Apollo Beach Park & Recreation Center Supervisor Wins Award Teaching Life Lessons In Sport

APOLLO BEACH, FL — A recreation supervisor with Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation has been honored by the Positive Coaching Alliance for her work making a difference in the lives of kids in Hillsborough County, a news release said.

Darlene Nelson, who has worked for the county for 24 years, is a recreation supervisor currently based out of Apollo Beach Park & Recreation Center. She was one of 100 people across the country named a winner of Positive Coaching Alliance’s Regional Double-Goal Coach award. The award is given to youth and high school sports coaches who embody the ideals of a Double-Goal Coach: striving to win, while also pursuing the important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.

In addition to her recreation supervisor duties at Apollo Beach, Nelson works with teenagers at the Department of Juvenile Justice, where she teaches positive character through sports. Nelson’s supervisors cited her ability to work with all ages and ability levels, her positivity, and her encouragement of children to give their best effort, learn from mistakes, and respect teammates as reasons for her nomination.

Nelson will receive $500 for the honor. She also will be eligible to become one of 25 national winners from whom a national Positive Coaching Alliance Coach of the Year is selected. The Positive Coaching Alliance is a national organization that promotes a positive youth sports culture by providing training and resources for coaches, parents, and athletes.