Program for Athletic
Coaches Education (PACE)
What is PACE ?
The Program for Athletic Coaches Education (PACE) is a
comprehensive program designed to prepare people for success in coaching. The authors
combined their academic training with many years of experience as coaches, administrators,
officials, athletes, and parents to create a unique guide to the challenges facing
professionals in the field.
Who Developed PACE?
PACE originated from a perceived need. Over a decade ago,
athletic administrators in Michigan schools realized that increasing numbers of
non-educators were serving as coaches. Often they lacked formal preparation for working
with young athletes. These coaching hopefuls needed information about their athletes'
needs and development and about the challenges of conducting athletic programs consistent
with scholastic goals. PACE was developed to provide them with this information.
Members of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at
Michigan State University worked closely with representatives of two concerned groups to
develop PACE. The MIAAA (Michigan Athletic Administrators Association) and the MHSAA
(Michigan High School Athletic Association) provided direction and financial assistance.
Individuals associated with these organizations also served as authors, editors, and field
testers of the materials. The result is a series of materials, including the PACE
Coaches' Manual.
Who Enrolls In PACE?
PACE has been used successfully in varied settings.
Currently the program is used for in-service training of scholastic coaches in Michigan,
Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, and West Virginia. The program also is
used by numerous two- and four-year colleges and universities in undergraduate courses for
coaching hopefuls. To date, thousands of coaches have benefited from this quality
instructional program - nearly 10,000 in Michigan alone.
PACE also is proven outside the interscholastic arena, as
the United States Judo Federation has adopted it as their standard for coaches education.
In addition, versions of the program have been used with volunteer coaches working in
youth sports. The content has also been referenced by a variety of sponsoring agencies as
they have worked to produce specific resources for their coaches.
The PACE Program
A typical PACE program for in-service coaches requires
several sessions, each planned to take 3 hours. An outline of the most typical sequence
follows:
PACE Certification
Most coaches receive PACE certification by completing
these sessions through workshops sponsored by the Michigan High School Athletic
Association. Additional opportunities to become certified are offered by Michigan State
University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, and several other
institutions through their out-reach programs. The Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
works closely with all program sponsors and occasionally offers PACE to coaches in the
mid-Michigan area. In addition, the Institute is working to develop a web-based program
leading to PACE certification.
For Additional Information:
PACE web site
Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
213 IM Sports Circle
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-6689
ythsprts@pilot.msu.edu
