The science behind life-skill development in youth sports
ERA Skills is built on decades of research in positive youth development, social-emotional learning, and sports psychology. We believe in following the evidence — and making it accessible to the coaches and directors doing the work.
What the research says
Why life skills predict long-term success
A growing body of research shows that skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and character are among the strongest predictors of success in careers, relationships, and life outcomes. These are not "soft" skills — they are foundational capabilities that employers, universities, and researchers consistently rank as critical.
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This is why we built the platform around five specific, measurable skills — not vague character traits. Each skill in the ERA Skills framework maps to outcomes that are supported by research.
Employers rank these exact skills at the top
In GMAC's 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, the competencies employers rank highest for career readiness are communication, teamwork, and critical thinking — ahead of technical and data-analysis skills. Year after year, durable human skills top the list of what recruiters actually hire for.
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These are the same skills ERA Skills develops and measures — leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and character. The athletes building these habits in your program are building exactly what universities and employers say they want.
Sport as a vehicle for character development
Decades of research in Positive Youth Development (PYD) show that sport can be a powerful vehicle for developing life skills — but only when the environment is intentionally designed for it. Sport alone doesn't build character. Structured, reflective programming does.
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ERA Skills provides the structured measurement layer that transforms good coaching intentions into documented developmental outcomes. It doesn't replace what coaches do — it proves it's working.
The power of self-reflection in adolescent development
Research on metacognition shows that structured self-reflection accelerates self-awareness and personal growth in young people. When athletes regularly reflect on their own behavior, they develop the ability to self-regulate, set goals, and understand their impact on others.
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The 2-minute self-reflection is the foundation of the ERA Skills platform — not because it's easy, but because the research shows it's one of the most effective ways to develop self-awareness in adolescents.
Multi-source feedback in developmental contexts
Peer assessment and multi-source feedback have been studied extensively in organizational psychology and education. The evidence consistently shows that combining self-assessment with peer feedback and authority evaluation produces a more accurate and complete picture of individual development than any single source alone.
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This is why ERA Skills combines self-reflection with peer assessment, reviewed by the coach — rather than relying on any one perspective. Multi-source feedback is not a feature add-on; it's the methodological foundation.
Built on research. Designed for coaches.
See how ERA Skills translates the science into a simple system that works in real youth sports environments.