Join us in celebrating the 20 winners of the PCA Double-Goal Coach Award Presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance from throughout the U.S. for 2010, which are recognized for their positive impact on youth athletes, including Freddan Riccard, a coach for Aspen (Colo.) Junior Hockey.
“Freddan wins on the scoreboard, and more importantly, he wins by creating a positive, character-building sports experience for youth athletes,” said Jim Thompson, PCA’s founder and executive director and author of several books on coaching and sports parenting. “Ultimately, the youth athletes Freddan coaches are the real winners, and as those athletes become tomorrow’s leaders our society as a whole wins.”
The award – named for coaches whose first goal is winning, and who’s second, more-important goal is teaching life lessons through sports – carries a $250 prize, a trophy and mention within the websites and newsletters of Positive Coaching Alliance and Responsible Sports.
Wrote one player’s mother in her letter nominating Riccard for the award: “He quickly analyzes his players and is able to see their strengths and help each child to develop emotionally and physically into the best athlete they can be. He has a very special talent on how to take a diverse group of kids and create a team atmosphere.”
While consistently leading teams to post-season play, Riccard is even more focused on helping his 9-to-12-year-old players improve. “What excites me most is after I’ve coached players, and they come back and say, ‘Hey, coach, thanks,’ even though I may have been moving them in a direction that they did not want to go. I want the players to feel they have made a change in what they’re doing and reached a goal, and then they can use that feeling later in life.”
“As an insurance company that celebrates people who choose to do the right thing, we believe that youth sport coaching is a clear example of how individuals can promote the fundamental ideals of community,” said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual’s Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing. “By focusing on positive mentoring, Freddan has created a culture of responsibility among young athletes and parents. And by doing so, he has earned increasingly hard-to-find funding for his team.”
To learn more about the award and how you can nominate a coach you know, visit the
Double-Goal Coach Award page and tell us about a coach who deserves recognition!
The
Liberty Mutual Responsible SportsTM program supports volunteer youth sports coaches and parents who help our children succeed both on and off the ice. We offer many
youth sports resources including $2,500 community grants, instructional videos, weekly tips, peer and expert advice, and coursework for those interested in improving the youth sports experience for all involved.
