Joe Ehrmann (@JoeEhrmann76), a PCA National Advisory Board Member and winner of PCA's Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement, is a former NFL Pro Bowl defensive lineman, founder of Coach For America and author of InSide Out Coaching. Ehrmann gained additional prominence when Parade Magazine dubbed him “the most important coach in America” for his unorthodox, but highly effective, coaching at Gilman School in the Baltimore area. Ehrmann was also the subject of Season of Life by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeffrey Marx.

In this video, Ehrmann shares his belief that parents and coaches should act as supporters for young athletes. As a parent, you have to wear a hat of advocacy for your kid, and even for the other kids on the team. Young people are extremely vulnerable, and parents have a responsibility to make sure they are always backing their child.

Coaches also have a responsibility to affirm and accept players whenever possible. Children won’t be able to develop fully through sports if it’s not a platform for moral and ethical development, supported by coaches.