Los Angeles Sports Foundation A 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

1. Los Angeles Sports FoundationA501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Organization The Los Angeles Sports Foundation (LASF) believes that all children should be treated with respect while participating in youth sports regardless of their skills and abilities as athletes

2. LASF Mission LASF is dedicated to setting a new standard in youth coaching by providing innovative educational programs that teach effective coaching methods grounded in mutual respect.

3. “Coaching as Teaching” Certification Courses In these hands-on classes, coaches learn effective communication skills and developmentally appropriate basketball skills and drills. Coaches also make connections between classroom teaching and coaching by doing activities such as the Favorite Teacher Exercise.

4. The Favorite Teacher Exercise • Take a moment to make a list of the specific things your favorite teacher did that made him or her stand out. The coaches in the Coaching as Teaching League used their responses to this exercise as a guide to how they wanted to coach their players.

5. FAVORITE TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS Encouraging – “Everyone is Talented” Was FUN! Open to student’s views and feelings Treated the class with respect Told us to be or try to be the best we could be at whatever we did Took time to listen and answer questions Made learning fun/played educational games Very energetic and encouraging Adapted lesson plans and focused on preparing students for the future Challenged students Showed passion and enthusiasm Favorite Teacher Exercise These are some of our coaches’ responses to the Favorite Teacher Exercise:

6. Collaborative Team Meetings In their practices, our coaches use Collaborative Team Meetings to work with players to set daily personal and team goals. The coaches also ask their players what basketball skills and drills they would like to practice that day. They then use the players’ responses to create a practice plan that incorporates the activities that the players asked for.

7. Reflective Homework Journals All players are given a notebook journal that they use to do reflective homework assignments. Players assess their personal and team performance in practice and games based on their own specific goals.

8. LASF Original Research* In the summer of 2007, LASF conducted its Coaching as Teaching pilot study, and set up an eight-team youth basketball league. Prior to the league, half the coaches participated in our twenty-four hour coaching program and the other half did not. All games were videotaped and all players were interviewed about their experience in the league. *Sponsored by the

9. LASF Research Results Study results indicated that using student-centered instructional methods can not only result in more wins, but players learn more and feel greater responsibility toward their teammates!

10. 2008 Coaching as Teaching BASKETBALL League* Based on the success of the project and the need in the community, LASF offered another league in 2008. This time all the coaches participated in our Coaching as Teaching certification program. *Sponsored by the

11. Boyle Heights In our first two years, we have served over 150 Latino boys and girls ages 7 to 12 in the Boyle Heights area near East Los Angeles. Our league is held at the Costello Recreation Center, located directly between the housing projects of Wyvernwood Gardens and Estrada Courts-- the homes of two rival gangs.

12. LAUSD Graduation Rate The dismal prospects for children in the area are reflected in a March 2005 article in the L.A. Times: the L.A. Unified School District ’s graduation rate for Latino students is only 39%. “There are huge social costs associated with high dropout rates, including “lower wages, higher unemployment, poorer health, lower tax revenues, increased crime. If we are going to make a dent in these problems, we need to start with kids when they are little.” -UCSB Education professor, Russell Rumberger

13. Community Role Models Four of our certified coaches are student-athletes at nearby Roosevelt High School. These young women are role models for the children in our league and exemplify leadership through their community service, commitment to academics, and excellence on the basketball court.

14. Parent Support Classes Our 2008 league includes Parent Support Classes that the parents of participating players attend each week while their children are in practice. These interactive classes, adapted from the internationally acclaimed Quality Parenting model, help parents develop their communication skills and understanding of child development in a communal and supportive setting.

15. Please Help Us 1. A donation of any amount helps (really!) 2. Forward this presentation to a person or business you think might also be willing to help 3. Tell your local basketball league about our Coaching workshops 4. Come get certified in our coaching program! In order to continue to offer these innovative programs, we need your help. Please consider one of these four things: Visit us at: LASportsFoundation.org