News Releases: Iowa State University

QUICK LINKS
Today's News
News releases
ISU homepage

NEWS RELEASE

04-20-01

Contacts:
Rich Engelhorn, Education, (515) 294-8131
Cathy Curtis, Education, (515) 294-8175
Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986

SPORT FOR YOUTH CONFERENCE TO BE JUNE 2

AMES, Iowa -- Skills parents, coaches and youth sports officials need for working with young athletes will be the focus of an Iowa State University workshop Saturday, June 2.

"Sport for Youth Conference -- Changing the Model," sponsored by Iowa State's College of Education and the department of health and human performance, will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Forker Building. Cost for the program is $20, which includes lunch and conference materials. Early registration deadline is May 4.

"The event is for all adults involved in club and school sports," said Rich Engelhorn, associate professor of health and human performance and conference organizer. "The increase in participation in youth sports has brought an increase in problems related to ill-prepared coaches, parent sportsmanship issues, and early- and over-specialization of children. We will focus on the skills needed for young athletes to become successful in sports and in life."

The main speaker is Jim Thompson, founder and director of the Positive Coaching Alliance at Stanford University. Thompson has 20 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and management. He is the author of "Positive Coaching -- Building Character and Self-esteem through Sport" and "Shooting in the Dark -- Tales of Coaching and Leadership." Thompson will provide workshops on his coaching concepts and their implementation.

Also speaking at the event will be Jim Hallihan, executive director of the Iowa Games; Martin Miller, an ISU sociologist who leads workshops on developmental coaching; Andrew McKnight, associate director of coaching education for the Iowa Youth Soccer Association; and Mary Meier, an athletic trainer in Iowa State's athletic department.

For more information, contact Engelhorn, conference director, at (515) 294-8131 or via e-mail at richarde@iastate.edu

-30-