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The First Tee Coach Assessment
Assistant Coach Training (ACT) Online Review
Thank you for your interest in The First Tee Assistant Coach Training (ACT) online course. To maintain your
current status as an Assistant Coach, you are required to take an annual assessment designed to refresh and
enhance your understanding of The First Tee Experience and Coach Program.
To assist you with the annual assessment, The First Tee Coach Training and Delivery has prepared the following
review which is designed to refresh your understanding of the major topics covered in ACT. You may want to
think of this review as the "CliffsNotes" for the ACT eLearning course. Please review the topics outlined below
before taking the annual assessment. Assistant Coaches MUST pass the reassessment with a score of 80% or
better. You will be provided NO MORE THAN three opportunities to reach that level of mastery.
Prior to taking the assessment, coaches are encouraged to contact the Program Director or The First Tee Coach
at their chapter for materials that relate to “TARGET: An Introduction to The First Tee and the PLAYer Level”
before they recertify as an Assistant Coach.
ACT Topics
1. An Introduction to The First Tee
2. An Overview of SAFETY
3. The First Tee Life Skills Experience
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TARGET (Introduction to the Life Skills Experience)
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PLAYer (required entry point into the Life Skills Experience
4. The First Tee Coach Program and Philosophy
5. Life Skills Experience Certification
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1. An Introduction to The First Tee
The First Tee was established in 1997 as a Division of The World Golf Foundation "Impacting Young People."
The other two Divisions are focused on "Recognizing Excellence" (World Golf Hall of Fame) and "Preparing
for the Future" (Golf 20/20 – Vision for the Future).
Founding Partners
The Masters
Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)
Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA)
PGA Tour America
United States Golf Association (USGA)
Founding Corporate Partner
The Shell Oil Company
Honorary Chair
Former President George W. Bush
Delivery Channels
Chapter Network which delivers The First Tee Life Skills Experience Curriculum
The National School Program
Military Instillations (DOD)
Mission of The First Tee
The mission of The First Tee is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational
programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the
game of golf.
Nine Core Values
Honesty — the quality or state of being truthful; not deceptive
Integrity — strict adherence to a standard of value or conduct; personal honesty and independence
Sportsmanship — observing the rules of play; winning or losing with grace
Respect — to feel or show deferential regard for; esteem
Confidence — reliance or trust in one’s abilities; a feeling of self-assurance
Responsibility — accounting for one’s actions; dependable
Perseverance — to persist with an idea, purpose or task despite obstacles
Courtesy — considerate behavior toward others; a polite remark or gesture
Judgment – the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; a decision reached after consideration
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Positive Youth Development
One of the strengths of The First Tee is how it implements the framework for positive youth
development. This framework consists of three elements: context, internal assets and external
assets. These elements provide a foundation for positive youth development.

The context is a voluntary activity that provides challenge and fun, requires commitment
and effort over time, and has clear rules.
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External assets include the positive support and experiences that young people receive
from other individuals and organizations. External assets model desirable behaviors. They
help young people use their time constructively, feel like part of a community, understand
what is expected of them, and learn what is “in bounds” and “out of bounds.”

Internal assets are life skills and attitudes that help youth make wise decisions and build
positive relationships. Internal assets include self-empowerment, a sense of purpose,
hopefulness, the ability to plan and make decisions, and a sense of integrity and
responsibility.
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When young people are in an appropriate context, provided experiences through which
they are able to learn life skills, and are surrounded by caring and trained adult coaches,
they are more likely to develop positive characteristics and acquire The First Tee Nine Core
Values. Through The First Tee Life Skills Experience, PLAYers learn skills that help them
develop resilience and long-term physical, mental and social health.
Supplemental Information
Participant Opportunities
The First Tee home office provides unique opportunities for PLAYers, such as week-long golf
academies and a leadership forum. For information on these opportunities, visit the member’s side
of www.thefirsttee.org.
Research
One of the unique features of The First Tee is that independent researchers have assessed the
effectiveness of our programs. We have third-party data-based research that shows the Life Skills
Experience and The First Tee Coach Program are having a positive impact on young people at The
First Tee.
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2. Safety
Safety is the first and foremost consideration when implementing golf into a program. As you know, creating
a safe environment for PLAYers that is free from hazards and risks is the ultimate goal in class organization,
set-up and management. It is achieved by structuring the environment based on a positive atmosphere with
protocols, outdoor routines, and consequences for unacceptable behavior. In a structured setting, PLAYers
become routinely acquainted with coaches' expectations which facilitate a healthy and safe environment to
learn the basics of golf.
The First Tee has created a SAFETY acronym to assist coaches in setting up and maintaining a safe
environment:
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Set up environment and equipment
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Announce protocols and procedures
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Follow through on protocols and procedures
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Engage and enforce with PLAYers
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Transition in an orderly manner
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Your responsibility (coach and PLAYer)
Set up environment and equipment
Environment
 Spacing and set-up of
activities are important.
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A safe distance
between PLAYers for
making a swing is 10
feet apart
 Use bright colored, welldesignated safety areas and
adequate safety supplies.
 Left-handed PLAYers should
be placed on the right end
of the swinging line.
Supplies
Group Characteristics
 Use supplies, such as cones
or noodles, to designate
safety areas.
 Coaches should separate
PLAYers into groups
according to age.
 In the event an injury does
occur, be prepared with
first aid supplies and
someone who is trained in
basic sports first aid.
 Teenage PLAYers are more
engaged when paired with
someone their own age.
 Be sure to know the
chapter risk management
policies and procedures,
and practice, revise, and
train volunteers on them.
 When age-based pairings
are not possible, have older
PLAYers mentor younger
PLAYers.
 Grouping strategies may be
necessary due to other
differences, such as skill
level and disabilities.
 A ratio of one coach per six
PLAYers is recommended.
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Announce protocols and procedures
 To create a safe environment, build trusting relationships and establish procedures to help
PLAYers feel secure.
 When players understand behavioral boundaries, it is less likely they will test limits.
 Guidelines can be tailored to fit your chapter. All rules should be stated positively.
Follow through on protocols and procedures
Consequences for misbehavior
 No amount of discussion will eliminate misconduct
 Employ a graduated consequence system
Engage and enforce with PLAYers
 Coaches can increase the probability PLAYers will repeat desired behaviors by building rapport
and trust.
Strategies to utilize include:
1. Check for understanding when discussing rules and consequences with PLAYers.
2. State rules positively. Emphasize what you want them to do rather than what you don’t
want them to do.
3. Lead with empathy when applying the consequence.
4. Before applying a consequence, explain the rule not followed and the next consequence,
should another problem occur.
5. Catch PLAYers “doing something right” and reinforce positive behaviors with verbal or
non-verbal praise.
Transition in an orderly manner
 PLAYers should understand and demonstrate they know how to rotate within the station.
 Before starting an activity, include the rotation procedure when demonstrating and modeling the
activity.
 PLAYers need to know how to transition from one station to the next.
 Between stations, model the transition path and reinforce the transition procedures.
 Creating a brief game or activity as part of the transition can create a more orderly process.
 Simple procedures, such as “caning” the club while transitioning, or placing the clubs in the bag
before rotating, can reduce chances of an injury due to a swinging club head.
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Your Responsibility (Coaches and Players)
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Ensuring a physically safe learning environment will establish an
optimal learning environment.
Coach Responsibilities:
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Setting up a safe environment
Announcing and modeling safety
Following through on safety procedures
Engaging and enforcing safety with PLAYers
PLAYer Responsibilities:
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Follow safety procedures
Transition in an orderly manner
Reinforce safety with fellow PLAYers
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3. The First Tee Life Skills Experience Curriculum
Welcome to The First Tee Life Skills Education: Life Skills Experience Curriculum section. At the completion of
this unit, Assistant Coaches will be able to understand all of the components of the Life Skills Experience,
which is “What” we deliver.

The First Tee Life Skills Education consists of the Life Skills Experience and The First Tee Coach
Program.
The curriculum was originally designed by The First Tee in coordination with experts in the fields of
positive youth development, sport psychology, education and golf.
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History
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The Life Skill Experience was released in 2001 with three levels -- Par, Birdie and Eagle.
Originally written for PLAYers 9 years of age or older, starting at Par and progressing to Eagle.
To meet needs of younger PLAYers, an introduction to the Life Skills Experience, called TARGET, was
released in 2005.
A 2nd Edition of TARGET was released in 2008 with 30% more games and activities.
As PLAYers advanced, chapters sought to retain them once they completed Eagle. This resulted in
creation of the Ace level in 2006.
In 2009, the PLAYer level was released and now serves as the entry level for all PLAYers.
Progression consists of TARGET, PLAYer, Par, Birdie, Eagle and Ace.
The First Tee Code of Conduct
THE FIRST TEE CODE OF CONDUCT
RESPECT FOR MYSELF
I will dress neatly, and I will wear golf or athletic shoes.
I will always try my best when I play or practice.
I will keep a positive attitude and catch myself doing something right regardless of the outcome.
I will be physically active, eat well, get enough sleep and take care of myself so I can stay healthy.
I will be honest at all times, including when I keep score and when I break a rule.
I will use proper etiquette and maintain my composure even when others may not be watching.
RESPECT FOR OTHERS
I will follow all instructions and safety rules.
I will keep up with the pace of play on the golf course.
I will be friendly, courteous and helpful.
I will be quiet when others are playing and have fun without being loud and rowdy.
I will be a good sport toward others whether I win or lose.
RESPECT FOR MY SURROUNDINGS
I will keep the golf course and practice areas clean and in as good or better shape than I found
them.
I will clean and take care of my and others’ golf equipment.
I will be careful not to damage anything else that belongs to others.
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PLAYer for Life
Certification Levels
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Each level of The First Tee Life Skills Experience curriculum incorporates developmentally appropriate
activities to maximize participant retention and progression through the program.
This stair-step approach initiates a curiosity for learning golf and life skills that increases the probability
for developing a commitment to become PLAYers for life.
Life Skills Categories
Interpersonal Skills involve interactions with others, including carrying on a conversation, showing
respect for rules and other people, and asking for and giving help.
Self-management involves both internal management (which includes physical, psychological and
emotional aspects) and external management (which includes the environment and social support)
to help them understand what it takes to perform at their best on and off the golf course.
Goal setting involves the ability to set and achieve meaningful goals.
Resilience skills refer to the development of skills that enable PLAYers to adapt to challenging
circumstances, deal with conflicts and opt for healthy behaviors.
Essentially, these life skills categories are addressed through curriculum delivery that provides
multiple opportunities for PLAYers to experience, develop, apply and eventually master
interpersonal skills, self management, goal setting and resilience skills, developed through specific
techniques that can be utilized on and off the golf course.
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Categories of the Game
Putt
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Slowest of the four swing motions
Very little swinging at all
Simple backward and forward movement of shoulders and hands using the putter as a
pendulum
Short putts require a short, continuous swing away from then toward the target
For longer putts, a longer swing is required
Putting takes place on the green or within a few feet just off the green
Chip
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The purpose is to send the ball in a low-flight path, known as “running” the ball close to the
ground
Normally used to advance the ball closer to the hole with a short stroke
Also commonly used to get the ball out of trouble areas
Utilized whenever a lower flight path or a “bump and run” is desired
Pitch
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The objective is to pop the ball up and have it fall down quickly within a short distance
Requires a half swing
99% of pitching is done around the green in order to hit the ball over a bunker, water hazard,
a grass mound, or any other impeding hazard to land the ball softly on the green
Full-swing
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Applies the full encompassing arc of the entire swing from take-away to follow through
Used to maximize swing speed, producing a distance shot
Utilized on the tee, in the fairway and from the rough - just about everywhere except the
greens
TARGET: An Introduction to The First Tee Life Skills Experience
TARGET is an exciting introduction to The First Tee Life Skills Experience:
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Developed to introduce young people to golf in a safe environment
Promotes curiosity about the game while integrating essential links between golf and life skills
Helps young people develop immediate interest in opportunities at The First Tee, as well as lifelong
interest in golf
TARGET is built around six components, brought to life by coaches who embrace The First Tee Coach
philosophy and design TARGET lesson plans to introduce young people to golf and related golf and life skills.
The six components of TARGET are:
 Take Aim
 Anyone Can Play
 Respect
 Golf is a Game
 Enjoy Yourself
 Try it
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Two types of PLAYers at the TARGET Level: TARGET registered and TARGET outreach.

TARGET registered applies to PLAYers who are 5 years of age or older who have completed at least one
series of TARGET classes at a facility, program affiliate or other program location of the chapter.
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PLAYers are entered into the database with the minimum of seven required fields under the skill
level tab.
TARGET outreach applies to PLAYers of any age with a one-time or very limited introduction to The First
Tee through TARGET.
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PLAYers are entered into the database as raw numbers
PLAYer Level
The PLAYer level introduces playing the game with an emphasis on:
 Learning golf
 Learning The First Tee Code of Conduct
 Appreciating the Rules and etiquette of the game
 Developing your game in golf and life
The PLAYer level is taught through nine core lessons, each of which is delivered one at a time across multiple
classes.
 Builds on TARGET
 Exposes PLAYers of all ages and ability levels to golf
 Emphasizes “purposeful play” in development of golf and life skills
In summary, the PLAYer level helps to establish the foundation for young people to become life-long PLAYers
of the game. By creating opportunities for new players to get on the golf course and play as soon as they enter
The First Tee, they are exposed to the game where and how it is played, have more fun learning skills of the
game, are provided with opportunities for appreciating the game, and, as a result, develop and play their own
game in golf and in life.
PLAYer Core Lessons:
PLAYer has three areas of focus – Play, Learn and Appreciate – designed to result in one outcome: their
game. Coaches trained by The First Tee are encouraged to deliver core lessons that incorporate these areas:
Play
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Emphasizes spending more time playing golf, and is represented by the games or activities
experienced during a class
Learn
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Emphasizes that PLAYers learn golf skills, life skills and behaviors that reflect The First Tee Code of
Conduct and the Nine Core Values
Appreciate
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Emphasizes importance of PLAYers golf, and embodies etiquette and Rules
The games and activities should be designed to help PLAYers learn and develop skills and behaviors
to appreciate golf
The Learn and Appreciate objectives are achieved through games and activities
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Your Game
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If young people have opportunities to Play, Learn and Appreciate the game, they will be more
interested in playing and developing skills.
Golf and life skills development will happen as a result of playing.
PLAYer Level Subdivisions
First, you have to consider that you will have young people of varying ages and skill levels, all required to
start at PLAYer. The recommended manner for addressing the challenge of having different ages and skill
levels involved in one program is to divide PLAYers into 3-hole, 6-hole and 9-hole levels. These sub-levels of
PLAYer will facilitate the retention of PLAYers as they are placed within groups of similar age and skill levels.
PLAYer Planning and Delivery
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Young people must be in programming for a minimum of 10-30 hours at the PLAYer level.
For each 3-hole, 6 hole and 9-hole sub-level, PLAYers should experience 9-12 classes that are 60-90
minutes long.
It’s key to get PLAYers onto the golf course a minimum of 75% of the time.
Developmentally appropriate activities start from the green and work back away from the hole.
PLAYers new to golf could walk the course from the tee to the edge of the green and chip and putt.
The planning and delivery information is based on research and best practices and is intended to
promote consistency and increase the probability of success.
For more information, talk with other coaches or representatives and refer to information in planning
and delivery of Life Skills Experience Coach Guide (2nd Edition).
The planning and delivery information presented in this section is based on research and best practices from
The First Tee network and is intended to promote consistency and increase the probability of programming
success. For more information, talk with other coaches or representatives of your chapter and be sure to refer
to the detailed information in planning and delivery section of the Life Skills Experience Coach Guide (2nd
Edition).
Three Elements of a PLAYer Core Lesson
1. A warm-up
2. Integrated games and activities
3. A wrap-up
A warm-up helps young people remain active and coaches need to be sure to emphasize and review key safety
points.
Throughout any game or activity, it is essential that golf and life skills are integrated into a singular activity. At
The First Tee we describe this as “seamless,” which is explored in-depth at Level 1 coach training. If you have any
questions about this process, please talk to the lead coach or program director at your chapter.
Finally, during the wrap-up, it is important to ask open-ended questions to understand what the players learned.
It is essential to close each lesson so that players have a take-away message that they can transfer to other
aspects of their lives.
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4. The First Tee Coach Program - (HOW we deliver it)
A Brief History of The First Tee Coach Program
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In 2004, The First Tee Coach philosophy was formalized, setting the framework for positive youth
development connecting external assets (The First Tee Coaches) and internal assets (The First Tee Life
Skills Experience).
This allowed The First Tee Coach Program to be established, connecting what we deliver with how we
deliver it.
The highest level of The First Tee Coach Program, The First Tee Master Coach, was established in 2007.
In 2011, the Assistant Coach Training moved online and Level I trainings moved to a regionalized format.
Overview of The First Tee Coach Program
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The First Tee Coach Program™ is an educational training program that prepares individuals to deliver
The First Tee Life Skills Experience to chapters of The First Tee along with various golf, educational and
youth development facilities around the world.
The coaching philosophy was developed with input from leading experts in the field of positive youth
development through sport.
Through a progressive series of activities and educational experiences, coaches learn to empower youth
to explore options and to make their own decisions; two elements critical to the development of a
child’s value system.
Positive Youth Development through The First Tee
Positive Youth
Development
External
Assets
Context
The
First Tee
Nine Core
Values
The
First Tee
Coaches
The First
Tee Life
Skills
Experience
Internal
Assets
Golf
First, golf is the Context and the foundation and support of the pyramid. Golf provides an engaging activity
that has clear rules and boundaries, requires time and effort, and is challenging and intrinsically motivating.
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Second, The First Tee Coaches and chapter volunteers serve as the primary External Assets for PLAYers.
Beyond parents, young people typically benefit from consistent interaction with a Caring Adult Mentor. It is
also important to create experiences where PLAYers can serve as external assets to other PLAYers. Common
sense tells us that kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Research demonstrates that
the quality of a relationship is the only factor that consistently correlates with adherence to the program (for
example, showing up for meetings, doing homework assignments, etc.) and successful outcomes (that is, goals
established during initial meetings).
Third, Internal Assets are the life skills PLAYers acquire to help them manage transitions and life challenges.
The First Tee Life Skills Experience assists PLAYers in acquiring internal assets they need to succeed both on
and off the golf course. As PLAYers progress through the levels of the Life Skills Experience, they develop their
unique “internal assets,” such as interpersonal skills, self-management, goal-setting and resilience skills which
help them become their “own best coach” in golf and life.
When young people are engaged in an appropriate context, provided experiences through which they are able
to acquire life skills, and are surrounded by caring adult mentors, they are more likely to develop positive
characteristics and acquire The First Tee Nine Core Values – the pinnacle of the pyramid.
The Nine Core Values cannot be taught directly, but are acquired through consistent modeling by caring adult
mentors and the acquisition of skills like decision-making and self-management.
The First Tee Building Blocks
Empower
Youth
Continuous
Learning
ActivityBased
MasteryDriven
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Activity-Based Building Block
The Activity Based block has two sub-blocks that focus on further defining the specific coaching strategies
and behaviors.
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Doing vs. Telling - PLAYers doing more and coaches talking less. Help PLAYers speak up more
frequently by modeling activities that ask PLAYers to verbalize simple cue words or phrases.
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Fun & Seamless – creating a fun and seamless environment where both golf and life skills are
integrated within one activity. In a fun and seamless environment, Coaches are enthusiastic with
PLAYers as they create a learning environment that integrates golf and life skills into singular
activities, drills and games.
How an Assistant Coach Creates an Activity-Based Environment
Ways in which The First Tee Coach can create an Activity-Based environment:
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“Talk less” and have the PLAYers “do more.”
Integrate and deliver both golf and life skills in various activities.
Appropriately model activities verbalizing simple cue words or phrases.
Be enthusiastic and have fun with the PLAYers
4. Life Skills Experience Certification
The primary purpose of the Life Skills Experience Certification is to ensure every PLAYer certified at the PLAYer,
Par, Birdie and Eagle level has acquired a designated level of golf and life skills proficiency.
The stair-step visual, which you first saw in the Life Skills Experience section, displays the four primary
certification levels which have similar certification processes: PLAYer, Par, Birdie and Eagle.
Notice the light shaded area to the left of the stair-steps, which indicates the progression from PLAYer through
Eagle as well as the corresponding age requirements and recommendations. Learning progresses over time,
with each level of certification taking approximately two years.
The advanced level - Ace - does include certification. However, it is different than the certification process for
the PLAYer, Par, Birdie and Eagle levels.
The introductory level - TARGET - does not include a certification process, so for the purposes of this eLearning
training, the emphasis will be on the PLAYer level of certification.
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PLAYer: 9-Hole Certification
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Regardless of age and experience level, all new participants ages seven and older are required to start at
the PLAYer level.
Every participant must be exposed to all PLAYer level content and successfully complete PLAYer
certification requirements prior to advancing to Par level.
Coaches are encouraged to remind parents/guardians that certification is the outcome of a fun, learning
process that occurs through experience over time and may take significant time to complete.
Participation in the PLAYer level is not a race but an opportunity for building a strong foundation for
subsequent levels.
Without investing time and effort in the PLAYer level, young people may be at a disadvantage as they
progress through advanced levels.
The PLAYer level begins with the end in mind and is the first step in providing ongoing opportunities for
formative assessment of skills.
Formative assessment refers to providing PLAYers with opportunities to practice applying golf and life
skills in classes with an emphasis on self-improvement rather than comparison to others.
Depending upon a young person’s age and skill level, it should take a minimum of 10 to 30 hours to
complete the PLAYer level.
For those with prior golf experience, coaches should “meet PLAYers where they are” by creating
advanced games/activities that meet the objectives of each PLAYer lesson and challenging young people
to improve their own skill-sets rather than comparing them to their peers.
To become certified at one level and advance to the next in The First Tee Life Skills Experience, young people
must fulfill all five general requirements at each level. Always inform parents, guardians and PLAYers about
certification requirements up-front. Let them know that PLAYers are encouraged to participate in certification.
However, their involvement is always optional.
PLAYer General Requirements
#1: Core Lesson Exposure
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PLAYers must be exposed to all core lesson content included in The First Tee Life Skills Experience.
The First Tee home office expects that multiple classes are conducted on each core lesson for
PLAYers to understand, apply and perhaps master these skills in various settings over time.
#2: Play
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PLAYers must play one 9-hole round on a golf course and one 9-hole round on a putting course.
Each of these rounds must be played in a fast, safe and courteous manner.
PLAYers must record their own score accurately, representing the core value of integrity.
There is no required score or yardage for these 9-hole rounds at the PLAYer level.
Chapters are encouraged to establish a minimum required score and minimum yardage for older
and/or more advanced PLAYers.
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PLAYers Playing Fast, Safe and Courteous
At the PLAYer level, consider setting up tee markers to create course yardages appropriate for skill level
and to emphasize a fast pace of play. If your facilities do not allow you to place additional tee markers
on the golf course, you can use yardage markers, the edge of the fairway, or other course markings that
are closer to the green. Other methods to increase pace of play include being prepared to putt when it
is your turn (as long as you don’t interfere with others’ play) and placing your bag on the same side of
the green as the next hole.
#3: Learn
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There are two versions of 10-item written assessment that examines PLAYers’ understanding of The
First Tee Code of Conduct, The First Tee Nine Core Values and The First Tee Life Skills and related
techniques
At a minimum, chapters must:
o Administer one of the two versions provided
o Require a passing score of 80%
For written assessments, it is acceptable to verbally administer any of the assessments to
accommodate special needs of a young person.
#4: Appreciate
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There are two versions of the 10-item written assessment that examines PLAYers’ understanding of
the game of golf, the etiquette of golf and the rules of golf
At a minimum, chapters must:
o Administer one of the two versions provided
o Require a passing score of 80%
#5: Your Game
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This aspect of certification examines the ability of PLAYers to utilize behaviors reflective of the core
values and to apply life skills learned in golf and non-golf settings.
PLAYers’ ability to apply life skills is determined through at least three behavioral observations
occurring during class activities.
Coaches are encouraged to set-up games and activities that facilitate PLAYers demonstrating and
exhibiting behaviors reflective of the Nine Core Values.
Keep in mind that The First Tee is looking to build relationships and help young people acquire life-long
behaviors and develop skills they can apply on and off the golf course rather than fast-tracking them
through certification. Therefore, if a PLAYer successfully completes a “Your Game” certification requirement,
it should indicate they are demonstrating and are beginning to exhibit the behaviors associated with the
core values of the PLAYer level.
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PLAYer Yardage Book
The PLAYer Yardage Book is intended to help PLAYers learn and apply the content experienced at the PLAYer
level. Here are some helpful tips:
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The content progresses from simple to slightly advanced within and across core lessons.
The PLAYer Yardage Book can be used by PLAYers of all ages.
For many 7 and 8-year-olds, coaches may break each core lesson into smaller chunks as PLAYers
repeat core lessons over multiple classes.
Supplemental online Yardage Book Activities are available at www.thefirsttee.org.
At the bottom of the first page of each Core Lesson, PLAYers record the date when they
demonstrate or exhibit a core value behavior.
Coaches are encouraged to utilize this section as a way for PLAYers to track this aspect of their
progression.
The last page of each Core Lesson is titled “Away from The First Tee” for PLAYers to record the
exhibiting of behaviors of the Nine Core Values at school, home or playing others sports.
This is essential in helping young people bridge skills they are learning through golf to other areas of
their lives.
Implementation of PLAYer Level Certification
Progression within the PLAYer level can be divided into 3-hole, 6-hole and 9-hole levels. If your chapter
decides to utilize sub-levels, the home office recommends that you base the initial placement of PLAYers
within these sub-levels on age and skill level. To help PLAYers focus on self-improvement as they progress
through sub-levels of PLAYer, the home office recommends that 3-hole and 6-hole markers and portions of
9-hole certification be used as formative assessments within the 3-hole, 6-hole and 9-hole levels. Ultimately,
PLAYer 9-hole certification serves as the required exit point for the PLAYer level.
If your chapter has sub-levels at PLAYer (such as the recommended 3-hole, 6-hole and 9 hole levels) and/or
Par (such as the recommended Par 3, Par 4 and Par 5 levels), the chapter should utilize lower standards to
move within a level; that is, from one sub-level to the next. Ultimately, players would need to meet the
home office standards before moving between levels, such as from PLAYer to Par or Par to Birdie.