Minnesota Hockey’s grant program supporting associations interested in hosting Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) parent workshops will close at the end of August. Minnesota Hockey’s partnership with PCA has enabled nearly 30 youth hockey associations to host workshops with the goal of developing “Better Athletes, Better People” over the past two seasons.

PCA provides a variety of workshops for associations, including Parent Workshops in which parents will explore the role of “Second-Goal Parents.” This role aims to help ensure their children’s experience in sports leads to healthy, developmental – physical, social, and mental – results that will help them succeed away from the rink.

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

As a part of Minnesota Hockey’s partnership with PCA, up to 30 associations are able to receive grants to help fund workshops. Associations can use the grant for the other workshops PCA offers, such as their Double-Goal Coach, Triple Impact Competitor or Leading Your Organization workshops, but associations must include at least one parent workshop to qualify. Since its inception in 1998, PCA has impacted over four million youth athletes through these workshops, which are designed to create a positive, character-building youth short environment.

To apply for the PCA Parent Workshop Grant, associations must schedule a parent workshop for the 2016-17 season with the Minnesota chapter of PCA before completing the application. Then, click here to apply online. Grants are available on a first come, first serve basis and must be submitted by August 31, 2016.