SFA seeks to revolutionise sport

Watson says football is a powerful tool in youth education

A new coaching system has been launched that the Scottish Football Association says will revolutionise youth, sport and culture around the country.

The Positive Coaching Scotland programme is a partnership with the Winning Scotland Foundation charity.

"I believe this is the start of something very important," said SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.

"It's not overstating things to say we can change Scottish sport and culture. Its aims are high but budget modest."

The scheme, costing £500,000 over the next two years, is based on the Positive Coaching Alliance project in the United States.

It seeks to replace a "win at all costs mentality" with a "dual goal" model in which winning is one goal but teaching life lessons through sport is more important.

Smith saw it at as a historic day for Scottish football to be connected with the scheme.

It directly addresses the appallingly high levels of youth drop-out in Scottish sport Winning Scotland Foundation executive director Graham Watson

"At the Scottish FA, we've been working hard to bring about behavioural change in youth football and are well aware of the need to promote cultural change in youth sport," he said.

"Football is a very powerful tool in youth education and we believe in the need to create a positive environment that allows young people to develop and to enjoy playing at any level.

"For us, this partnership is about creating not just better young players but better people.

"By implementing the coaching philosophy of Positive Coaching Scotland throughout our youth coaching programmes, we will help our young Scottish footballers to develop a respect for the game and nurture the self-confidence to achieve their goals both on and off the football pitch."

The Positive Coaching Alliance claims that, for the past 10 years, it has successfully encouraged positive behaviour and directly tackled deep rooted societal issues to alleviate the high incidence of drop-out in youth sport.

Winning Scotland Foundation executive director Graham Watson said: "Positive Coaching Scotland isn't simply another sports idea which promises much but delivers little.

"It is a practical initiative that, through coaches, teachers and parents, offers the chance to redefine what we mean by winning by focusing on personal success achieved through effort rather than on the scoreboard.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Can football coaching revolutionise Scottish culture?

"As a result, it directly addresses the appallingly high levels of youth drop-out in Scottish sport.

"Furthermore, PCS gives youth the opportunity to develop real life skills to maximise their full potential both on and off the sports field."

PCS is headed in Scotland by Tommy Boyle, the coach who has coached top-class athletes like Yvonne Murray, Tom McKean and Susan Scott, adopting methods pioneered at Stanford University.

The US branch claims to have encouraged more than three million American youths to adopt positive attitudes and remain engaged in sport.

Stanford-based Jim Thompson added: "For the past 10 years, I have seen first-hand how this positive coaching model helps tackle deep-rooted societal issues and alleviate the high levels of youth drop out in sport.

"Consequently, I am convinced Positive Coaching Scotland represents a unique opportunity for Scottish youth and sport, encouraging the development of positive behaviours that will be of benefit far beyond the sports field."