Growing Champions for Life, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the youth sport experience in America by providing parents with positive strategies and practical tools for building cohesive families and principle-centered athletes. Through our workshops, articles, books and online membership program we help parents discover the most effective way to play their role so young athletes reach their full potential as competitors and as young men & women. To accomplish this we focus our attention on the relationship between parents and athletes, athletes and coaches, and coaches and parents.
Our Founder
David Benzel is an author, athlete, sport-family coach, and sought-after speaker for organizations nationwide. He brings an athlete's discipline, a coach's inspiration, and a parent's practical experience to teach parents and coaches skills for succeeding in the athletic arena.
º Five time national record holder in water ski jumping
º Coach of the US water ski team to the world championships, which they won
º Coached Cyndi Benzel, (spouse) currently co-holder of a national water ski slalom record
º Competitor in Master level cycling and has won 5 races is Florida
º David is a recipient of the Award of Distinction by the Water Skiing Hall of Fame of USA Water Ski
His fifteen years as a corporate leadership coach for companies like Nextel, Sprint, Allstate, Balfour Beatty, and The Villages established him as an expert in the principles of influence and coaching. And his ten years as a commentator for ESPN and the Outdoor Life Network provide his audiences with vivid insights about the challenges of sport. Perhaps most importantly, raising two elite-level athletes has given David boundless passion and hundreds of positive strategies for connecting with our athletic children.
Daughter Tarah was a Jr. World Water Skiing Champion and is now a professional wake boarder and son Tyler received a baseball scholarship to Florida Southern College.
