Welcome to our blogspot. The APCSA is a grassroots effort to help schools provide quality athletic programs for student-athletes. This will be a network where parents, students, coaches, and other stakeholders can come together and collaborate for the well-being of not only student-athletes but the larger community which our schools represent.

The APCSA is made up of individuals who are committed to reforming youth sports by promoting positive and meaningful participation in schools for student-athletes.

We will seek to advocate that all school athletic programs:

• pursue victory with honor;
• run programs that are developmentally appropriate and that address the health and safety, and emotional needs of youth;
• utilize quality, research-based coaching techniques;

How will we accomplish this?

Our goal is to collaborate with youth-athletic leaders and stakeholders and support efforts where stakeholders will be encouraged to have meaningful input and participation with regard to athletic programs.

We will support and utilize existing programs and the work of other organizations that are seeking to transform the culture of youth sports by replacing a "winning-at-all-costs" mentality with an attitude that promotes positive participation for all involved. Examples of such programs/resources include:

• Positive Coaching Alliance
• Character Counts/Sports
• California Interscholastic Federation
• Sports Done Right

Core Beliefs

Some of our core beliefs are that:

• whether paid or volunteer, credentialed or non-credentialed, coaches are teachers first, coaches second;
• character development of student-athletes is dependent on the behavior and leadership of both parents and coaches;
• "Teams" belong to stakeholders (community, staff/administrators, parents, and most importantly, the students at a particular school). Together, "teams" represent the stakeholders

Finally, we acknowledge that in sports, "winning" is a goal and should remain a goal. We will not attempt to "water-down" competition however we recognize that a "win-at-all-costs" atmosphere can be harmful to developing youth. Therefore, as stated above, our primary interest will be in promoting programs that focus on positive participation and experiences for the youth in our communities.

Please check back often for updated information and thank you for your support!

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