Announcing the 2014 Jeff Hahn Coaching Leadership Award Recipients

This past February we were saddened by the loss of Coach Jeffrey L. Hahn. Jeff was an exceptional man, a wonderful father and husband, and an incredible coach and mentor to many players, Hershey Little League families and fellow Hershey Little League Board members. He served the Hershey Little League community for many years in various roles as a league commissioner, board member, vice-president of Baseball Operations, and most importantly, as a long-standing coach to countless kids.

"Jeff believed that youth sports could be an incredibly positive tool in the development of children. He was one of the best examples of a coach who used sports to focus on more than just playing a game and took advantage of the many “teachable moments” with his players each practice and game," said Myron McCurdy, President of HLL. "Jeff knew that these life- lessons extended well-beyond the playing field. Through his dedication to all that is Hershey baseball and youth sports and the development of children, Jeff set a high bar that the Hershey Little League is now striving to help all of our coaches to reach through our partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance," McCurdy added.

It is in honor of Jeff's excellence and his memory that the Hershey Little League established the Jeff Hahn Coaching Leadership Award to recognize coaches that best embrace and reflect the coaching principles and standards that Jeff exemplified.

It is with heartfelt thanks for their efforts and remarkable example that the HLL Board announces the 2014 award recipients:

Colts Division - Mike Miller, Head Coach, Brownstone Masonic Lodge

Minors Division - Mike Pries, Head Coach, Hershey Fire Department

Majors Division -Mike Hand, Assistant Coach, Unisource

About the Award

Using Positive Coaching Alliance terminology, Coach Hahn was a Double-Goal Coach. Nominees were assessed on the extent to which they reflected the model of a Double-Goal Coach, whose first goal is winning, and whose second, more-important goal is teaching life lessons through sports. Behaviors of a Double-Goal Coach include:

• Redefines "Winner" through a focus on skill mastery, rather than a scoreboard orientation, teaching players that a "winner" makes maximum effort, continues to learn and improve, and is not stopped by mistakes or fear of mistakes.
• Fills Players’ Emotional Tanks, refusing to motivate through fear, intimidation, or shame. Consistently provides truthful and specific praise at a ratio 3-five times that of a constructive correction,a Double-Goal Coach encourages players and improves their performance.
• Honors the Game by respecting Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, Self.

The awardees will be recognized and honored on Opening Day of the HLL 2015 season.