2009 Sportsmanship Grant Program US Lacrosse is pleased to offer the US Lacrosse Sportsmanship Grant, in conjunction with the Positive Coaching Alliance, to help organizations educate their coaches, officials, athletes and fans on honoring the game. In 2009, US Lacrosse will subsidize 70% of the cost of a one-year partnership with PCA, or a one-time PCA workshop to qualified chapters and youth lacrosse organizations. 2009 Application Timetable September 2, 2008 – Grant applications available October 15, 2008 – Postmark deadline for sending completed applications November 2008 – Notification letters sent to all applicants March 15, 2009 - All PCA grant workshops must be conducted by this date

US Lacrosse proudly celebrates six years of collaboration with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), based out of the Stanford University Athletic Department (California). US Lacrosse and PCA have partnered in a nationwide endeavor to make lacrosse a positive, character-building experience for every athlete and to make the experience a more successful one for coaches, parents, fans and officials.

The National Conversation US Lacrosse and Positive Coaching Alliance distribute Case Studies periodically to stimulate conversation among youth and high school sports parents, coaches and leaders about the elements of good (and bad) coaching. If you share our goal that youth athletes receive the best coaching available, help us get these case studies (presented in PDF format) to people you know who are involved with youth sports. Thank you. • Case Study #7 - The Ringers • Case Study #6 - Collison Course • Case Study #5 - The Hot-Air Fan • Case Study #4 - State of Play • Case Study #3 - Sportsmanship • Case Study #2 - The Specialist • Case Study #1 - Old Yeller Have a comment to share? Click here.

US Lacrosse and PCA share the following vision: To equip all coaches with the training and tools needed to become "Double-Goal Coaches"™, where goal #1 is striving to win; and goal #2, the more important one, is teaching life lessons via lacrosse.

We are working in partnership to make the de facto youth sports culture one in which every member of our lacrosse community ‘Honors the Game’.

No matter how many excellent coaches we already have, creating a positive organizational culture requires getting all constituents in our chapter, league or school program to be on the same page. The US Lacrosse-PCA Partnership is a vehicle to help fuel this positive culture.

The US Lacrosse-PCA Partnership helps us create the quality lacrosse programs we all desire, and provides every one of our athletes with a positive learning experience, while also giving leaders, coaches and parent the tools and training needed to play an active role in "Honoring the Game".

PCA is an important presence within the lacrosse community and at US Lacrosse events, including the annual convention (January), the US Lacrosse Youth Festivals (June), and at the grassroots level within school lacrosse and youth programs nationwide.

Please visit the PCA web site, www.PositiveCoach.org,
for more information, or contact Jason Sacks at jason_sacks@positivecoach.org or at 1.773.506.4744.