A study released in early 2024 shared that 70% of children quit youth sports by the age of 13 years old. While the research showed that the professionalization of youth sports was a significant factor in this finding, the "professionalization of youth sports" can be dissected in a number of ways.
 
A major focus of the study is squarely placed on a child's emotional well-being. From high volumes of training leading to injury and burnout to success being viewed through an adult's eyes – whether that is a coach or parent – rather than the child's, too often youth are dropping out of sports.
 
That's where Positive Coaching Alliance steps in.
 
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) started in 1998 and works to change the culture of youth sports so that every child, regardless of social or economic circumstance, has equal access to a positive experience. The national organization has 18 chapters across the United States and is the only national nonprofit committed to its mission.
 
PCA-Arizona has made a meaningful difference in the state for thousands of coaches and youth athletes. In August, PCA-Arizona was one of 22 recipients of a Fiesta Bowl Charities grant through the 2024-25 Grant Cycle, which will further help its mission locally.
 
"I always say if PCA didn't have Fiesta Bowl Charities, we would not exist in Arizona. Since I've been here, the Fiesta Bowl has been one of our largest supporters," said Rich Tomey, Positive Coaching Alliance Regional Director. "With their funding and support over the years, which has been substantial, it's really provided us with a chance to do our work in the community and this year is no exception."
 
Positive Coaching Alliance's primary pathway towards community impact is through live and virtual workshops through partnerships with schools, school districts, youth sports organizations and professional teams. While many trainings may target coaches, PCA also organizes workshops aiming at parents, leadership and athletes themselves.
 
With the funding from this year's Fiesta Bowl Charities Grant Cycle, PCA-Arizona will enhance the youth sports culture for underserved schools, girls flag football initiatives, Native American communities and youth sports organizations through their traditional programming.
 
An emphasis will be placed on mental health, something that PCA has been at the forefront of in terms of providing assistance to organizations. Workshops cover everything from children getting enough sleep to managing anxiety on and off the field, how to look at mistakes as learning opportunities and handling injuries.
 
"A big part of athletes today is all the things they deal with on or off the field, or just the stress of life in general," Tomey said. "Mental health is a big focus for us as an organization. It's a crisis across our country. There's social media, there's pressure of performance mixed with everyday things like school, friends, cliques. There are so many stresses out there that people don't fully understand."
 
The common thread is empathy, leadership and character development. The goal is to ensure that every child benefits from a positive youth sports experience that allows them to become the best version of themselves in sport and in life.
 
"I think most of us can remember someone in our life who really had an impact and the power that coaches have to change lives is huge," Tomey said. "Sports teaches more about how to overcome adversity, how to compete and how to handle failure than anything else. The mission of PCA is to provide tools and techniques for coaches, parents and athletes to learn how to handle different parts of the game.
 
"It sounds astronomical that 70% of kids quit sports by age 13, but 13 is the tipping point between middle school and high school. If for some reason they do quit sports, they lose out on all the opportunities and lessons that could carry them throughout their business careers and their families."
 
For Tomey, the mission of Positive Coaching Alliance is personal. The son of the late legendary college football head coach Dick Tomey (183 victories at Hawai'i, Arizona, San Jose State), Rich knows the impact a great coach can have.
 
"I grew up in a coaching family and after 15 years working in pro sports, I really embraced PCA's mission," Tomey said. "I admired my dad and loved the impact he had on his players still to this day. Most of the guys that he coached still call me and remember the great lessons that my dad taught. He truly embraced loving his players and creating those values and that's exactly what PCA does."
 
In turn, outside of his role at PCA-Arizona, Tomey – a former baseball player at the University of Arizona – currently serves as a baseball coach at Scottsdale's Horizon High School.
 
Through partnerships with organizations in Arizona, including Fiesta Bowl Charities, PCA-Arizona will continue to make a difference in the state. PCA-Arizona's relationship with Fiesta Bowl Charities goes beyond the Grant Cycle as the two organizations partnered on Oregon's team outreach during last season's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl game week.
 

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Positive Coaching Alliance provided 10 volunteer coaches to last season's Vrbo Fiesta Bowl team outreach event with Oregon. Those coaches partnered with the Oregon student-athletes for a football field day with 80 youth from Special Olympics Arizona and Mikey's League. The team outreach event was part of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl being honored with the Bowl Season Bestie for "Best in Student-Athlete Experience."
 
"To align with an organization that does so much great work in the community, like the Fiesta Bowl, is just huge for us because it really gives us validation," Tomey said. "To receive funding really shows that the Fiesta Bowl trusts us to do this work and that's almost worth its weight in gold for us. But opportunities like the Oregon field day where we can work together in the community even if we're not receiving a grant is still important to us."