As a volunteer with Think Detroit PAL you can make a difference in the lives of Detroit’s youth.  Our volunteer coaches use sports as an opportunity to create character building opportunities on and off the field.  They are specially trained through our IMPACT program to address the needs of inner city youth, to provide enjoyable and educational sport experiences and to serve as positive role models.

Many of our families have been involved in Detroit youth sports for generations.  Fathers, mothers and grandparents learned about the value of teamwork, diversity, respect, discipline, responsibility and leadership through participation in sports when they were children.  Now they are teaming up with Think Detroit PAL to spread the message to today’s youth.  You can too!

The IMPACT curriculum is designed to give volunteer coaches the tools they need to turn the common youth sport experience into a great youth development experience.  During the course, these volunteers are taught fundamental youth development principles, and are fully informed about Think Detroit PAL’s youth development philosophy.

Think Detroit PAL’s volunteers hail from all corners of the City of Detroit, as well as over 50 other local municipalities and townships. Most, if not all of the training sessions will be delivered in the volunteer training center at Think Detroit PAL’s offices.  The center, which was recently renovated and opened to the public in July 2007, is designed for the specific purpose of training and meeting with the over 1,500 volunteers that Think Detroit PAL works with annually.

2010 IMPACT training schedule

For more information about the IMPACT Coaches training program, please contact Tim Richey, Director of Community Development.