PCA Updates
Mountain View, CA — Out of nearly 1,000 nominations nationwide, four youth sports coaches, whose programs span the Bay Area, have been selected as winners of Positive Coaching Alliance’s coveted National Double-Goal Coach® Award presented by TeamSnap for their positive impact on youth in sports.
These local winners, Omar Cervantes, Jorge Chen, Hans Delannoy, and Nicole Dinas, are among 50 national recipients of the Double-Goal Coach® award, named for coaches who strive to win while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The award includes a $200 prize, a certificate, and mention within the websites and newsletters of Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a national non-profit developing Better Athletes, Better People through youth and high school sports.
As coach of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Futbol Club, Omar Cervantes helps underserved, mostly minority students in San Lorenzo, CA find a “safe space” and trusting relationships through soccer. In a team composed of many “at risk” youth, Omar has served as a constant, positive role model. In applying the PCA model, Omar found it “eye-opening to see the growth of our players when they are comfortable in this new environment where they’re asked to stretch themselves and not worry about mistakes… and just be positive and encouraging…”
As cross country and track & field coach at the Menlo School in Atherton, Jorge Chen tries to counteract the academic stress that his athletes experience through the use of humor and a major focus on teambuilding, including having both seasoned and former team members help mentor and act as role models for newer ones. Jorge takes a holistic approach to coaching, including a focus on the health and nutrition of his athletes and the use of predictive data as a motivational tool. Jorge has completed several PCA workshops, including one taught by PCA’s President, Tina Syer.
Hans Delannoy is a legend at San Ramon Valley High School, having only recently retired after 33 years as varsity boys’ basketball coach. In addition to his teams winning multiple league championships, Hans has positively impacted over 600 student athletes, families, and the Danville community. Among his coaching tools, he used “positive visualization” at the end of each practice and stressed that his players “stay in the moment” after making mistakes. Chris Meredith, the former player and successful coach himself, who nominated Hans, stresses Hans’ genuine care for this players: “A part of Hans lives in me as a coach. He has filled my emotional tank for my entire life.”
Nicole Dinas has led the girls’ varsity basketball team at ICA Cristo Rey Academy in San Francisco for 15 years. She helps fill her athletes’ emotional tanks during the season through 1-on-1 sessions where she and the student talk about home life, friendships, and what Nicole can do as a coach to help the student. Through a difficult organizational transition of the school, Dina used her planning and collaboration skills to sustain the basketball program and welcome new students to the team. She is most proud of the enduring community of former students who return to support the current team.
“Omar, Jorge, Hans, and Nicole help their players win on and off the field,” said Mike Mowery, Executive Director of PCA- San Francisco Bay, the local Chapter of Positive Coaching Alliance. “By creating a positive, character-building youth sports experience and serving as a Double-Goal Coach®, these Bay Area coaches help youth develop into better athletes and better people.”
List of 2019 National Double-Goal Coach® Award Winners
About Positive Coaching Alliance
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) develops BETTER ATHLETES, BETTER PEOPLE through resources for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators and student-athletes. In addition to more than 1,800 free multimedia tips and tools at www.PCADevZone.org, PCA has partnered with roughly 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide to deliver more than 20,000 live group workshops, along with online courses and books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson that help those involved in youth and high school sports create a positive, character-building youth sports culture.
PCA resources, which have reached more than 9 million youth, strive to transform high school and youth sports into a Development Zone® culture, where the goal is to develop Better Athletes, Better People and the following become the prevailing models in youth and high school sports:
· The Double-Goal Coach®, who strives to win while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.
· The Second-Goal Parent®, who concentrates on life lessons, while letting coaches and athletes focus on competing.
· The Triple-Impact Competitor®, who strives to impact sport on three levels by improving oneself, teammates and the game as a whole.
PCA gains support from a National Advisory Board, including National Spokesperson and 11-time NBA Champion Coach Phil Jackson, and many other top coaches, athletes, organization leaders and academics who share PCA’s mission. PCA is proud to partner with the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and over 35 professional teams across the United States.
Contact:
Mike Mowery
PCA-S.F. Bay Area Executive Director
mike_mowery@positivecoach.org
925.788.6161
OR
Jennie Wulbrun
PCA Program & Events Administrator
jennie_wulbrun@positivecoach.org
650-210-0815
