ahead of any personal desire to win. I will remember to treat each player as an individual, remem- bering the large spread of emotional and physical develop- ment for the same age group. I will do my very best to provide a safe play situation for my players. I promise to review and practice the necessary first aid prin- ciples needed to treat injuries of my players. I will dp my best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all my players. I will lead, by example, in demonstrating fair play and sports- manship to all my players. I will insure that I am knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that I coach, and I will teach these rules to my players. I will use those coaching techniques appropriate for each of the skills that I teach. I will remember that I am a youth coach, and that the game is for children and not adults. Parents' Code of Ethics I hereby pledge to provide positive support, care and encouragement for my child participating in youth sports by following this Code of Ethics: I will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating posi- tive support for all players, coaches, and officials at every game, practice or other youth sports event. I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my child ahead of any personal desire to win. 19 I will insist that my child plays in asafe and healthy environment. I will provide support for coaches and officials working with my child to provide a positive, enjoyable experience for all. I will demand a drug, tobacco and alcohol-free sports environ- ment for my child and agree to assist by refraining from their use at all youth sports events. I will remember that the game is for children and not for adults. I will do my very best to make youth sports fun for my child. I will ask my child to treat other players, coaches, fans, and officials with respect regardless of race, sex, creed, or ability. I will promise to help my child enjoy the youth sports experience within my personal constraints by assisting with coaching, being a respectful fan, providing transportation or whatever I am capable of doing. I will require that my child's coach be trained in the responsibili- ties of being a youth sports coach and that the coach agree to the youth sports Coaches' Code of Ethics Pledge. I will read the NYSCA National Standards for Youth Sports and do everything in my power to assist all youth sports organiza- tions to implement and enforce them. Parent Signature Parent Signature Date Kids' Code of Ethics I hereby pledge to provide a positive attitude and be responsible for my participation in Youth Sports by following this Code of Ethics: I will encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials and parents at every game and practice. I will attend every practice and game that is reasonably possible and notify my coach if I cannot. I will expect to receive a fair and equal amount of playing time. I will do my very best to listen and learn from my coaches. I will treat my coaches with respect regardless of race, sex, creed or abilities and I will expect to be treated accordingly. I deserve to have fun during my sports experience and will alert parents or coaches if it stops being FUN! I deserve to play in an alcohol, tobacco and drug free environment and expect adults to respect that wish. I will encourage my parents to be involved with my team in some capacity because it's important to me. I will do my very best in school. I will remember that sports is an opportunity to learn and have fun. Kids' Signature Date Research & Parent Education Located at Northern Kentucky University, this center provides key information and research studies conducted on various issues affecting youth sports. Recent surveys include: t Parental attitudes toward youth sports. • Anabolic Steroid Survey of 10- to 14-year • " ' youth sports participants. • Youth Sports Coach Certification/Training Survey. Parent Education Program Aimed at keeping sports in the proper perspective. The NYSCA has developed a special video presentation to help parents understand their role and responsibilities to their child I n sports. "Parents Gu Ide To Better Sports For Kids" is designed to be used at parents meetings that are typically conducted prior to the start of the season. This video Is made available at no cost to existing chapters of the NYSCA. 20 Most Commonly Asked Questions Q: How is the NYSCA supported? A: NYSCA's prime source of support comes from its youth - coach membership. Coaches qualify for membership after ;ompleting the N YSC A coach certification program and paying a $15 annual fee. In addition, corporate sponsors and govern- ment grants help support a variety of projects conducted by the NYSCA staff. As a 501-C-3 nonprofit association, NYSCA also receives contributions from the general public who support its mission. Q: Who governs the NYSCA program? A: The NYSCA board of directors are volunteers who guide the organization. Board members bring experience from the fields of recreation, sports medicine, youth coaching and professional experience in the implementation of children's sports programs. Q: How are the NYSCA programsimplemented nationwide? A: Over 2,000 recreation agencies have established official chapters within their departments. These chapters are pro- vided with the videos, materials, and are trained how to conduct the program for the youth sports organization in their community. Q: How can we become involved? A: Write or call: The National Youth Sports Coaches Association 2611 Old Okeechobee Road West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 (407) 684-1141 or 1-800-729-2057 FAX (407) 684-2346 21