Background Statement
Young people do not automatically act with integrity or demonstrate sportsmanship. The acquisition of values is often a by-product of a series of complex processes that evolve from individuals' experiences. First Tee Life Skills Education programs teach participants a set of life skills to allow them to face challenges at home, school, and at play in a constructive manner. The goal is for participants to internalize the Nine Core Values of Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgment, which are at the heart of the First Tee mission.
What makes First Tee effective in building positive character traits in young people is the First Tee Life Skills Experience, a curriculum developed by experts in the field of positive youth development and delivered by trained coaches. Through this experience, participants learn to apply life skills and transfer the positive values of golf to everyday life.