In an effort to help instill a sense of sportsmanship and positive role modeling in the community’s youth, Palatine Park District is hosting Sportsmanship Is Respect, a workshop for coaches, parents, and players. This free event will be offered on Wednesday, November 7, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood Street, Palatine. Tickets are free, but must be reserved through the box office at cuttinghall.org.
Speakers at this event include Robin Boggs Choquette, Psy.D. from AMITA Health, Joe Scally – former Positive Coaching Alliance Director of Training, and Matt May – special education teacher at Palatine High School. Coaches, parents, and players are invited to this discussion on the effects that playing sports has on mental growth in our youth, as well as the impact that sportsmanship has on the overall experience for participants of all ages and across all levels of athletic participation. The presentation by the speakers will be followed by time for questions from the audience, and all ages are invited to attend.
For more information about the Sportsmanship is Respect event, contact Todd Ranum at 847.496.6238 or tranum@palatineparks.org.
About the Speakers
Robin Boggs Choquette, Psy.D. earned a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology. She has trained in educational, community mental health, hospital, and private practice settings. Robin continues to train and enhance her expertise in the field of performance psychology. Dr. Choquette’s practice, Elite Performance Counseling, Inc., is a testament to her vision of building trustworthy and respectful relationships with her clients and community. Dr. Choquette works with individuals from preteen through older adulthood in individual psychotherapy, family therapy (including parenting strategies), couples therapy, and skill seminars. In addition to her general psychological services, Dr. Choquette consults with a specialized emphasis on performance enhancement for athletes, musicians, artists, corporate executives, and business leaders to help them reach peak performance in their professional and personal lives. She works with individuals, youth sporting teams, traveling clubs, and organizations on the mental game of athletics. In addition, Dr. Choquette also serves as an Account Manager for AMITA Behavioral Health. Previously she served as the supervisor in the Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital PHP School Anxiety School, and worked in several of the outpatient programs, including Self Injury, Center for Addiction and Eating Disorders. Dr. Choquette co-authored Successful Parenting Workbook.
Joe Scally is principal of The Law Offices of Joseph T. Scally in Downers Grove, IL and was the Director of Training for Positive Coaching Alliance from 2007 to 2010. With a Masters in Child Psychology from DePaul University and a Law Degree from the University of Illinois, he has devoted the majority of his career to helping children and families improve their quality of life. Joe grew up in Chicago playing football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and handball. He played linebacker on a Brother Rice High School team that achieved a Number-One ranking in the state. Joe began coaching while he was in college at Notre Dame and has coached football, basketball, and soccer for over 30 seasons. Much of his coaching has been with high school-aged club soccer players. He has coached for the Darien Dynamo, Downers Grove Roadrunners, and Bolingbrook Soccer clubs. He has also worked with the Westmont HS Girls Varsity and JV teams. Joe was named Coach of the Year for the Bolingbrook Soccer Club in 2010.
Joe has two daughters who have played a variety of sports including softball, volleyball, basketball, swimming, soccer, and cheerleading. Currently, his oldest daughter plays as a defender on her college soccer team. His youngest swims for her high school, coaches young swimmers on a local team, and boxes with a club. Joe, his wife and his daughters are avid fans of many teams and attend lots of sporting events. His work as a PCA Trainer is one way Joe continues his lifelong commitment to enhancing the lives of children and families. He is able to utilize his knowledge of psychology and coaching to help coaches, parents, athletes, and youth sports organizations transform youth sports by teaching life lessons and keeping sports fun and challenging.
Matt May has been the owner of TeamMSL Basketball since 2008. TeamMSL is a youth organization for local boys and girls in grades 3 through 9 and serves over 300 players per year focusing on fundamentals and the development of athletes. Since 2012, Matt has been the owner of NWFFL/Jim Schwantz Football Academy hosting developmental camps for boys and girls in grades 2 through 8 focusing on the skills and development of athletes. Matt has 30 years coaching experience in the Mid Suburban League at Palatine High School and 25 years experience as a Palatine High School teacher. Matt holds a Masters in Education and Counseling and is the parent of four children ages 13, 11, 10, and 8. In 2005, Matt was awarded the Illinois High School Sportsmanship Award.