FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

2008 National Coaching Educators’ Conference

From using technology to enhance a team's performance to training diverse groups of athletes, the eighth annual National Coaching Educators' Conference which runs June 5-7 at The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, will examine the issues, trends and innovative techniques for training sport coaches and preparing athletes in youth, school-based, college and university, and elite sport programs.  Topics include:

• Assessing Coaches Compliance with the National Standards for Sport Coaches
• Addressing Homophobia in Sports Substance Abuse Prevention
• Successful Sport Parenting
• Preview of National Coaching Report

Presented by the USA Coaching Coalition, comprised of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), United States Olympic Committee (USOC), and the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE),  the purpose of the conference is to provide coach educators with information about best practices and innovations for their coaching education and coaching certification programs.   Sponsors include Polar Electro and the USOC.

This year's event is also being hosted by the USOC and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA).  According to David McCann, USSA Director Educational Services and NCACE President, "We are honored to host the National Coaching Educators' Conference in Park City.  The USSA is committed to being a leader in coaching education, and we hope that this conference further contributes to raising the bar in providing quality coaching education." 

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Dr. Eric Heiden, an orthopedic surgeon and team physician for U.S. Speedskating and Director of Sports Medicine for USA Cycling, will be the luncheon keynote speaker on Thursday, June 5, about the "Impact Coaches have had on his Life as an Elite Athlete." Dr. Heiden remains the only athlete to ever win five individual gold medals in one Olympic Games, accomplishing the feat in 1980 in Lake Placid, NY.

"The purpose of the USA Coaching Coalition is to provide a unified voice for quality coaching and coaching education," said Charlene Burgeson, NASPE Executive Director. "Our mission is to develop and establish coaching as a recognized profession in the United States. Our goal is to properly prepare coaches to provide positive sport experiences for millions of athletes. This annual conference provides an opportunity for coaching educators to share best practices."   

Exhibitors, including American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, Bigger Faster Stronger, California University of Pennsylvania, Dartfish, IntegraCore, and Special Olympics North America, will provide attendees with information about programs, products, and services to assist in program delivery and quality education.

Visit www.NCACEinfo.org and "National Coaching Educators' Conference" for conference program as well as registration and housing details. For more information, contact Christine Bolger (cbolger@aahperd.org or 800-213-7193 ext. 417). To order a copy of Quality Coaches, Quality Sports: National Standards for Sport Coaches, order online at www.aahperd.org or call 1-800-321-0789.  The cost is $21.

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 16,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information.  It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD).  For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

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Contact:
Paula Keyes Kun
pkun@aahperd.org 
(703) 476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.