It’s a simple fact that everyone who plays sports wants to win, but here in the Diocese of Brooklyn, our youth coaches are well aware that winning isn’t everything.

The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Brooklyn and Queens hosted a coaches’ workshop Oct. 4 at the Gregorian Hall of St. Gregory the Great parish in Bellerose.

Over 800 coaches from the diocese attended, and it was the first such workshop since Rob Caldera took over as the new CYO director in early July.

“There’s more of a focus here than win at all costs,” Caldera said.

The coaches were treated to a presentation by Lou Judd, the director and co-founder of Sports Leader. The organization is a virtue-based mentoring and motivation program for coaches based near Cincinnati, Ohio.

“Our goal, especially within Catholic organizations, is that coaches be more intentional about how they coach and why they coach,” Judd said. “We want to inspire them and give them some tools, resources and structure to do it a little bit better.”

The presentation was divided into three segments: virtue, mentoring and ceremony.

Judd spoke about how the coaches can integrate life lessons into their practices, how to give one-on-one attention to every player on their teams, and how to involve the parents to promote a family atmosphere.

“If a coach attended an event like this with an open heart and an open mind, I think they will walk away with a lot,” said Robert Anich, soccer coach at St. Andrew Avellino, Flushing.

Judd also encouraged the coaches in attendance to ponder the question of why they coach.

“I just enjoy being involved with the kids, teaching them sportsmanship and being a mentor to them,” said Sean Cullinan, soccer coach at St. Gregory the Great.

The workshop also featured raffles for the coaches. Winners received gift cards to Modell’s Sporting Goods to use for their upcoming seasons. A portion of the funds raised was donated to Coaches vs. Cancer.

“Coaches have tremendous influence over young people, and they have to handle it the right way,” said Kevin Dumbach, parish athletic representative at St. Pancras, Glendale. “Children remember things for a long, long time…well into their adult years.”

Events like the CYO workshop are a constant reminder to the diocesan coaches that the young athletes – rather than the athletic contests – are the main focus of the program.

“If a team is 12 or 15 members deep, they’re all part of something, and as a coach, they should find ways to include and involve them all as well.”

The athlete-centered focus will continue as we progress through the CYO soccer and cross-country fall seasons.