The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has joined the Susan Crown Exchange’s (SCE) Million Coaches Challenge cohort, with the goal of training 1 million coaches in youth development techniques by 2025.
A good coach can play a transformational role in a child’s youth sports experience and help build key skills like teamwork, compassion and responsibility. Yet, less than one-third of the country’s 6 million coaches have been trained in youth development practices. The Million Coaches Challenge was created to build a future where all youth are equipped with the skills they need to thrive. This initiative aims to bridge the gap in coach training, ensuring that coaches are equipped with the necessary tools to promote positive youth development.
With foundational support from the Susan Crown Exchange, and additional support from ESPN to expand the reach and impact of the program, NRPA awarded grants to 39 park and recreation agencies. Agencies were selected through an equity-based grantmaking process, and they will leverage their network of park and recreation professionals, youth sports coaches and youth sports partners to provide essential training for coaches. A second cohort of agencies will be awarded in late 2024, with the goal of training 40,000 coaches and park and recreation professionals at the conclusion of the program.
“We are thrilled to welcome the National Recreation and Park Association as a partner in the Million Coaches Challenge. Their commitment to coach training aligns perfectly with our mission to empower coaches with the skills and knowledge they need to positively impact the lives of young athletes,” said Haviland Rummel, Susan Crown Exchange executive director. “By joining forces, we are not only expanding the reach of the challenge, but also amplifying its impact and ensuring that coaches across the country have the resources and support they need to foster holistic youth development.”
As part of this project, NRPA is partnering with leading national training providers to deliver high-quality training programs focused on social and emotional learning (SEL) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Training will be provided through Million Coaches Challenge partners, including the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, How to Coach Kids, Positive Coaching Alliance, and U.S. Soccer Foundation.
“This partnership will allow us to leverage expertise, resources and our strong network of community impact leaders to ensure that coaches have high-quality training to promote positive youth development and diversity, equity and inclusion through youth sports,” said Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO. “Park and recreation agencies reach 40 million youth annually and are made up of skilled and thoughtful staff and volunteers. These training programs help create the knowledge and confidence to support positive youth development, and we are thrilled to join in this effort.”
For more info on the Million Coaches Challenge, click here.