Youth Sports Coaches and Groups Celebrated for their Responsible Approach to Mentoring Young Athletes

BOSTON, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Each weekend parents across America put their children -- some 35 million of them -- into the guiding hands of youth sport coaches, typically another parent or simply a volunteer. Many of these coaches face tough expectations: ensure equal playing time, guide their team to victory, and help boys and girls become the superstars they (or their parents) dream of. But when a coach and entire communities place character, sportsmanship, and the young athletes' well-being before wins, they demonstrate a level of responsibility that deserves recognition. That is why Liberty Mutual is recognizing 88 youth soccer and football coaches across the country with its Responsible Coaching Award and $500 grants, and is awarding $2,500 grants to 20 U.S. youth sports organizations that excelled at encouraging participation in an online youth sports-mentoring curriculum at www.ResponsibleSports.com.

"The Responsible Sports program celebrates the dedication and selflessness of youth coaches who give of themselves to teach our children the rules of sport and fair play, and, in many cases, the rules of life," said Greg Gordon, vice president of Consumer Marketing at Liberty Mutual. "It also provides parents and coaches alike with a common platform to align community-sport priorities and expectations. The result is thousands of compelling and uplifting stories of the positive sporting environments that have been created for young athletes across America."

Launched in September 2007, ResponsibleSports.com is an online community developed by Liberty Mutual -- in partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance, U.S. Youth Soccer and USA Football -- that features advice, online discussions, toolkits, and proven best practices for parents and coaches who seek to foster positive sporting experiences for kids.

Throughout the fall and early winter, parents and peer coaches nominated thousands of youth football and soccer coaches at www.ResponsibleSports.com for the Liberty Mutual Responsible Coaching Award, celebrating tangible examples of responsible behavior in mentoring young athletes. Additionally, more than 5,500 parents, coaches and administrators completed the online Responsible Sports curriculum on behalf of more than 500 youth sports organizations.

"Sports provide parents and other adults a wonderful springboard to interact with kids and teach positive behavior," added Jim Thompson, founder and executive director of Positive Coaching Alliance. "These coaches and organizations are reinforcing the values of sportsmanship and responsible behavior, and how they influence positive outcomes in their lives."

2007 Responsible Coaching Award Recipients

The Responsible Coaching Award winners were selected based on their ability to:

    -- Exhibit a high level of coaching competence;
    -- Achieve and maintain excellence on the field; and
    -- Demonstrate an on-going commitment to the well-being and development of
       athletes off the field

    The 2007 Responsible Coaching Award Youth Soccer recipients are:

    -- Alan McGinty, Fairbanks, Alaska
    -- Alex Tomlinson, Huntsville, Ala.
    -- Will Maffitt, Hot Springs, Ark.
    -- Kenneth Laird, Phoenix, Ariz.
    -- Steve Hindman, Los Altos/Mountain View, Calif.
    -- Jeff King, Durango, Colo.
    -- Todd Howe, Danbury, Conn.
    -- Ed Salcedo, Washington, D.C.
    -- Mike Zdradzinski, Dover, Del.
    -- Tony Goiran, Land O Lakes, Fla.
    -- Joe Negeret, Hamilton, Ga.
    -- Josa Dydasco, Honolulu, Hawaii
    -- Allen Brown, Lewiston-Clarkston, Idaho
    -- Ali Basaran, New Palestine, Ind.
    -- Alan Jones, Lenexa, Kan.
    -- Tim Keeton, Winchester, Ky.
    -- Christopher Albright, Baton Rouge, La.
    -- Rich Frongillo, Franklin, Mass.
    -- Anthony Welch, Frederick, Md.
    -- Daniel Mallett, Winslow, Maine
    -- Todd Mattson, Commerce Township, Mich.
    -- Gene Evers, Cambridge, Minn.
    -- Gregg Hibbler, Kansas City, Mo.
    -- Ron King, Leakesville, Miss.
    -- Charlie Webster, Libby, Mont.
    -- Walter Ortiz, Concord, N.C.
    -- Mario Zuniga, Omaha, Neb.
    -- Bill Doucet, Newmarket, N.H.
    -- Dan Manson, Wall, N.J.
    -- Matt Geisel, Rio Rancho, N.M.
    -- Willie Richard, Las Vegas, Nev.
    -- Robert (Bob) Johnson, Webster, N.Y.
    -- Patrick O'Brien, West Chester, Ohio
    -- John Crouch, Tulsa, Okla.
    -- Helen Evans, Salem, Ore.
    -- Sam Lee, Philadelphia, Pa.
    -- Tom Conrad, Middletown, R.I.
    -- Barry Whittington, Hampton-Varnville, S.C.
    -- Dan Davis, Rapid City, S.D.
    -- Ashley Halter, Brentwood, Tenn.
    -- Gary Rodriguez, Frisco, Texas
    -- Justus Koelliker, Sandy, Utah
    -- Tara Hagy, Herndon, Va.
    -- Mike Cox, Bainbridge Island, Wash.
    -- Ken Ward, Wales, Wisc.
    -- Heather Awbery, Spokane, Wash.

"There are thousands of youth soccer coaches across the country seeking to provide the positive, nurturing environment that promotes life lessons and builds character for future generations," said Jim Cosgrove, executive director of U.S. Youth Soccer. "Today marks a special day in the recognition of what youth sport can and should be. We are proud to be a part of this program and in recognizing the efforts and dedication of those working with youth athletes."

    The 2007 Responsible Coaching Award Youth Football recipients are:

    -- Joseph Penton, North Pole, Alaska
    -- Mark LaBell, Phoenix, Ariz.
    -- James Dean, Victorville, Calif.
    -- Jose Cardenas, Denver, Colo.
    -- Will Quarles, Bridgeport, Conn.
    -- Kevin Nesbitt, Washington, D.C.
    -- Ronald Nerf, Boca Raton, Fla.
    -- Thaddis Pouncey, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.
    -- Rockwell Fukino, Honolulu, Hawaii
    -- Louie Rosalez, Epworth, Iowa
    -- Steve McNitt, Meridian, Idaho
    -- Troy Meeks, Batavia, Ill.
    -- Brandon Gillard, Indianapolis, Ind.
    -- Mike Dumpert, Paola, Kan.
    -- Warren Crockett, Covington, La.
    -- Phil Johnson, Lexington, Mass.
    -- Terrence Williams, Owings Mills, Md.
    -- Sue Lizotte, Sanford, Maine
    -- Eric Bambard, Walled Lake, Mich.
    -- Scott Cottrell, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
    -- Bob Hartnack, Long Beach, Miss.
    -- Eric Johnson, Billings, Mont.
    -- Scott Mooneyham, Raleigh, N.C.
    -- Bruce Kramer, Minot, N.D.
    -- Adbul Muhammed, Omaha, Neb.
    -- Bill Reilly, Dover, N.H.
    -- Joseph Wilder, Las Vegas, Nev.
    -- Edmond Wilson, Bronx, N.Y.
    -- Danny Davis, Mason, Ohio
    -- Mike Watts, Yukon, Okla.
    -- Michael Mott, Lake Oswego, Ore.
    -- Tom Fleming, Johnstown, Pa.
    -- Chris Stenger, Summerville, S.C.
    -- Craig Littles, Memphis, Tenn.
    -- Rodney Williams, Mesquite, Texas
    -- Jason Wilcox, Kearns, Utah
    -- Tony Arcovitch, Essex Junction, Vt.
    -- Shaun Samuels, Burien, Wash.
    -- Matt Wakefield, Howard, Wisc.
    -- Paul Gilmer, Charleston, W.V.

"These youth football coaches are fantastic role models for other volunteer coaches throughout the country," said USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. "In various ways these winners have had a profound impact in their communities by demonstrating high standards and creating an atmosphere that encourages fun and responsible behavior."

Youth Sports Organizations Grantee Winners

Following is a list of the youth sports organizations that will receive a $2,500 grant from Liberty Mutual.

    -- Monroe County Youth Soccer dba Cutters Soccer Club, Bloomington, Ind.
    -- Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association ABYSA, Asheville, N.C.
    -- Chelmsford Youth Basketball League, Chelmsford, Mass.
    -- Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington, Ill.
    -- Lancaster County Youth Amateur Hockey League, Lancaster, Pa.
    -- Somersworth Youth Baseball League, Somersworth, N.H.
    -- Hempfield Soccer Club, Landisville, Pa.
    -- North Ridgeville Amateur Soccer League, North Ridgeville, Ohio
    -- Edge Soccer Club/Arvada Soccer Association, Arvada, Colo.
    -- Real Chicago FC, Mt. Prospect, Ill.
    -- Bay Area Asian Sports Dragons, San Francisco, Calif.
    -- Lake Mary Youth Football Association, Lake Mary, Fla.
    -- Syracuse Football Club, DeWitt, N.Y.
    -- Township of Waterford Park & Recreation Department, Waterford, Mich.
    -- Peninsula Youth Football Association, Gig Harbor, Wash.
    -- Prosper Area Soccer Organization, Prosper, Texas
    -- Price Ice Youth Hockey, Park Falls, Wisc.
    -- Nottingham Youth Association, Inc., Nottingham, N.H.
    -- O'Fallon Junior Renegades Youth Football Organization, O'Fallon, Mo.
    -- Marks Youth Foundation, Sledge, Miss.

More information about the winners can be found at www.ResponsibleSports.com.

About Liberty Mutual Group

Liberty Mutual Group (www.libertymutual.com) is a leading multi-line insurer in the U.S. whose largest line of business is personal auto based on 2006 direct written premium. A top ten provider of auto and home insurance to individuals, Liberty Mutual is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering its personal lines products to employees and members of more than 10,000 companies, credit unions, and alumni and professional associations. Liberty Mutual Group ranks 95th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States. The company, headquartered in Boston, Mass., employs over 39,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.

About Positive Coaching Alliance

Since its founding within the Stanford University Athletic Department in 1998, PCA has conducted roughly 5,000 live group workshops nationwide for more than 200,000 youth sports leaders, coaches, parents and athletes. PCA trains workshop attendees to create a positive, character-building environment for youth athletes, replacing the prevalent win-at-all-cost mentality.

PCA has affected more than 2.2 million youth athletes through partnerships with 1,100-plus youth sports organizations, cities and schools that host workshops across the U.S., primarily near PCA's hub markets of Northern California, Southern California, Chicago, Hawaii, Houston, Milwaukee, New York City and Washington, DC. Thousands of other coaches and parents learn PCA methods via online courses at www.PositiveCoach.org.

About US Youth Soccer

US Youth Soccer -- The Game for ALL Kids!(R) is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

About USA Football

USA Football is the national governing body of America's favorite sport, leading the game's development on youth and amateur levels with coaching education programs and a myriad of additional resources. More than 3.2 million American youngsters ages 6-14 played organized tackle football in 2007 and 1.13 million high school boys play football, which more than doubles the next- most popular sport among that group. An independent non-profit, USA Football was endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 2002. Former U.S. Congressman and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp serves as USA Football's chairman. For more information, log on to www.usafootball.com.