Middle coach named regional award winner by Positive Coaching Alliance

Middle Township High School field hockey coach Janina Perna has been named as one of 100 regional winners of Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award.

Perna was selected for the award out of more than 600 nominations nationwide. She is a finalist to become one of the organization’s 25 national winners, who will each receive $500, a certificate from Positive Coaching Alliance and recognition on PCA’s website, newsletters and media campaigns.

One coach will also win the Taube Family Prize in Recognition of Excellence in Coaching and will be named the PCA National Coach of the Year. That recognition will include a $10,000 cash prize, with $2,500 going to the coach and $7,500 going to the sports organization or school of the winning coach’s choice.

According to its website, the Positive Coaching Alliance’s mission is to be a catalyst for a positive youth sports culture in all communities across the country. After starting as a small local nonprofit, Positive Coaching Alliance is now a nationwide organization that provides sports programming in all 50 states. It has partnered with approximately 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide.

Perna has been the field hockey coach at Middle Township for 10 seasons, recording a career record of 137-54-1. She has led the program to three Cape-Atlantic National Conference titles (2016, 2018, 2019) and two sectional championships (2016, 2020). Middle finished the pandemic shortened 2020 season at 13-2-1 overall after beating Haddon Township, 1-0, in the South West A Region championship game.

Click here for more information about the Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award