The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) congratulates Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) coach Joseph Gans and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) coaches Scott Poet and David Richman for being nominated as finalists for Positive Coaching Alliance’s prestigious Double-Goal Coach® Award presented by Deloitte. PCA's Double-Goal Coach Award is given to youth and high school sports coaches from throughout the U.S. who embody the ideals of the Double-Goal Coach, striving to win, while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. Fifty coaches will be selected from the finalist for the award. The coaches said they are honored and humbled that their teams nominated them for the award. Joseph Gans, coach of the Hazelton Area High School Cougars in Pennsylvania, said, “I normally don’t look for accolades, but it is quite an honor to be chosen among all the coaches out there. I am gratified my contribution to the sport of shooting and helping these young men and women achieve greatness has been recognized.”

Gans said aside from learning shooting skills and safety, he encourages the shooters to develop self-determination, proper attitude, self-control and focus. Richman, coach of the Lake Country Action Shooters in Wisconsin, said he was elated and humbled to find out he’d been nominated as a finalist. “I was so excited that someone had done this for me,” Richman said.  “It makes me feel good inside. I’ve been coaching for more than 25 years and can say that the best reward is when a shooter comes back later to say thanks for helping him or her out.” Richman says his goal as a coach is to show the shooters they’re in control and they have the ability to succeed. “I never coach to win,” Richman said. “Preparation leads to practice, practice leads to performance and performance provides an outcome. That outcome doesn’t matter as long as the athletes are doing their best and giving it their all.”

Scott Poet, SASP state advisor (with his wife, Lisa) and coach of the Pistol Prodigies in Michigan, said he was shocked and “blown away” by the nomination. “It was humbling and flattering to hear that our families went ahead and did that for us.” Poet said he wants his shooters to learn team work and how to work with others. “I also work to teach them about responsibility, safety and commitment to their team.” The 50 national award winners will receive $200; a certificate; recognition in PCA's website, newsletters and media campaigns; and the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to California to accept the honor during PCA's National Youth Sports Awards Dinner and Auction Presented by Deloitte on Saturday, April 22, 2017 in Palo Alto, California.