Ball State University and the Indy Eleven professional soccer team are partnering to provide Indiana youth coaches and educators a free professional development workshop.
The event, part of the Coach Beyond–Indiana initiative, will be Aug. 2 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. The one-hour session starts before the Indy Eleven’s 7 p.m. match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Indy Eleven CEO Greg Stremlaw thinks the workshop is vital in advancing youth sports and development.
“We are proud to support this initiative with Ball State University,” Stremlaw said. “Coaches play a critical role in young athletes’ development. It’s a privilege to help provide this resource.”
Attendees will learn about building positive, youth development-focused coaching practices. They will also receive a complimentary ticket to the game. Participants can earn Professional Growth Points (PGPs) toward licensure requirements.
Associate professor of social work at Ball State Jerry Reynolds believes the workshop will benefit many participants.
“This event is about investing in the adults who shape young people’s experiences in sport and in life,” Reynolds said. “We’re excited to team up with Indy Eleven to equip coaches.”
Reynolds also directs the university’s Coach Beyond–Indiana project.
Coach Beyond–Indiana is a statewide training initiative. Ball State leads with support from the Susan Crown Exchange and The Ohio State University’s LiFE Sports Program.
Reynolds added that the objective is to make youth sports more inclusive, positive and impactful.
All programming is free. It offers research-based guidance on athlete mental health, performance anxiety and abuse prevention.
Youth coaches and educators interested in attending the workshop and receiving a complimentary game ticket should email Dr. Reynolds at jfreynolds@bsu.edu.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Facebook @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more Indy Eleven news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
