( NEW Staff Spotlight: Beth Williams Published 3/05/26) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome Beth Williams to our team as our new Development Director. Beth will be planning, organizing, and directing all of FTSV’s fundraising efforts and working closely with FTSV’s Board of Directors, President & CEO, and Marketing Coordinator.
“We are thrilled to now have Beth as part of our core staff,” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO. “She brings over 25 years of development experience to build upon the many successes of Judy Deaton in her eight years in the role. (We wish Judy well in her retirement.) Beth is a great fit for our team and our mission to develop youth through the golf.”
Throughout her career, Beth has led comprehensive development programs that include major gifts, annual giving, special events, corporate and foundation partnerships, and long-term relationship building. She brings a donor-centered approach to fundraising, with particular strength in cultivating and stewarding major gifts. Beth enjoys working closely with leadership and board members to identify opportunities, strengthen donor engagement, and align fundraising efforts with organizational goals.
“I am drawn to First Tee’s emphasis on character development, self-confidence, and resilience and look forward to the opportunity to partner with George and the Board of Directors to plan, organize, and direct a development program that supports both current operations and future growth,” said Beth. “I believe my experience, and passion for youth development will allow me to make a meaningful contribution to First Tee — Silicon Valley.”
(Become a Volunteer Coach—Make an Impact That Lasts – Published 2/5/2026) We are actively recruiting Volunteer Coaches to join First Tee – Silicon Valley for our Spring andSummer 2026 season. We’d love to have you on the course with us.
The spring season runs from March 17th to May 9th and the summer season runs from June 9th through August 8th, with a break from June 30 – July 4 for the Fourth of July holiday week. On-boarding is already underway and must be completed by the end of February for the spring, and by mid-May for the summer, so now is the time to take the first step.
As an FTSV Volunteer Coach, you’ll work alongside a team of supportive coaches to deliver our structured life and golf skills curriculum to youth ages 7–17. No prior coaching experience is required—we provide all the training. What matters most is your willingness to mentor, encourage, and model the values that help young people grow both on and off the course.
Your impact goes far beyond golf. Our coaches help participants build character, confidence, and a process-focused mindset that prepares them for challenges in school, relationships, and life.
Volunteering with FTSV also benefits you. Throughout the season, coaches:
Develop leadership, communication, and mentoring skills
Learn research-backed coaching strategies
Receive feedback and support from experienced staff
Participate in a dedicated pre-season coach training
Become part of a fun and caring coach community
You’ll never coach alone. Every class includes multiple coaches, and collaboration is central to our culture—just as it is in the lessons we teach our participants. We believe in learning together, supporting one another, and continually growing as a team.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, grow personally, and be part of a positive, mission-driven community, this is your invitation.
(National Mentor Month – Be a Coach… Be a Mentor Published 01/16/2026) January is National Mentor Month with #ThankYouMentorDay on January 21st. Mentorship underlies everything we do here at First Tee – Silicon Valley. For the past 25 years, our coaches have been making a difference in the lives of kids and teens, helping them integrate life skills into their lives and be amazing people.
Thank you to the incredible mentors who are the FTSV family! This past year we had 215 volunteer mentor coaches delivering over 9,500 hours of their time. Your hard work, care and dedication are what make all the difference!
This past year, we’ve featured some of our outstanding mentors and coaches. Here is what they are saying about why they chose to mentor youth.
Austin graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Sports Management from the Department of Recreation Parks, and Tourism industry. He has previous experience as a Program Coordinator and Youth Soccer League Director. Austin says, “I’m determined to build communities and influence the culture within them in order to create positive and unforgettable experiences that help people be their best.”
Sports have played a big role in Austin’s life and he fully believes in the power that sports has to make a positive difference. “There are so many role models in sports. Sports are full of metaphors for life, full of adversity and triumph. You have to learn how to be humble and respectful of others when you succeed, and how to shake things off and learn when things get hard. It’s a great place to practice one’s individual development, while also working with others either in competition or on a team.”
Ysabelle Lam started with FTSV in 2023. She began working with our participants at Baylands Golf Links and coaches with us every season. In her classes she successfully bonds with students over shared interests like art, gaming, and travel. Ysabelle knows how to break the ice, an important step to building a positive, trusting relationship that allows our coaches to effectively deliver our life skills curriculum in a safe, fun environment.
“When I started at First Tee – Silicon Valley, I was still in my first year of learning golf. My personal golf journey was extremely frustrating at times, so it became a great way for me to grow my character as well. I love using golf to teach life skills, because if you can stay respectful, confident, and truly persevere through an off day in golf, it prepares you to face and conquer challenging times in any aspect of life.”
Sean graduated from California State University of Fresno where he majored in Communication and played on the football team. When he graduated, he became an NCAA Football Recruiting Lead and Weight Strength Coach, where he led fitness and weight training for over 150 athletes and where his joy for coaching developed. “I enjoy coaching because it allows me to see others succeed, foster deep connections, and help others grow and unlock their potential.”
Now he is excited to be part of “a unique opportunity to learn from participants, gain new perspectives on the human experience, and make a profound difference in people’s lives. This is a mission-driven career that offers the satisfaction of helping others and gaining new skills in the process.” Sean believes the most valuable lesson he can teach kids & teens in the program is “to love and respect yourself. Life is not coming at you; it comes from you.”
If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community, visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE to learn more. No golf experience necessary. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.
(Mentor Spotlight: Thank You Judy Deaton Published 01/15/2026) First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) has positively impacted over 100,000 kids and teens throughout our 25-year history. That success is largely built on the passion, hard work, and commitment of our hundreds of mentors and staff. For this month’s Mentor Spotlight, we feature and thank Judy Deaton for her 8 impactful and influential years of FTSV leadership.
Judy Deaton came to First Tee – Silicon Valley in 2017 from the ever-fluctuating radio advertising world and became FTSV’s Development Director. At the time, FTSV needed to secure and sustain significantly more funding to support the high demand for our programs. Simply, we needed more money to help more kids and teens. Judy dove right in and fully owned FTSV’s fundraising efforts in partnership with our Board of Directors and Ambassadors. Her leadership and hard work helped FTSV grow to a whole new level financially. As a result, FTSV now serves thousands more participants.
Judy is retiring at the end of the month but will continue to be a mentor to FTSV Youth as an instructor at Rancho del Pueblo in San Jose and at Gavilan Golf Course in Gilroy. She also plans to continue advocating for FTSV as a Board Ambassador by being the main point person for the Caddy Club Majors in the Springand FTSV partnership with the KRTY Writer’s Cup Tournament in the Fall.
What we’re saying about Judy?
“I cannot emphasize enough how important Judy has been to FTSV and our staff these eight years. As Development Director, she built a successful development infrastructure that has enable us to grow our revenues significantly. As a member of FTSV’s management team along with me and Chris, our Program Director, she was a valued thought partner and grounding force with our entire staff. Personally, she tirelessly advocated for our kids and teens, supported our character-building mission, and drove many of our key business processes to success. We are grateful to Judy for her many contributions to FTSV!” – George Maxe, President & CEO, FTSV
“Judy’s passion towards helping others is contagious and we are better at our jobs because of her. I respect her dedication to going above and beyond and her ability to rally teams around challenging initiatives. She is professional, motivating, and caring, all qualities that have made her successful as a Development Director and as a coach. I’m so glad she has been on our team and I’m looking forward to her continuing to coach and lead our youth.” – Chris Moreno-Hunt, FTSV Program Director
“I thank Judy for her dedication, heart and professionalism she’s poured into First Tee – Silicon Valley. Her leadership in development has strengthened our organization and opened doors for countless young people. Judy’s impact will be felt for years to come, and we are truly grateful for all she has built. I wish her joy, health and fulfillment in her retirement.” – Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr., Board Chair, FTSV
“I’ve walked alongside Judy through different chapters of my professional life—from our time in radio advertising to her role as a mentor, coach, and development director at First Tee – Silicon Valley. Her passion, empathy, and ability to truly listen make her an extraordinary leader. Judy has a way of seeing people, encouraging them, and helping them believe in their own potential. She is directly responsible for helping shape my career, and I’m proud to call her a mentor I never anticipated finding later in life. I’m thankful that she will continue her work at FTSV, guiding and mentoring kids with the same generosity and heart she has always shown me.” – Nicole Woodson, FTSV Marketing
Thank you, Judy, for your many years of mentoring, advocating and hard work!
If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community like Judy has, please visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE to learn more. No golf experience necessary. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.
(Mentor Spotlight: Meet Coach Sean Published 12/5/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome Coach Sean to our team as our newest Program Coordinator. Sean will be coaching at Baylands Golf Links during the week and at Rancho del Pueblo on Saturdays.
Sean graduated from California State University of Fresno where he majored in Communication and played on the football team. When he graduated, he became an NCAA Football Recruiting Lead and Weight Strength Coach, where he led fitness and weight training for over 150 athletes and where his joy for coaching developed. “I enjoy coaching because it allows me to see others succeed, foster deep connections, and help others grow and unlock their potential.”
He applied the same coaching principles in his other roles as a Senior Recruiter and a Project Manager. His love for golf came ten years after his football career ended, and he pursued this love by becoming a Callaway Custom Fitter for Callaway Golf.
Now he is excited to be part of “a unique opportunity to learn from participants, gain new perspectives on the human experience, and make a profound difference in people’s lives. This is a mission-driven career that offers the satisfaction of helping others and gaining new skills in the process.” Sean believes the most valuable lesson he can teach kids & teens in the program is “to love and respect yourself. Life is not coming at you; it comes from you.”
Other than sports, Sean spends his free time fishing, painting, listening to music and enjoying an outdoor lifestyle.
If you are interested in becoming more involved with FTSV, please visit our website.
(Participant Spotlight: Walton Li – Published 10/03/25) This month’s spotlight is on Walton Li, an FTSV participant since the age of 7, and now a volunteer coach, founder of a non-profit golf teaching program, and aspiring pediatrician. Walton is an exceptional member of FTSV, someone who embodies each and every one of our life skills and always seeks to serve his community. Walton took the time to sit down for an interview for this month’s spotlight:
What is your FTSV story? How long have you been a participant and volunteer?
“I joined the First Tee as a participant when I was 7 years old. One of my most vivid memories as a student was a coach pointing out my knack for choosing the right club. That short yet powerful compliment not only gave me confidence but also made me realize golf wasn’t just about power. Instead, it was about strategy, problem-solving, and patience. What started as just another sport to try eventually became a passion. First Tee laid the foundation for my love of the game. Now, as an FTSV volunteer coach, I am proud to be part of what shaped me, and am excited to pass on that same joy, confidence, and passion to the next generation of golfers. To date, I have been volunteering with the First Tee for three and a half years and have contributed around 450 hours during that time. Volunteering has become an essential part of my life, not only because I get to practice talking to the people I mentor, but also because it is a form of therapy for me. Being in high school has been stressful, but the thought of coaching and teaching my students golf and life skills every Saturday is something I look forward to and channel positive energy towards. In addition, the coaching staff at FTSV is a community I cannot find anywhere else in my life. The people I work with are some of the most supportive people I have ever met, and enable me to constantly improve myself, not only in golf, but also in my life. Finding myself coaching for an organization that gave me the gift of golf is a full circle moment that I find fascinating, and I hope other participants can experience the same.“
Tell us more about the non-profit work that you do outside of FTSV.
“Outside of FTSV, I’ve created Follow Through Golf, the first golf teaching program in NorCal that specializes in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I noticed that some participants with autism struggle if they are in a setting that isn’t suitable for their needs. This inspired me to build a more adaptive and specialized environment where they could learn at their own pace, gain confidence, and feel included. After receiving certification through the Ernie Els GameON Autism Golf Foundation as a golf instructor, I began teaching 5 students then later expanded it to 27. Moving lessons to miniature golf courses, I discovered how a calmer, creative environment could reduce stress and help students thrive. This experience has been meaningful because I’ve seen kids not only learn technical skills but also recognize their own capabilities. Seeing them overcome challenges that they initially faced has taught me that progress comes from adaptation and inclusive systems. In addition, it further reinforced my desire to become a pediatrician in the future, providing meaningful care for adolescents.”
You recently played in the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Tell us about that experience and what you learned.
“The PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach was, to me, a reminder of how far I had come through the game. Meeting and playing with amateurs and senior professionals showed me the importance of building relationships and learning from other people. On the first tournament day, I was playing with my pro John Senden, as well as amateurs MD Manouel and Sanjeev Mehra. As I got to know each of them well and learned about their experiences, I realized that everyone in our tee-time was someone that had made a difference by initiating and founding. Senden had founded PlayYellow, an organization that raises money for kids with cancer by tying in golf. For example, they do a massive fundraiser with TopGolf every year and donate all proceeds to children’ s hospitals. Manouel had owned an insurance company, and Mehra founded Periphas Capital. Meeting these people who had all started something just like me but had brought their initiatives to a massively successful scale was eye-opening, because I was able to get so much insight out of them, and was able to hear the process it took to get to where they are now. Another really life-changing experience was hearing that Senden was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. As someone who has done extensive work with helping children overcome obstacles of their own, seeing someone like Senden perform so well at Pebble Beach despite a motor impairment showed me that it was possible to overcome challenges. To me, he is a role model of what it means to truly love a sport. He adapts to a challenge and shows up to a tournament to support the next generation of golfers.”
How has what you learned through First Tee helped you in other areas of life?
“Because of FTSV, I learned that growth is not something that stops once you think you’ve “figured yourself out.” Instead, it really is something that continues as long as challenges keep coming your way, and you find ways to improve yourself. When I first joined FTSV as a volunteer coach, I had believed that I had no room left to grow, but my experiences at FTSV showed me how much I had to learn. With the guidance of coaches like Coach Joe Stuban (awesome guy), I began to grow as a coach, leader, and mentor. Using perseverance, confidence, and adaptability, I am changing the lives of others with the work I do. In addition to the First Tee students upon whom I impart skills and values, I also educate hundreds on the importance of HBV vaccinations, speak to classrooms full of students on the dangers of e-cigarettes, and extend golf learning to those in California who suffer from ASD. What makes FTSV remarkable in my eyes is the fact that you can learn, no matter how or where you are involved. Whether I was a student, coach, or a player sent to PURE, I found potential for growth and grew exponentially. These lessons have shaped me into someone who aspires to be a pediatrician, helping young people reach their potential, just like FTSV did for me.”
Do you have any advice for participants to help them get the most out of their experience here?
“My advice for participants is to not be afraid of standing out. It’s natural to want to fit in, but the moments that grow you are the ones where you are yourself. Whether you’re raising your hand or asking for an opportunity, standing out is what makes someone a leader.“
Walton’s work with FTSV, Follow Through Golf, and everything else he’s involved in is nothing short of inspiring. Him sticking with the game of golf up, embracing the values of FTSV, dedicating himself to them every day, and choosing to give back has led to many successes and personal fulfillment, and is a lesson to us all. Everyone at FTSV is proud to feature you in this spotlight article, Walton. Keep up the amazing work!
If your child is interested in golf or looking for a new extracurricular activity where they can learn, grow, and become part of something bigger than themself, consider enrolling them in FTSV programming. There are tons of opportunities for important early development for younger students, and equally as many for leadership and growth for middle and high schoolers. Visit our YOUTH PROGRAMS page for more information.
(FTSV & Acer – Leadership & Golf Clinic @ Stanford – Published: 10/02/25) On Friday 9/19, Acer partnered with First Tee – Silicon Valley to bring a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to 40 FTSV middle school girls hosted at Stanford University.
The mission for the “Build Your Leadership Journey” event/clinic presented by Acer was to empower the next generation through sport, providing leadership curriculum, golf instruction and successful professional role models to the 40 girls.
Later that morning the girls then had a Q&A session with a stellar executive female leadership panel. Click here to read the bio of the female leaders and the group facilitators.
After lunch the group moved to Stanford’s Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex. Here the Stanford Women’s Golf Team helped lead golf clinic stations. Once the golf clinic was over, the girls had a Q&A/autograph session with the team.
Last but not least, Acer’s Vice President of Marketing, Richard Black, surprised the girls with Acer laptop workbooks that they got to take home! Needless to say, the girls were over the moon excited.
We can’t thank the following people enough for making this event happen and for including our FTSV participants in this transformational opportunity.
Jennifer Brien
Nicole Lee
Maria Horning
Kyle Gode
Matt Siert
Richard Black
A big thank you also goes out to our FTSV coaches/chaperones/group facilitators – April Kenyon, Tracy Cone, Tiffany Sparks, Ysabelle Lam, Andrea Brenholz, and Angelina Huang.
In the training, Maria quoted the following African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” To this point, the girls all wrote letters of inspiration to younger FTSV girls. Hopefully their messages will inspire, lift others up, and give others a sense of comfort that they are not alone.
(PCA FTSV Training – Published 9/9/25) On September 6th, First Tee — Silicon Valley hosted two coach trainings led by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) trainer, Peter Wood. This was the 3rd time that our two organizations came together to deliver a coach training. The first instance occurred in 2020 and was the pilot training/collaboration that led to a national partnership between First Tee and PCA.
PCA’s content, training, and resources are now shared nationwide, throughout First Tee ‘s network. Both First Tee – Silicon Valley and PCA share common coach philosophies centered around process-focused coaching, participant empowerment, and a positive and supportive team culture. The topic this time around was how to support positive athlete behavior through responsive coaching.
Successful coaching requires a balance between having high expectations for behavior and providing high support. When challenges present themselves in class it is imperative that a coach have empathy and understanding of where their athletes are coming from, while also having a clear behavioral prevention plan. Coaches should work WITH their athletes instead of being punitive, neglectful, or permissive when faced with behavioral challenges. To this point, we are grateful that PCA shared their resources and worked with our coaching team on behavioral prevention and intervention techniques. Additionally, they provided strategies for coaches to identify participant stressors and practice self-regulation. A great coach is a prepared coach who takes the time to understand their student. We are grateful PCA helped prepare our 19 paid instructors and over 50 returning volunteer coaches this past Saturday.
What PCA is saying about FTSV
Working with PCA has been a shining example of teamwork. “Chris and I work quite seamlessly together in putting together curriculum for FTSV coaches’ training,” says Senior PCA Trainer, Peter Wood. “That is a testament to the common visions and values that both PCA and FTSV share in our respective work. Much of that shared vision and set of values manifest itself in our focus on helping young kids develop into great older kids, and adults. We care a lot about the kids acquiring a good set of technical skills to be able to enjoy and play golf, but way more important than that is to help kids absorb invaluable life lessons in their athletic pursuit. This is the charge of youth serving organizations coaches around the country, and it’s a very cool thing when two large national organizations like PCA and First Tee join forces to try to make this all happen- a worthy pursuit if there ever was one.”
(Mentor Spotlight: Ysabelle Lam – July 11, 2025) First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) has positively impacted over 100,000 kids and teens throughout our 25-year history. That success is largely built on the passion, hard work, and commitment of our hundreds of volunteer mentors and paid staff. This month’s Mentor Spotlight is on a volunteer who’s been with us for 2 years, who always brings a positive attitude and goal of meeting kids where they are to help them get the most out of their FTSV experience.
Ysabelle Lam started with FTSV in 2023. She began working with our participants at Baylands Golf Links and coaches with us every season. In her classes she successfully bonds with students over shared interests like art, gaming, and travel. Ysabelle knows how to break the ice, an important step to building a positive, trusting relationship that allows our coaches to effectively deliver our life skills curriculum in a safe, fun environment.
“When I started at First Tee, I was still in my first year of learning golf. My personal golf journey was extremely frustrating at times, so it became a great way for me to grow my character as well. I love using golf to teach life skills, because if you can stay respectful, confident, and truly persevere through an off day in golf, it prepares you to face and conquer challenging times in any aspect of life.”
The best part about Coach Ysabelle’s coaching style is her ability to bring the life skill lessons to kids within friendly conversation – showing and engaging, rather than telling, participants what it means to be respectful, appreciate diversity, collaborate, and more. In this way, participants are internalizing how the life skills connect with their interests, or with whatever they are experiencing in their lives. As a result, the life skills become much more impactful and applicable.
“When I am coaching my number one priority is to ensure everyone is having fun (and also to be safe). I emphasize encouragement over criticism and try to help students stay confident, even when they’re struggling — whether we’re on the range or out on the course. What I enjoy most is watching their confidence grow throughout the season — not just in their golf game, but in themselves.”
Ysabelle is a perfect example that FTSV is a “life skills first” program, where golf is the vehicle to building character and becoming the best version of yourself. No matter your skill level, golf tests us in ways that bring out the best of our integrity, confidence, and work-ethic, making it the perfect life-long sport we can all enjoy with dedication. FTSV is always looking for volunteer mentors who are looking to make an impact on the lives of kids, teens, and the community. Coach Ysabelle says, “ If you’re considering joining FTSV as a volunteer, know that you don’t need to be a golf expert — you just need a passion for helping kids grow. The impact you can make simply by showing up and caring is huge.” For more information on joining FTSV as a volunteer coach.
Each off-season, FTSV hosts a training for our Instructors and Volunteer Coaches. These trainings take place the weekend before each new season begins and offer both new and returning coaches and volunteers alike the opportunity to expand their coaching techniques and grow as leaders in our chapter. Thank you to the 24 paid instructors and 65 volunteer coaches who attended these trainings!
FTSV Coaching Philosophy
FTSV is about teaching life skills and positive character through golf, and we bring this same philosophy to our coaches and volunteers. While these trainings cover the four main building blocks of First Tee nationwide (Empowering Youth, Mastery Driven, Activity Based, and Continuous Learning), we dive deeper into those building blocks and give coaches practice with specific coaching techniques that we research, and that we learn from partner organizations like Positive Coaching Alliance and The Search Institute. The knowledge and skills taken from this training will help our coaches and volunteers make a greater impact on the community we serve.
Instructor Training
We started off the day with our Instructor training – most of these coaches have been involved in FTSV for many years and some even started off as participants! Instructors serve as class leaders and empower, offer direction, support and feedback to our volunteer coaches during class. Bringing all our instructors together is a great way to recap our coaching goals from the previous season, look at participant survey results, and turn our focus towards refining our skills for the next season.
Later that afternoon, 65 of our volunteers came out to learn more about our activity-based coaching strategy using the Try-Show-Try-Play technique, how to foster engagement with fun breaks during activities, and how to seamlessly deliver our life skill curriculum using our Focus-Ask-Reward system.
Coaching is an ongoing journey of self-exploration and personal development, which is why we ask our coaches to attend all 4 coach trainings each year. It is also why we consistently identify and incorporate fresh and proven coaching tips that reinforce our coach approach and curriculum into each training.
FTSV coaches are the backbone of our program. They are the mentors that guide our participants and help them feel welcomed. We want them to always be learning and feel empowered to help others. Hopefully our trainings are accomplishing that goal. From everyone in the FTSV office, thank you very much to all our amazing coaches!
To find out more about how to be a FTSV Coach, please click here.
(Join Us as a Volunteer Coach!) First Tee – Silicon Valley is looking for adult coaches interested in transforming lives through youth development and giving kids and teens a brighter future. By becoming a coach or volunteer, you will contribute to the development of the life skills and character of our participants, helping to set them up for the future.
It is Fun!
We believe in having fun while learning and coaches play a large role in making the classes enjoyable. We utilize creative games to reinforce the life and golf skills, and our class framework is structured to keep the participants active. Coaches and participants learn from each other while having a good time.
Have an Impact!
People find themselves growing the most when they take on new challenges. You can be an important part in that growth, helping to challenge and support our participants as they work on their life and golf skills. At the same time, our coaches are also taking on challenges, learning how to teach in different ways, and all the time improving their communication, mentorship and leadership skills.
Join Us as a Volunteer!
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on community members determined to make a difference to work with us, delivering our fun life skill curriculum to the participants. If volunteering as a coach sounds like a good fit for you, please visit our volunteer page where you can apply. Please also consider inviting a friend, or a work colleague.
Thank you to the 71 coaches who attended the mentor training. FTSV recently completed the quarterly off-season mentor training for Instructors and Volunteer Coaches. Based on feedback and challenges from the season, the training is tailored to facilitate growth in the returning coaches and bring the new coaches quickly up to speed.
New Mentor Training
Because so many amazing people have joined FTSV to mentor and coach, the quarterly trainings split coaches into a Returning Group and New Group. In the New Coach training, Program Coordinators review the mission of FTSV – to build character and help youth succeed in life – and go through the curriculum with the volunteers. Every week, coaches are teaching a Life Skill, a Golf Cue, and a Golf Ready, and it’s important that everyone knows how these are all connected. Next, volunteers are introduced to games, learning how and why the games are structured and adapted to fit the weeks lessons. FTSV uses specific techniques to change games so there is a seamless integration of that week’s Life Skill and Golf Cue into the fun and exciting activity. After completing this training, volunteers have the skills and the tools necessary to mentor and make an impact on our kids!
Returning Mentor Training
In the Retuning Coach training, feedback is used to design specific review points, allowing FTSV coaches to use their challenges and experiences from the previous season to grow as mentors. In this training, Coaches reviewed Two Rights Make a Right. This is a strategy where coaches provide two positive options for students struggling with their behavior instead of removing them from the learning. They also practiced asking participants “What’s Your Plan?”, a way for coaches to encourage participants to think through their actions and make thoughtful choices. Lastly, the Returning Coaches spent time on the driving range, working on their delivery of the golf cues so that participants will receive similar feedback across classes. Together this training helps the awesome volunteers use the challenges from last season and make themselves more capable and confident going into their next season.
Being a volunteer mentor
The FTSV volunteer coaches are the backbone of our program, and the quarterly trainings use everyone’s unique experiences for the group benefit. When challenges arise, First Tee coaches push themselves to continue learning, to keep a positive growth mindset, and to strive to be the best mentor they can be. From everyone in the FTSV office, thank you very much to all our amazing coaches!
Join our team, learn/develop coaching skills, make a difference in the youth, and give back to the community! Please help us spread the word. The more positive and dedicated coaches, the better the program, and the more impactful it is for our youth.
Read More about becoming a coach and mentor. Download the volunteer brochure HERE.
