Value Sports

More about Value Sports

Specific social issue being addressed is infusing positive life values into youth sports Value Sports is an experiential educational program for children and youth involved in athletic training and competitive sports. The program utilizes sport activity and on court situations to teach sportsmanship, values, and character building. The goal of Value Sports is to make young sports participants better people; not just better athletes.

Value Sports knows that good coaches can be very good role models for youth and that often they serve as some of their most influential teachers. Hence the curriculum of Value Sports is based on real life occurrences that get both the coach and his team members involved. The lessons place youth in situations, on and off the court, that can affect their thoughts and feelings; and subsequent attitudes and behaviour---both as individuals and as team members. Value Sports staff hold twice a month workshops with participating coaches—the first monthly three hour session is held in a meeting room where values training and practical drills to foster values and character building in children and youth are shared and discussed; and the second monthly meeting is held on the court and sports field where the coaches can practice drills and activities which they will use with their players.

Value Sports has developed both curriculum guides and videos to use with participating coaches in the workshops; and for use with their teams. Value Sports staff visit participating coaches during their practices to provide on-site guidance to help the coaches most effectively implement the values building program. Value Sports’ coaches hold end of month meetings with their teams, often off site from the court or playing field, to review the value and character building lessons learned the previous month.