C.O.A.C.H. Sports Intervention Initiative – Youth Basketball League
The C.O.A.C.H. for Girls program will offer three 8-week seasons each year—Fall,
Summer, and Winter—combining basketball, youth development, family engagement,
and evidence-based prevention education to support the healthy development of girls.
Each week, participants will engage in two 2-hour sessions, with one session consisting
of one hour of youth and/or parent, guardian, or family education followed by one hour
of basketball practice and skills development. The second session will include
interactive discussions and activities designed to reinforce key messages from the
C.O.A.C.H. for Girls project’s three evidence-based practices (EBPs), providing girls,
families, staff, and coaches with opportunities to revisit lessons, ask questions, process
information, and connect prevention concepts to their everyday lives. Through the
integration of education, basketball, mentorship, and meaningful dialogue, the program
will promote positive decision-making, healthy behaviors, confidence, teamwork, and
leadership among participating girls. C.O.A.C.H. for Girls will initially operate as a
structured youth development and basketball program, with the potential to develop into
a formal girls basketball league as participation, engagement, and community interest
grow.
The youth education component of the C.O.A.C.H. for Girls program will consist of two
evidence-based practice (EBP) programs. The first, focusing on substance use
prevention, healthy lifestyle promotion, and resiliency development, is SPORT
Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW). SPORT PPW is designed to increase
health-enhancing behaviors among youth, including physical activity, sports
participation, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and stress control, with an emphasis on
preventing alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use. Youth will also receive Question,
Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training as a component of participating in the C.O.A.C.H.
for Girls program. QPR is an emergency mental health intervention that teaches
participants how to recognize and respond to individuals who may be experiencing
suicidal thoughts. Through this training, youth and parents/guardians will learn how to
recognize warning signs, identify individuals who may be at risk, and connect them with
appropriate qualified professionals for support and treatment.
The parent education component of the C.O.A.C.H. for Girls program will include
SPORT PPW, QPR, and one additional program, Adverse Childhood Experiences
(ACEs). ACEs are potentially traumatic events or aspects of a child’s environment that
can undermine their sense of safety and occur during childhood and adolescence (ages
0–17). Through ACEs education, parents and guardians will learn about the effects of
adverse childhood experiences and symptoms of toxic stress in youth, strategies for
supporting resilience and healthy development, and when and how to seek additional
support when needed. C.O.A.C.H. for Girls program leadership will also offer ACEs
and/or QPR trainings to community and youth-serving organizations throughout Detroit.
For more information or questions about the C.O.A.C.H. for Girls program, contact
Chrishayne Sturdivant at csturdivant@ncadd-detroit.org or Aminah Battle at
abattle@ncadd-detroit.org, or call 313-868-1340.
COACH Girls Fall 2026 Season
Chandler Park Fieldhouse
12300 Chandler Park Dr., Detroit, MI 48213
Tuesday & Thursday | 4-6pm