Gold Crown to host monumental youth sports conference Oct. 13

Sept. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- The Gold Crown Foundation will host the first Coach and Parent Youth Development Conference, an inspiring event focused on providing adults involved in youth sports cutting edge skills and knowledge to help create the most safe and positive youth sports experiences possible, on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Lakewood High School, located at 9700 W. 8th Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado.

The Coach and Parent Youth Development Conference will bring together a lineup of experts unlike any other in a single day in Colorado youth sports history. Football legend Archie Manning will serve as Keynote Speaker for the event, which will also feature Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, nationally renowned motivational speaker John O’Leary, US Olympic Committee Chairman Scott Blackmun, Denver Broncos President Joe Ellis, Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort, several youth sports and youth development experts, coaches, physicians and more. Tickets to attend the Coach and Parent Youth Development Conference are only $10, which includes a catered lunch, printed program and breakout session handouts. Tickets, and the full lineup of experts who will be speaking at the event, are available online at http://www.goldcrownfoundation.com or via phone at 303-773-1442.

"For better or worse, youth sports in our society have taken a turn toward being very organized and specialized with adult involvement higher than ever before. We have seen the difference first hand the tremendously positive impact a trained, responsible and knowledgeable adult can have on kids in sports,” said Bill Hanzlik, CEO of the Gold Crown Foundation. “We know everybody who participates in this conference, regardless if they are a coach or spectator, or how many years they have been around youth sports, will end up much better prepared for the challenges youth sports presents.”

The concept of the Coach and Parent Youth Development Conference grew out of a vision shared between Gold Crown Chairman Ray Baker and the late Keli McGregor to improve the leadership skills of adults involved in youth sports. The program will include a tribute to McGregor, who was a tireless advocate for the positives young people take from sports.

Along with motivational and inspirational speeches from Manning and O’Leary, breakout sessions will feature experts from the Rocky Mountain Youth Sports Medicine Institute, Positive Coaching Alliance, Metro State University, University of Denver, Panorama Orthopedics, Ralston House, Families of Character, Hazingprevention.org and others. Breakout session topics will include concussion awareness, injury prevention and training, predator awareness, hazing and bullying prevention, girls in sports, sports nutrition, positive coaching techniques, and character development. The event will also feature a panel discussion on topics such as sports specialization and academics featuring CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico, CU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tad Boyle, Douglas County School District AD Derek Chaney and others moderated by KWGN’s Tom Green.

With space limited and the goal to create interactive breakout sessions, tickets for the event are expected to sell out quickly.

ABOUT THE GOLD CROWN FOUNDATION: A nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity founded in 1986, the Gold Crown Foundation’s mission is “Educating  youth and community through sports and enrichment programs.” The Foundation provides opportunities for youth ages 6-18 in basketball, enrichment, golf, lacrosse and volleyball programs, and operates two of Colorado’s top youth facilities, the Gold Crown Field House and Keli McGregor Field at Coca-Cola All Star Park. For more information, visit www.goldcrownfoundation.com.