The Life Skills Program is one of the unique features that separate The First Tee from many other junior programs. The First Tee Life Skills Program is used to further enhance and instill the values of the game of golf and show participants how these values transfer into other aspects of their lives. The First Tee Life Skills curriculum is based on a set of nine core values: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Courtesy, Judgment, Confidence, Responsibility and Perseverance.
Students are taught different life skills depending on the TFTCT level that they are working towards. Below are some of the life skills topics taught during each phase of TFTCT levels program:
|
Par Level |
Birdie Level |
Eagle Level |
|
Welcome And Introductions |
Dreams and Goals |
Stay Well For Life |
|
Respecting The Rules |
Stating A Goal That Is Important |
Building A Go-To Team |
|
Meeting And Greeting |
Stating Goals Specifically |
Appreciating Diversity |
|
Having Fun While You Learn |
Setting Goals Under Your Control |
Dealing With Conflicts |
|
Staying Cool |
Getting To Your Goal |
Be A Go-To Person |
|
Finding Your Personal Par |
Dealing With Challenges |
Planning For The Future |
In 2003, The First Tee, along with the University of Florida and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, conducted a research study of children from around the country who have participated in The First Tee program. Some of the study's most significant results revealed that after an average of six weeks in a Par-level training class (taught in our Group Lessons program), parents noted a positive impact on their children in the following areas:
- 74% of parents observed a positive change in their child's communication skills
- 74% of parents observed a positive change in their child's display of responsibility
- 76% of parents observed an increase in their child's confidence
- 52% of parents observed that their child made better grades at school
- 66% of parents observed a positive change in their child's social ability
In 2005, The First Tee partnered with researchers from the University of Virginia to create a study titled “Longitudinal Effects of The First Tee Life Skills Education Programs on Positive Youth Development”. This study’s most revealing results were:
- 94% of Par-level youth showed knowledge and use of the “Respect for Others” lesson on the golf course and in other life domains such as school and home
- 97% of Par-level youth showed knowledge and use of dimensions of the “Meet & Greet”, “Introduce Myself”, and “Ask Questions” lessons
- 99% of Birdie-level youth said they used goal-setting skills learned through The First Tee in contexts outside of golf such as school, home and extracurricular activities
- 91% of Eagle-level youth indicated how experiences in The First Tee led to a greater appreciation for differences in skills, age, race, ethnicity and culture
