A new written Curriculum & Text for Players and Coaching Strategy and Assessments Supplement now available! In the Spring, 2003, the School Psychology Program of Northeastern University in Boston, MA, reviewed and made recommendations to change the GPS curriculum so it would conform to the standards of a professional education curriculum. Dr. Lou Kruger, Director of the Program, after reading the new curriculum in July, 2003, stated, "I find the GetPsychedSports.org Curriculum & Text for Players and the Coaching Strategies and Assessments Supplement to be well-designed and based on scientifically supported strategies that meets important needs in youth and school sports in America."

The concept of a written sport psychology curriculum, to be read by both athletes and coaches, is unique in that it changes the model of youth and school sports teams from verbal to written and it standardizes what is taught on all sports teams as, if enforced, coaches are guided by the curriculum. While there is still much creativity and individual style where coaches can grow and experiment, the written curriculum, when applied, effectively takes the uncertainty out what is going to happen on the team for the child, parent and coach. For example, on a team that has players and the coach reading and implementing a curriculum that says "people perform better and learn faster in a positive environment", there is little room for negativity or hazing.

A Written Curriculum Establishes What Coaches Teach And What Kids Learn! Without a tangible written curriculum, coaches, students and parents are unclear on what their sports teams are all about. When left to the spoken word alone, what is learned from sports varies from team to team.

The curriculum is based on materials found in almost all sports psychology books that are sold at any large book store. See RESOURCES. The views expressed in the Curriculum & Text are that of a coach who has implemented mental skill training in his coaching. A national curriculum would entail obtaining viewpoints from many disciplines including sport and school psychologists, educators, youth degvelopment providers and other coaches and students. GPS is actively attempting to have such a national curriculum generated.

The curriculum has been reviewed by a Medical and Education Review Panel which includes one psychiatrist and two psychologists. In addition, the program has been read by many sports psychology consultants, and eleven high school Athletic Directors. The curriculum has been studied by three graduate students at Northeastern University's Department of School Psychology. The curriculum has undergone major revisions for the Fall, 2003 season.

Part of the long curriculum exhibits how children can be learning skills that transcend sports on a regular basis.

ADVOCATE FOR "EDUCATIONAL ATHLETICS" IN YOUR SCHOOL, TEAM OR LEAGUE!