Minnesota Hockey today announced a partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) – Minnesota chapter. As part of the partnership, 20 Minnesota Hockey associations will have the ability to apply for a grant of $500 to go toward a PCA parent workshop, which is designed to help parents raise winners in life through sports.

“We are very excited to partner with Minnesota Hockey,” said Deborah Edwards, Executive Director of PCA’s Minnesota chapter. “Minnesota Hockey is at the forefront of developing hockey players in the country, and they are leaders in the community as well. With their support, we’ll be able to make a huge impact on youth sports in Minnesota and enhance the experience for the kids.”

PCA, a national non-profit since 1998, has helped create a positive, character-building youth sports environment for more than 6 million youth athletes. PCA is creating Better Athletes, Better People. PCA offers a variety of workshops available to Minnesota Hockey associations including Leadership Workshops, Coach Workshops and Parent Workshops. Associations that partner with PCA can utilize any of the offered workshops, but must include at least one parent workshop to qualify for the grant. The parent workshop explores the role of “Second-Goal Parents,” supporting their children so that they have fun, positive experiences in sports. It examines how parents can help ensure their children’s experience yields healthy, developmental (physical, social, mental) outcomes that will serve them far beyond the playing field.

“This partnership with PCA will help us make enormous strides to enhance the culture of youth hockey in Minnesota,” said Steve Morse, Chairman of Minnesota Hockey’s Hockey Education Program (HEP). “Every parent wants the best for the kids, but many often forget the most important thing for kids in sports is to have fun. These parent workshops will serve as a reminder of that, as well as provide insight into how to make a child’s experience in sports an exceptional one.”

Minnesota Hockey associations that are interested in applying for a grant toward a partnership with PCA should fill out this form for review from the Minnesota Hockey HEP committee. Approved forms will begin the partnership to better the association’s youth hockey culture.

About PCA: Since its founding within the Stanford University Athletic Department in 1998, Positive Coaching Alliance has helped develop “Better Athletes, Better People” primarily through live group workshops, online courses and books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, student-athletes and school/organizational leaders.

In partnership with nearly 2,000 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide, PCA has conducted more than 13,000 live group workshops and impacted more than 6 million youth. PCA gains support from a National Advisory Board, including National Spokesperson and 11-time NBA Champion Coach Phil Jackson, and many other top coaches, athletes, organization leaders and academics who share PCA’s mission.