Category: Coaching

FTOC Conducts 6-week class for Santa Ana PAAL

Thanks to a generous grant from DevTo Support Foundation (DevTo Support Foundation), we conducted a 6-week First Tee golf class for 21 underserved kids that are part of the Santa Ana PAAL program & attend Roosevelt-Walker Academy (Title 1 school, part of Santa Ana Unified School District).  We went to their site to teach our life skills & golf skills program.  The kids also wrote essays to their parents & school teacher on the most impactful life skill & how they apply it to school/home.  This culminated into a field trip to our First Tee/Dad Miller in December.  As part of this grant, we surprised the kids with their own set of junior golf clubs with the help of Roger Dunn Golf Shops in Santa Ana.  The kids were able to use their new golf clubs on our driving range, while learning the life skill of pursuing goals.

Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League (“Santa Ana PAAL”) is a comprehensive community program that focuses on building a bond between kids and cops through education, fitness & activities. 

Learn More about SAPAAL

The Power of Connection: Building the Coach-Participant Relationship

By Kristin Westberg, Senior Director of Curriculum and Education

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

At First Tee, coaching involves far more than just teaching golf skills and life skills in a class; it’s about cultivating relationships that foster growth, build confidence and demonstrate resilience. But how can coaches create a foundation of trust that cultivates legitimate relationships with participants? Empowering Youth, one of the First Tee Coach Building Blocks, focuses on this aspect of development and is one key to building relationships that create impact.

Trust is the foundation

Eighty-three percent of parents wish their child had more access to trustworthy coaches. Trust forms the bedrock of any enduring coach-athlete relationship. It’s the glue that holds everything together, facilitates effective communication, skill development and overall progress. All First Tee coaches are background checked and formally trained to connect with participants, whether they’re passionate golfers or just trying something new.  They prioritize building trust early on to establish a strong foundation that can lead to a lasting connection.

Positive role modeling

Ninety-two percent of parents say they hope their child has a coach who they would consider a role model. First Tee coaches serve as mentors and role models for participants. They lead by example and demonstrate the values they expect from participants. Kids are far more likely to do what you do, rather than what you say, and coaches recognize this as an opportunity to positively model both golf skills and life skills that can be applied on and off the course. Coaches are committed to Building Game Changers, work hard to embody the Key Commitments, set a positive example of pursuing goals, grow through challenge, collaborate with others, build positive self-identity and use good judgment. These behaviors help to build trust and foster connections with participants of all ages.

Continuous improvement

Fifty-three percent of parents say having a trustworthy sports coach or mentor would increase their likelihood to commit long-term to the activity. First Tee coaches understand that building meaningful connections with participants is an ongoing process, and the First Tee curriculum exists to support them through that. First Tee offers a variety of eLearning courses and supplemental resources, as well as HQ led trainings to deepen their knowledge and develop new skills, such as understanding the stages of youth development or tips and tricks for tackling skill disparities. These practices  improve the learning environment in a class and create opportunities to develop relationships and strengthen connections with participants.

Ninety percent of parents believe that coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development. A coach’s influence extends beyond the course and long after the round ends. Genuine connection matters when building the coach-participant relationship and even more when building game changers. At First Tee, we recognize that when participants know you care, they’ll care what you know and that’s when true learning and growth happens.

The statistics used throughout this story are from a new study between First Tee and Harris Poll. Visit the Character Gap research to learn more.

Q&A with a Coach

Sterling Simmons III is a First Tee alumnus and the player development instructor at First Tee – Greater Richmond. In that role, Sterling leads First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Player Development Academy, First Tee matches and oversees the organizations PGA Jr. League teams.   

How did you get involved with First Tee?

My father took me to the First Tee Greater Richmond driving range when I was younger, and I met my first golf coach Craig Wood. I’ve stayed involved ever since.

Why do you continue to coach?

I enjoy being able to be a part of the development process for our participants, both on and off the golf course.

What have you learned from coaching at First Tee?

First Tee has taught me that each participant is unique in their own way and as a coach, you have to be able to adapt how you teach to match the participant.

What do you think new First Tee students should know?

The course of life and the golf course are very similar. You will be presented with obstacles and challenges along the way, but the ability to navigate and overcome adversity will help you in the future on both of these “courses.”

What do you think new/inquiring coaches should know?

You don’t have to be a great golfer to make an impact on a participant’s life.

New Study from The Harris Poll and First Tee: Coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development

Parents rely on sports – and trained coaches – to help their children build character and learn life skills, including working with others.  

CHICAGO, Ill. & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2024) – While 93% of parents agree that kids can learn important life skills from playing sports, four out of five parents also believe there is a shortage of high-caliber coaches today.  

That is from a new survey by global consulting and market research firm, The Harris Poll, and youth development organization, First Tee. The U.S.-based survey was conducted online in April 2024 with feedback from 2,049 adults.​ 

The survey captured data on youth involvement in extracurricular activities and sports. The data was also analyzed by gender, age, race, education, and income, among other characteristics.​ 

“Since our mission is centered on positive youth development, we think it is important to seek parents’ perspectives as the world around them continues to change and their kids face new challenges,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “It helps us better understand and serve youth, and in the case of this study, it reinforces the importance of our investment in training our coaches.” 

First Tee’s network of 150 chapters engages more than 5,000 active, trained coaches who deliver a curriculum designed with input from youth development experts using golf as the platform. The training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make kids feel safe, included and empowered. As part of First Tee’s onboarding, each coach is background-checked and completes training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport. 

The key findings from the survey include: 

  • 89% of parents feel character is a lost value that should be more emphasized in today’s society – an increase of +4 percentage points from the 2023 survey. Today’s kids and teens are facing new challenges, and strength of character is essential for overcoming obstacles. Parents understand that need, as nine out of 10 parents seek opportunities for their kids to build character. 
  • Parents believe sports can help close the character gap. Parents put their kids in extracurricular activities – with sports being most popular – for socialization and to build confidence. According to 93% of parents, children learn important life skills from playing sports.  
  • Parents believe coaches are essential to youth development. Parents turn to coaches to help teach their kids character, self-confidence, determination and leadership. 91% of parents agree that sports coaching should inspire children to excel both on and off the field. 
  • Safety is critically important to parents. They prefer coaches who have been background checked, with 94% of parents citing it as a priority in today’s world and 83% wishing their child had more access to well-trained coaches. 

“While every generation confronts their own unique challenges, kids are facing new barriers to character development,” said Harris Poll CEO Will Johnson. “Our research findings make it clear: Parents, when registering your kids for the upcoming school year, don’t forget the critical development that comes outside the classroom.” 

This is the second annual research collaboration between The Harris Poll and First Tee.  

Download the full 2024 Report. 

For the results of the 2023 parent survey, click here.  

*** 

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)    
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.   

About The Harris Poll 
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. 

###        
MEDIA CONTACTS:     
Annika Mayers, First Tee     
AnnikaMayers@firsttee.org  
904-273-3513  

Help your child stay calm with the 4 Rs 

There was a viral moment at the 2024 U.S. Open, when in a news conference, First Tee – Sandhills participant Tytus Solt asked World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler about staying calm after a recent triple bogie. 

“I think that’s something you just learn playing more and more golf, that bad breaks are going to come, but it’s more about your response to those things,” Scheffler answered. 

Everyone has highs and lows on the golf course, but the most successful players have strategies to control their emotions. And the important thing is, those strategies can be useful in tough moments off the course too. 

At First Tee, we teach the 4 Rs.  

Relax: “This can look a few different ways,” explained AnnaLeis Caldwell, from the Programs team at First Tee. “You might hum a song while walking to your next shot. You might close your eyes for a moment or visualize your next shot.” The former collegiate golfer said she uses breathing patterns to calm down while walking to her ball. “Every player may find something a little different works best for them,” she said. 

Replay: This technique is not just useful when you hit a poor shot, Caldwell explained. It is most effective when you use the 4 Rs to keep your emotions level, so you do not get too excited or upset. Replaying a good shot can help boost your confidence. Meanwhile, Bobby Jones famously said, “I never learned anything from a match I won.” Replaying a poor shot and considering what went wrong can be enlightening too. 

Ready: This is when you choose your target and club before completing your pre-shot routine, Caldwell said. Consistency and rhythm are important in golf, which explains why research shows that having a pre-shot routine can help you play better. 

Re-do: In this step, you put everything together, hit your next shot and start the process over again. “This is your opportunity to start fresh,” Caldwell said. 

Caldwell still uses the 4 Rs when she is playing golf but acknowledged there can be off-the-course applications too. “It could be helpful for kids during testing, maybe after receiving a poor grade or even while playing other sports,” Caldwell said. 

Find a First Tee location near you. 

Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League First Tee Golf Clinic

On Saturday, April 27, we held a First Tee golf clinic for Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League (PAAL).  We had 24 kids from the PAAL program & Santa Ana community participate at Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim.  They learned about a key life skill, using perseverance: to commit & don’t quit.  They also learned some golf skills like clubface awareness by spending time at the driving range, putting green & chipping area.  For many of the kids, it provides an opportunity to be exposed to golf and they used perseverance to hit, chip & putt while having fun!

First Tee enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.  By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

The Police Athletic & Activity League is a comprehensive community program that helps setup kids for success & creates healthy, positive relationships between kids, families and police officers that serve in their city.  They believe building these relationships is what creates a better COMMUNITY for all those who call Santa Ana their home.

FTOC Participant, Sunnie, Helps to Educate Peers in CPR

In 2023, Sunnie, a First Tee – Orange County participant, was selected as one of 32 participants in the Nation to attend the First Tee Innovators Forum. The First Tee National Opportunity, held in Jacksonville, FL in November, equips and empowers First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities focused on education, health, human rights, or environmental sustainability. By bringing together passionate participants from across the chapter network, First Tee Innovators Forum provides a distinctive enrichment experience, engaging teens who share a similar desire for learning and generating changes in their communities.

On March 10th, Sunnie organized a CPR training for her and several other peers at Teens on Greens Leadership Series. When asked what her motivation was to organize this event she replied:

“Last year, a life-changing incident occurred when a family friend’s dad had a heart attack while hiking with his church group. Despite efforts to help, he arrived at the hospital too late. Realizing that immediate CPR could have made a significant difference shocked me. It made me truly understand the importance of having these skills. That’s why I’ve taken on CPR training as my project. I believe everyone should know CPR, especially since it could save a loved one’s life. Aligning with The First Tee life skills lesson, I aim to empower people to act in emergencies. Let’s ensure everyone has the knowledge to save their loved ones. 

Shoutout to the Renji Relief Inc. (Garfield Health Center) for making it possible! With your support, 20 junior members of First Tee OC are now CPR/AED-certified. Huge thanks for backing my cause! I really appreciate your support!” 

We are extremely proud of Sunnie for organizing this life changing event for her an her peers, and for being selected to participate in the First Tee Innovators Forum!

Encourage your child to warmup before exercise this spring 

For many families, the return of spring means outdoor sports are back in play.  

Whether your children play golf or participate in other physical activities, it’s important to keep them safe. Did you know a third of childhood injuries occur during sports?  

One of the best ways to make sure your child is prepared to play this spring is by encouraging them to warm up before exercise. 

“At First Tee we utilize warmups in a couple different ways,” said Ali Miller, senior manager of programs training at First Tee. “If it has been a little while since your child has been active in sports or they are new to sports in general, warmups are a great way to get their body used to being active. Warmups also allow our coaches to build a foundation of movement that helps facilitate better golf technique using exercises and movements that your child may be more used to such as throwing or kicking a ball.” 

All First Tee classes start with a warmup, and coaches aim to make them fun, so kids feel excited about the rest of the lesson, Miller said. Not only is warming up healthy before exercise, but it’s also a great way to instill in kids the importance of preparing for a task.  

Miller recommends warmups that combine a few different exercises to focus on different skills and muscles. For example, she’ll combine skiers for balance and agility with lunges for strength and flexibility. 

“Lastly, I always have kids do some kind of throwing, kicking or hitting motion, which covers object control. All these actions mimic golf skills and help me see what kids are capable of movement wise,” Miller said.  

“I also usually organize these exercises into some kind of circuit or obstacle course to keep things fun and keep kids moving for the whole warmup.” 

When it comes to other tips to prepare for spring sports, Miller said kids are generally resilient, but it never hurts to take your child to the doctor for a physical, especially if they’ve been more sedentary over winter.  

“Our coaches place safety as a number one priority but parents can help by making sure kids are wearing golf or athletic shoes and clothing that is easy to move around in,” she said. “As always if your child has any allergies or physical limitations let your local First Tee staff know so they can make sure everything is in order and they’re set up for success.” 

Learn about First Tee programs in your area. 

Golf Clinic for CIBD (Center for Inherited Blood Disorders)

On Sunday, February 2nd, CIBD participated in a First Tee golf clinic at PGA Superstore in Irvine.  They learned about life skills such as perseverance, commit & don’t quit.  In addition, they learned golf skills by spending time at the golf simulator & putting green.  For many of the kids, it was their first opportunity to be exposed to golf, but with the help of First Tee coaches & volunteers, they were able to learn how to hit & putt while having fun!

First Tee enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.  By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

Center for Inherited Blood Disorders (CIBD) is the only licensed freestanding clinic in California specializing in bleeding disorders. Their mission is to help people with Blood Disorders thrive.

Because of First Tee – Alumnae feature on Grace Kehoe 

1. Where are you today and how’d you get there? 

I am currently in my last semester of my undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University double majoring in Business Administration concentrating in Marketing and Foreign Languages and Literature concentrating in Mandarin. 

I was a Tournament Services Management intern for the 2022 Presidents Cup held at Quail Hollow Club. In 2023, I attended the Middlebury College Language School participating in an intensive language immersion program adhering to the Language Pledge, with emphasis on Chinese literature and culture. 

I hope to one day use my language proficiency to promote collaboration between the US and China while encouraging strategic stakeholder relationships and analyzing emerging markets.


2. How had First Tee positively impacted your life? 

First Tee offered a space for me to find community and mentorship. Because of First Tee, I have developed the confidence to trust my ability in navigating life. 

I have been encouraged to set goals and work towards them, always knowing I could turn to my mentors for guidance. One of these goals was to become the first participant of the First Tee of Greater Charlotte chapter to become ACE Certified. I have had the opportunity to travel to many incredible places across the US and meet wonderful people across different First Tee chapters. 

I played in the 2018 Pure Insurance Championship and attended many life skills and golf development academies. 


3. What advice would you share to participants in the program now? 

Embrace every opportunity big or small. 

Picking between my favorite memories at First Tee is impossible because walking down the fairways of immaculate and acclaimed courses around the world holds just as much weight as those walking down the fairway of Dr. Charles L. Sifford with the friends I made in my chapter. I would also say to give back to your chapter and community as much as you can. Volunteering within your chapter and neighboring chapters is a valuable experience that helps develop leadership and organizational skills. You only have so much time in your life to be a part of First Tee as a participant, make sure to embrace the connections that will last beyond that time. To this day I go to my mentors for guidance and advice as it remains helpful as life goes on

First Tee – Coachella Valley alumna and coach, Karla Garcia, on her journey with First Tee

Karla Garcia was born on March 11, 2002, in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. 

She moved to Novillero, Nayarit at the age of 4, where she spent almost eight years with her maternal grandparents. She worked in her grandparents’ vegetable field during those years, planting, picking and selling vegetables. Karla and her older sister immigrated to the Coachella Valley in 2013 where their mother and stepfather lived. 

Karla’s stepfather enrolled her in the First Tee in the summer of 2013 when she was 11. It was there that she learned how to play golf for the first time. Karla didn’t speak English and couldn’t understand a word the coaches said to her but she enjoyed striking a small ball with a club. 

Karla started working as a lead instructor with the First Tee in 2021, and she enjoys passing on her knowledge to other young children. Karla has recently accepted the position as outreach coordinator, and she is extremely excited to be able to work and grow with First Tee. 

Karla is also a student at the College of the Desert where she is pursuing a degree in golf management. Karla intends to continue working with First Tee in order to make a positive impact on the lives of children. 

2023 FTOC Coaches’ League

The 2023 Season of First Tee – Orange County’s “Coaches’ League” wrapped up on Sunday with the 18-hole finale at beautiful Tustin Ranch Golf Course. The FTOC Coaches’ League is a yearlong competitive opportunity in which a handful of FTOC Coaches select participants to represent their team.

Participants got to play 8 head-to-head matches from March-October this year at different golf courses throughout Orange County including Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Strawberry Farms, Oak Creek & more! Teams earn points for each win, tie, or high finish. At the end of this year’s competition, Coach Nick’s Red Team was crowned the champions after finishing with a “perfect” 12 point season. Congrats to Coach Nick, Julian, Luka, Airlia, Logan, Coco, Alyssa, Kiana, & Airden. There was a tie for 2nd place with 5.5 points with Coach Jacob’s Blue Crew winning the tie-breaker to claim the silver medals. Coach Tim’s Black Team were awarded the bronze medals.

At the end of the final round, each coach got the opportunity to select a “Player of the League”- a player that best exemplified the life skills and key commitments of First Tee while on the golf course during the year. Congrats to Airlia (red), Malia (blue), Cora (black), Kaitlyn (purple), and Varilyn (white).

An amazing effort by all the players this season. Keep up the great work!

Do you want to be considered for the Coaches' League Team in the future?

If you participated in at least 2 FTOC sessions/camps in 2023 and would like to be considered to compete in the 2024 FTOC Coaches’ League, we encourage you to attend our tryouts/skills showcase with the Coaches on Saturday, January 6 @ 10am at Islands Golf Center. More information on registration coming soon!

Coach Jordan explains why First Tee felt like the perfect fit  

Jordan Hall found her home at First Tee – Triangle during a college internship.   

As a sports management student at North Carolina State University, Jordan heard about First Tee through her school’s job board. After interviewing at multiple other places, she said that First Tee was the only place that felt right.   

“I walked in, they welcomed me, I felt that same sense of home and I knew that the program, the life skills, and development that kids were receiving as a result of being involved in First Tee was so similar to how I was fortunate to grow up. 

The opportunity to be a part of that and think that it could be a career for me was really awesome, and I’ve been here ever since,” said Jordan.   

Jordan’s passion is coaching and youth development. She is now the vice president of programs at First Tee – Triangle where she did her first internship seven years ago.   

Jordan is currently pursuing a master’s degree in parks, recreation, tourism, and sport management from NC state. She explained how she’s learned to grow through challenges and lean on those around her.   

“Starting grad school and balancing a full-time schedule and trying to find the balance between that and my personal life has been difficult.   

I’ve been able to lean on my friends and my peers for support, but also finding strength in routine and [using] some of the things I’ve learned through the game [of golf] to help me off the course as well as help me find that right balance,” Jordan said.   

Even with her busy schedule, Jordan still prioritizes her time with First Tee. She especially enjoys seeing participants that she taught in middle school go off and play in college or pursue their dreams and come back to the chapter to share all that they’ve accomplished.  

“There are so many little moments that over time add up to really big moments. In a lot of cases, it’s the kids you don’t realize you’re impacting,” she said. “You didn’t realize in the moment that you were impacting that child’s life.”   

Jordan continues to positively impact the participants at First Tee – Triangle and teach them the same lessons that help her to grow through challenge in her own life.