Way of Champions Podcast

#473 Jason Sacks, CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, on Educating One Million Coaches and Making Systemic Change in Youth Sports

Mar 19, 2026
Jason Sacks, CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance and longtime youth sports leader, shares his work expanding coach education and building partnerships that impact millions. He discusses evolving coaching expectations, creating safe high-performance environments, parent education, systems for clearer coach roles, equity and access initiatives, and using small-sided games and tournaments to prioritize development and fun.
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ADVICE

Make Psychological Safety A Coaching Priority

  • Create environments where athletes feel safe, seen, heard and valued to improve both retention and performance.
  • Jason Sacks argues that belonging and psychological safety directly increase effort and long-term development, not just short-term wins.
ADVICE

Embed PCA Principles Into Daily Practice

  • Weave positive youth development practices into daily coaching rather than treating them as separate 'extras'.
  • Sacks: integrate PCA principles with tactical training so character-building becomes how you win, not an optional add-on.
INSIGHT

Set Clear Bumpers For Coaching Expectations

  • Coaches need clear organizational 'bumpers'—explicit expectations and evaluation criteria—to avoid mixed signals about priorities.
  • John O'Sullivan warns coaches get frustrated when culture messages conflict with hiring or firing decisions focused on wins.
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