Arizona youth coach to receive David Dahms Award
March 12, 2014
ARLINGTON, Texas – Lance Stern of Yuma, Ariz., the youth director of the Yuma United States Bowling Congress association, has been selected to receive the 2014 David Dahms Coach of the Year Award.
The David Dahms award is named in honor of the youth bowling leader instrumental in the creation of what now is known as the Junior Gold program. The award recognizes a coach who has been actively involved in a USBC Youth program and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to coaching, sportsmanship and knowledge of USBC Youth rules. The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee selects the recipient.
“It’s an honor to even be thought of for this award, but to win is incredible,” Stern said. “When I first got the call telling me I had won, I was shocked and a little taken back. I never thought that a guy from a small-town program would be considered, let alone win. It’s amazing!”
Stern, a USBC Bronze coach, has established several programs for youth bowlers in the Yuma area and is continuing to develop additional programs. He started a program that allows youth bowlers to upgrade their bowling equipment as they grow and become more advanced in their skills. He encourages adult members to donate used bowling equipment, and has arranged for a low fee for plugging and drilling balls so youth bowlers are able to get affordable equipment.
He has sought out sponsors to donate to youth programs to help bowlers who might not be able to afford to compete in tournaments. He also gets the bowlers involved in fundraising by having them do takeovers in local businesses, holding bake sales and other activities.
Stern said he became involved with the local youth program when his kids started bowling and he wanted to help grow the program and mentor young bowlers.
“I wanted these kids to experience what I did when I was a youth bowler, having someone to teach them about bowling while still making sure it was fun and exciting,” Stern said.
Stern also serves the Yuma USBC as vice president and has the youth bowlers take part in community activities such as Bowlers to Veterans Link, Bowl for the Cure, Relay for Life, Toys for Tots and other projects.
Under his direction, youth bowlers from Yuma have earned several national awards and the ACTS team won the Under-15 title at the USA Bowling West Regional while the Under-12 team was runner-up in its division.
For being selected as the USBC David Dahms Coach of the Year, Stern will receive an expenses-paid trip to the 2014 USBC Convention in Reno, Nev., where he will receive the award. BOWL.com will live stream the USBC Convention, including the awards presentation.
Go to BOWL.com/ScholarshipsAwards to learn more about national awards for youth leaders and scholarships for USBC Youth bowlers.
The David Dahms award is named in honor of the youth bowling leader instrumental in the creation of what now is known as the Junior Gold program. The award recognizes a coach who has been actively involved in a USBC Youth program and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to coaching, sportsmanship and knowledge of USBC Youth rules. The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee selects the recipient.“It’s an honor to even be thought of for this award, but to win is incredible,” Stern said. “When I first got the call telling me I had won, I was shocked and a little taken back. I never thought that a guy from a small-town program would be considered, let alone win. It’s amazing!”
Stern, a USBC Bronze coach, has established several programs for youth bowlers in the Yuma area and is continuing to develop additional programs. He started a program that allows youth bowlers to upgrade their bowling equipment as they grow and become more advanced in their skills. He encourages adult members to donate used bowling equipment, and has arranged for a low fee for plugging and drilling balls so youth bowlers are able to get affordable equipment.
He has sought out sponsors to donate to youth programs to help bowlers who might not be able to afford to compete in tournaments. He also gets the bowlers involved in fundraising by having them do takeovers in local businesses, holding bake sales and other activities.
Stern said he became involved with the local youth program when his kids started bowling and he wanted to help grow the program and mentor young bowlers.
“I wanted these kids to experience what I did when I was a youth bowler, having someone to teach them about bowling while still making sure it was fun and exciting,” Stern said.
Stern also serves the Yuma USBC as vice president and has the youth bowlers take part in community activities such as Bowlers to Veterans Link, Bowl for the Cure, Relay for Life, Toys for Tots and other projects.
Under his direction, youth bowlers from Yuma have earned several national awards and the ACTS team won the Under-15 title at the USA Bowling West Regional while the Under-12 team was runner-up in its division.
For being selected as the USBC David Dahms Coach of the Year, Stern will receive an expenses-paid trip to the 2014 USBC Convention in Reno, Nev., where he will receive the award. BOWL.com will live stream the USBC Convention, including the awards presentation.
Go to BOWL.com/ScholarshipsAwards to learn more about national awards for youth leaders and scholarships for USBC Youth bowlers.