Shorewood High School boys cross country coach Dom Newman--who also serves as the SHS track coach and physical education teacher at Lake Bluff Elementary--was recently announced as one of only 100 coaches across the country to receive the Positive Coaching Alliance's (PCA) Regional Double-Goal Coach Award.
PCA is an organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for a positive youth sports culture. PCA provides research-based training and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders to ensure a positive youth development experience for ALL kids, in all communities across the U.S., through sports.
Out of the 100 regional winners, in the coming weeks the selection committee will next identify 25 National Winners who will each receive $500 and a certificate from PCA. Finally, one special coach will win the Taube Family Prize in Recognition of Excellence in Coaching and be named PCA’s National Coach of the Year. This prize, to be awarded later in the Spring, will include $10,000 ($2,500 to the coach and $7,500 to the youth sports organization or school of their choice).
Here are a few words from Newman after he found out he won the regional award:
"I want all my student athletes to experience success:
It would be great if everyone could be the star of the TEAM but I know it’s more important for them to work hard and reap rewards for that hard work. I want them to feel like their hard work has been worth it. But I also know that success doesn’t always show itself by a set time, height or distance; it comes in many intangible forms and I’m okay with that. I just want the athletes to acknowledge their hard work and help them experience and honor their own success.
I want the athletes to enjoy the TEAM/SPORT:
I want the athletes to have fun while working hard. I would love it if they had the same passion or if not more for the sport as I do (My coaches fueled that fire within). A coach does this by being positive even as they correct and teach by truly caring for their athletes and by wanting each student athlete to become a better person throughout the season. If we do that, I’m pretty sure that the student athletes will be excited to continue year after year.
I want the athletes to be safe:
Athlete safety is the most important thing. I’m not saying I would knowingly put the athletes in a situation where they could get injured, I take the time to properly train them and ensure that they have the best personal training or AT around who can step in when needed.
We encourage to take risks:
It never feels like the right time to take risks, because there's fear or apprehension to taking risks. When we start taking risks we learn to push limits, those risks may not be rewarded right away. The athletes may likely make mistakes and experience failure more than usual because they are performing at a level that they are not accustomed to. But, in the long run taking risks gives the athletes and the TEAM a lot better chance of performing at the top and achieving goals! I try to apply that in my daily life.
Our athletes are the BEST:
Every parent, alum and community member is a part of the TEAM. We build a positive TEAM culture! Let your teammates be a part of your growth and success. Accept your role on the TEAM. Make it your mission to fulfill that role to the best of your ability. Your teammates will be there to push you and help you become a better athlete. Do the same for them, and everyone will be better for it in the long run.Let your teammates be a part of your growth and success. Accept your role on the TEAM. Make it your mission to fulfill that role to the best of your ability. Your teammates will be there to push you and help you become a better athlete. Do the same for them, and everyone will be better for it in the long run.
I would also like to duly recognize my assistant coaches and mentors over the years on whom my success rides. I look forward to working with my current coaching staff to make this TEAM the best TEAM we can.
Thank you again for this prestigious recognition."
For more information on the Positive Coaching Alliance, visit: https://positivecoach.org/