NSGA to collaborate with Positive Coaching Alliance

MOUNT PROSPECT - National Sporting Goods Association will collaborate with Positive Coaching Alliance, a national nonprofit developing Better Athletes, Better People through youth and high school sports.

The collaboration further solidifies NSGA's interest in increasing team sports participation and keeping youth participants active. PCA resources - including live group workshops for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, student-athletes and administrators, as well as online courses, books and nearly 1,500 free resources at www.PCADevZone.org - help create a positive, character-building youth and high school sports experience for millions of youth each year.

NSGA research shows that the majority of key team sports are seeing declines in youth participation. NSGA conducted a survey to explore why kids are participating in fewer team sports than in the past and discovered a handful of reasons. The number one reason was that they "no longer like the sport(s)." There are underlying drivers to this response, with likely reasons including burnout, potential issues with coaches and parents, and lack of success.

"We are hoping through an exchange and development of ideas and content with PCA we can make a difference in youth sports participation," said NSGA President & CEO Matt Carlson. "This collaboration is a natural fit for NSGA and an increase in youth sports participation and the creating of lifelong athletes can only help our industry as a whole."