volunteer Archives - First Tee

First Tee Level I Coach Training Recap

(First Tee Level I Coach Training Recap) On March 8^th, First Tee – Silicon Valley had 12 coaches participate in a Level I coach training. The Level I training is one of four First Tee National trainings that make up the First Tee Coach Program. The Coach Program is an educational training program that prepares First Tee coaches from around the country to effectively deliver the First Tee’s Life and Golf Skill Curriculum.

Level I training is done locally, and Levels 2, 3, and 4 are held at different locations around the country. Coach Chris and Coach Manny are both trained to deliver the Level I training for First Tee – Silicon Valley as Level 4 certified coaches and as long-time program staff – over 25 years combined.

The Training Program is primarily focused on creating experiences for coaches to learn the application of the Coach Building Blocks – Activity-Based, Mastery Driven, Empowering Youth, and Continuous Learning. Coach Chris and Manny delivered the Coach Building Block theories and best practices to the attendees who then had the opportunity to apply what they learned by delivering the lessons to each other.

“In coaching, we never stop learning,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “Every class and every participant are different. The more we can practice best coaching techniques, the better we are at adapting to each individual and each class situation. That is why we have more than four First Tee – Silicon Valley trainings each year in addition to the National Coach Program that is offered by First Tee Headquarters. The more prepared we are, the better the experience for the participants.”

To learn more about becoming a coach and building your coach skill set, please visit our volunteer page, or reach out to [email protected], 408-508-4884

Published: 04-03-2025

Join Us as a Volunteer Coach this Summer!

(Join Us as a Volunteer Coach this Summer) We are looking for additional coaches to start this summer. The summer season runs the week of 6/10 and will end 8/9 with 7/1 – 7/5 off due to 4^th of July. Onboarding for the summer has started and needs to be completed before mid-May. Please consider joining our team by clicking here.

What does a volunteer coach do?

FTSV Coaches work together in our classes to deliver our structured life and golf skill program to participants ages 7 to 17 (training is provided). As a result, coaches help participants build character, and a form a process-focused learning foundation that will help them succeed in life.

Coaching with FTSV is not only an opportunity to help others, it is also an opportunity to improve your transferable skills. Throughout the season, coaches learn different coaching strategies and receive feedback on their leadership and communication approaches. We also deliver a coach training once before each season on research-backed coaching topics.

All of our classes have multiple coaches, so coaches are never on their own. We teach collaboration skills to the participants and so the expectation is that our coaches also exhibit the same collaboration techniques with each other, all in the spirit of self-improvement and support.

If this sound like a good fit, please consider joining us as volunteer coach and mentor! Please visit our volunteer page to apply. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on the course!

Published: 03-07-2025

Benefits of Volunteering on your Mental Health

(Benefits of Volunteering on your Mental Health) There are many benefits to the community when we volunteer our time. Did you know there are also benefits to your mental health?

Angela Thoreson, a licensed independent clinical social worker in Psychiatry & Psychology in Austin, Minnesota, wrote in a Mayo Clinic article that “ Research has shown that volunteering offers significant health benefits, especially for older adults…”

The main benefit of volunteering is noticeable improvements in mental health. Angela Thoreson explains that “Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine… Reduced stress further decreases the risk of some physical and mental health problems, such has heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and general illness.”

As an adult, research shows that volunteering “leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety especially amount people 65 and older.” Additionally, volunteering as an adult “can give you a sense of purpose” writes Trish Lockard in an article for National Alliance on mental Illness (NAMI). “Dedicating time to a cause can give you new direction and allow you to find meaning in something unexpected. It can also take your mind off your own troubles while keeping you mentally stimulated.”

FTSV Coaching is Impactful!

Coaching participants about FTSV’s Life Skills – collaborating with others, pursuing goals, overcoming challenges, showing respect, making good choices, and building a positive self-identity – gives volunteer coaches that worthy cause to rally behind and building blocks to living a happy and healthy life. When you teach those skills, you must also demonstrate them, and that will lead to improved mental health.

Being part of a team also leads to improved mental health. First Tee – Silicon Valley is looking for adult coaches to join our team of over 200 coaches. 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. You will also benefit personally through the people you will meet and work with.

We rely on Volunteers like you!

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.

Updated: 2-7-25 Published: 10-22-2024

Join us as a Volunteer Coach!

Join us as a volunteer coach! Has it been a goal of yours to get more involved in your community? To contribute in a positive way to others? To learn more about yourself, and improve your leadership, communication and problem-solving skills? If so, come join us at First Tee – Silicon Valley!

FTSV Coaches work together as a team in our classes to help participants develop their life skills, all while setting their own personal goals for what they want to improve during the season. Coaching with FTSV is an opportunity to not only help others, it’s an opportunity to help yourself. Throughout the season, coaches reflect on how classes are going and discuss different coaching strategies for delivering material, all while providing one another constructive feedback and advice.

FTSV Life Skills: Goal Setting

One of the life skills that First Tee teaches is Goal Setting. Our participants practice creating short-term and long-term goals, making sure that they are specific, time sensitive and do-able. With these skills, FTSV participants have been able to accomplish some pretty incredible feats in school, in their communities, and on the golf course. Our coaches practice their Goal Setting in a similar way, setting specific goals for themselves and what they want to practice while coaching. FTSV believes that everyone can benefit from clear goals and a growth mindset, participant and coach alike. Let’s level up together!

Our coaches and volunteers play a CRUCIAL role in FTSV’s ability to succeed. 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. We strive to maintain a 4 to 1 student to instructor ratio, so every volunteer and coach makes it possible to grow and accomplish this goal. Not only will you be contributing to changing lives and growing character, but you will also continue to develop and hone your own mentorship and leadership skills, while being a part of something bigger than yourself.

Ready to join us as a volunteer coach?

Does this sound like a good fit? Join us as volunteer coach and mentor! Please visit our volunteer page to apply. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on the course!

Published: 05-08-24

Join Us as a Volunteer Coach!

First Tee – Silicon Valley is always looking for people 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 core values and life skills in our students, helping to set them up for the future.

New Challenges!

FTSV participants are encouraged to challenge themselves, on and off the golf course, because it is through challenge that they grow the most. It is the same for our coaches. Being a youth coach will present you with unique and exciting challenges, ones that will help you to further develop your creativity, leadership and mentorship skills. Not only will you be making a positive impact on other’s, you’ll be making a positive impact on yourself.

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. Not only is this a program that benefits our youth, FTSV is a program that positively impacts all who are involved.

Our coaches and volunteers play a CRUCIAL role in FTSV’s ability to succeed. 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 kids. It is our goal to maintain a 4 to 1 student to instructor ratio, so every volunteer and coach makes it possible to grow and accomplish our goal. Not only will you be contributing to changing lives and growing character, but you will also continue to develop and hone your own mentorship and leadership skills, all while being a part of something bigger than yourself.

Join Us!

If volunteering as a coach sounds like a good fit for you, please visit our volunteer page where you can apply.

PUBLISHED: 02-07-2024