The University of Notre Dame’s Play Like a Champion Today® Educational Series (PLC) has received national accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE).
Supported by social science research and emphasizing such moral principles as justice, caring, respect and solidarity, PLC, now in its fifth year, develops and offers coaching clinics and parents workshops in partnership with athletic leagues, youth sport organizations, and high schools around the United States, Canada, and, most recently, Uganda. More than 18,000 coaches and 3,000 parents have participated in PLC workshops.
In an announcement praising the PLC as “a leader among leaders,” Christopher Hickey, the NCACE executive director, said that it “will serve as a prototype for other organizations seeking to promote excellence in coaching preparation. This, in turn, will play a major role in ensuring positive, healthy, and enjoyable sport experiences for all athletes.”
According to Clark Power, director of PLC and professor in Notre Dame’s Program of Liberal Studies, “PLC and our partners from cities around the United States and Canada are honored to receive NCACE accreditation for our character-oriented workshops serving youth sports and high school coaches. We are grateful to NCACE for recognizing the importance of focusing coaches’ attention on fundamental principles and practices of education for justice and integrity. The accreditation assures that coach educators meet the standards of excellence to which we all aspire. We owe our children nothing less.”
The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) is a non-profit organization which oversees and evaluates the quality of coaching education programs. Through accreditation, NCACE provides leadership and guidance to coaching education providers, sport administrators, and the public regarding the knowledge, values and skills of effective coaches.
More information on PLC and its programs is available at playlikeachampion.org.
Contact: Clark Power, 574-631-7343, F.C.Power.1@nd.edu, or Kristin Sheehan, PLC co-director, KSheehan@nd.edu