The Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a nonprofit organization founded at Stanford University with the mission to transform youth sports so sports can transform youth. PCA was created to transform the culture of youth sports to give all young athletes the opportunity for a positive, character-building experience. Orinda Baseball Association is dedicated to managing the balance between winning and learning life lessons through sport as part of our core values. At all levels of play, our association makes a concerted effort to educate its coaches, players and parents on the importance of sportsmanship and fair play at all times, both on and off the field.

To this end, OBA utilizes the guidelines and training modules of the PCA. A main goal of establishing a a partnership with PCA Is to create a shared language for our leaders, our coaches, our athletes and our parents and guardians.  OBA strives to make our program a great experience for our athletes, regardless of their age level or the team they are on. Each team experience should be anchored in fun, learning and personal growth.

PCA has two primary goals:

• Replace the "win-at-all-cost" model of coaching with the Double-Goal Coach®, i.e., the Coach who wants to win but has a second, more important, goal of using sports to teach life lessons.
• Teach youth sports organization leaders how to create an organizational culture in which Honoring the Game and not just winning is the norm.

OBA adheres to the philosophies and goals of PCA as a means of strengthening the association. OBA also leverages the research PCA does to create a better experience for our players and to give tools to our coaches to help them succeed.

We expect our coaches and our parents to follow the tenants of the PCA philosophy. As part of our coaching development program,  OBA has committed to a good-faith effort to ensure that every coach in our organization is trained via a PCA workshop trainer or has the material available to them to review to be a Double-Goal Coach®.

For the Coaches

• All coaches, including assistant coaches, must be PCA certified by attending an OBA-sponsored PCA workshop. Assistant coaches are defined as parents that are on the field or in the dugout during games.
• One of the team leaders (coach and/or assistant coach) will be designated as the "PCA contact" for each team.
• The team’s PCA contact is requested to communicate OBA’s affiliation with PCA to parents, and encourage their participation at the parent workshop. The PCA contact would also support the parent's understanding of the PCA philosophy, which includes fostering sportsmanship and positive behavior at games, and would intervene as needed to ensure compliance with these expectations.
• After certification, coaches with substantial previous PCA experience may request to skip alternating years - and these requests are to be evaluated by division commissioners, with consideration given to track record of player/parent satisfaction.

For the Parents

• OBA sponsors a PCA workshop catered specifically for the parents of OBA players. This workshop is offered annually and is a unique opportunity for parents to participate with OBA, and help create the environment they want their children to enjoy. This workshop also offers practical tips on using a child's athletic experience for positive discussions that develop skills in all aspects of their life.  Workshop attendance is strongly recommended.

For the Players

• Prior to the Spring baseball season, OBA sponsors a PCA workshop catered specifically for the players. The player's workshop focuses on Personal Mastery/Making Oneself better; Leadership - Making your teammates better; and Honoring the Game - Making the sport better.  Workshop attendance by all players is strongly recommended.