News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 16, 2013) -

ATTENTION: SPORTS/LIFESTYLE EDITORS

BMO Financial Group and renowned Queen's University youth sport expert, Dr. Jean Côté, today released a report - titled The Coach's Role in Creating a Positive Environment in Youth Soccer - that states youth soccer coaches need to pay attention to how they interact with their young players.

In his paper for BMO, Dr.Côté elaborates on how coaching is more than teaching skills, or delivering specific content. If youth soccer coaches build supportive relationships with their players that are guided by solid moral values, they will create an environment that empowers young people beyond the soccer field.

"One of the most important roles of a coach is to use sport as a microcosm of what happens in the real world to help young people differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, implement and respect rules of fair play, and learn harmonious behaviours for resolving conflicts while thriving to achieve personal and team goals," said Dr. Côté. "By paying more attention to the relationship aspect of sport, coaches will boost children's competence, confidence, connection and character, and at the same time make an enormous impact on the further development of sport and society."

The study makes the important observation that by focusing on the "how" of coaching, rather than the "what," soccer played in childhood can have a positive impact beyond the field for years to come. "For coaches, taking up the challenge to make soccer a positive experience for all involved is an individual commitment that can influence young people's lives forever," Dr. Côté concludes.

Dr. Côté's new report looks at the four pillars of a positive environment in sport - team pride, spirit, community commitment and passion for the game - which are at the core of BMO's Team of the Week Soccer Program. It provides practical recommendations for coaches on how to achieve these outcomes, and complements Dr. Côté's 2011 report, which defined four positive outcomes - competence, confidence, connection and character/caring - which adults can influence to create a positive environment in youth sport.

"This collaboration is an opportunity for us to again work with one of the preeminent authorities on youth sports and coaching, Dr. Jean Côté," said Justine Fedak, Senior Vice President, Branding, Advertising & Sponsorships, BMO Financial Group. "As the Bank of Soccer in Canada, BMO continuously seeks to encourage and grow the sport, especially at the grassroots level, and we hope coaches and parents across Canada will find his recommendations useful."

Dr. Côté is renowned for his model of development in youth sport, one that has been adopted partially or comprehensively as a framework for sport organizations in countries such as Canada, Ireland, Australia and the United Kingdom.

To access the full report, visit http://bit.ly/bmocoachrole.

About Jean Côté, Queen's University

Dr. Jean Côté is professor and Director in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen's University in Kingston (Canada). His research interests are in the areas of children in sport, coaching, positive youth development, and sport expertise. He has published more than 120 refereed papers on a variety of youth sport topics and given over 300 scientific presentations.

Dr. Côté's program of research has consistently been founded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) since 1999.

About BMO and Soccer

BMO supports soccer across Canada from youth players in local neighbourhoods and communities all the way up to the professional level. Our deep commitment to 'The Beautiful Game' is evident from our grassroots sponsorship of more than 1,000 youth teams nationally, to our support of Canada's men's and women's national teams, our professional teams (Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Montreal Impact) and our soccer venue title sponsorship (BMO Field).

About BMO Team of the Week

BMO Team of the Week is Canada's premier sport celebration at the grassroots level, engaging a nation and inspiring communities by recognizing youth soccer teams who demonstrate team pride, team spirit, community commitment and passion for the game. Fifteen weekly winners will be named BMO Team of the Week starting April 17, and entered for a chance to be voted by Canadians as 2013 BMO Team of the Week Champion. The grand prize includes a $125,000 refurbishment of their community soccer field and a road trip to a Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Montreal Impact, or Canadian National Team home game. Former BMO Team of the Week Champions include Glen Shields Sun Devils 2000 (2011) and Ladner Storm (2012).