The Thayer Athletics Department hosted a presentation by the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Sept. 14 in the O’Toole Lobby of the CFA for all parents/guardians of Upper School fall/winter/spring interscholastic student-athletes. The PCA’s Iain Martin served as guest speaker for an evening in which parents/guardians engaged in conversation regarding today’s sports culture and how to best partner with coaches to ensure student-athletes are learning Thayer’s expectations and its definition of culture. 

“The engagement and enthusiasm in the room were amazing,” said Athletic Director Bobbi Moran, who organized the event for Upper School families. “We’re thrilled to officially partner with PCA over the next three years and build our culture here at Thayer. It means a great deal that families in our community chose to spend their evening learning alongside many of our coaches. The feedback from families and coaches following the event was incredibly positive; so many of our families reached out to share that they found Iain’s presentation inspirational and informative.”

Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 kicked off the event by sharing his vision for the athletics program and his expectations for continuing to build a positive sports culture. Meeting such expectations, he said, is a shared responsibility and involves Thayer’s coaches, student-athletes, and families working together. Martin underscored the head of school’s message and pointed out that when a school leans into building a positive sports culture, its student-athletes exhibit increased teamwork, confidence, and resiliency; they also gain a better understanding of what is expected of them. Most importantly, those student-athletes feel safe, seen, heard, and valued; they understand that they’re in a community where they belong.

The athletics department shared a few key takeaways from the Sept. 14 presentation to continue supporting Thayer student-athletes and teams:

• Align on goals: Take time to understand what your child wants out of their season, what role they'd like you to play, and how they'd like to check in throughout the year.
• Support mental wellness: Stay curious and ask open-ended questions; nurture a growth mindset by encouraging the use of phrases like "mistakes help me learn" and "I practice to improve."
• Show empathy: Validate your child's feelings, resist the urge to immediately fix things, and listen to understand rather than to respond.
• Honor the game: Model self-control on the sidelines, let coaches coach, and encourage your child to self-advocate when appropriate.
• Build community: Get to know your child's teammates and their families; a strong team community benefits everyone involved.

Said Moran: “As the new year begins and our fall season kicks off, Thayer’s athletics department and coaching staff are eagerly looking forward to partnering with our families to build upon the positive sports culture here at Thayer. Together, we can help every one of our student-athletes build the self-esteem and confidence they need, not just on the field, course, court, ice, pool, or track but in every part of their lives.”