A pilot project, targeted at 5000 adults and children in East Renfrewshire but which aims to revolutionise Scottish society, was launched yesterday in a community cluster of local schools.

Positive Coaching Scotland is based on a 10-year model at Stanford University in California, and backed by the Scottish Institute of Sport Foundation. In the USA, it has suc- ceeded in addressing societal problems and halting a youth sport drop-out rate of 70%.

The project with East Renfrewshire Council is closely aligned with the the Scottish education blueprint, A Curriculum for Excellence, and is managed for the foundation by Tommy Boyle. He has coached some of Scotland's best athletes of the past two decades, but most recently was plant manager with an international computing company.

Boyle believes the lessons and habits which elite performance coaching instils in sport competitors can be absorbed by all children to create a winning lifestyle for all of society. The foundation's executive director, Graham Watson, came across the Stanford model while living in the US. The foundation, brainchild of Cairn Energy entrepreneur Bill Gammell, believes the project can help drive a culture of change through sport.

"We aim to improve the perceived value of sport in teaching life skills," said Watson. "We are working in partnership with the Scottish Government, education system and Scottish businesses to deliver a long-term legacy for 2014 when Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games. The positive coaching approach fits well with the Foundation philosophy that winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is. We are delighted to be launching PCS with East Renfrewshire Council because it has already shown that it is capable of delivering first-class results in sport and education through its innovative work on the Active Schools programme."

PCS is primarily targeted at adults involved in youth sport for children aged five to 17. The initial target area is around St Ninian's and Woodfarm High Schools in Giffnock and Thornliebank. It is designed to equip parents, teachers, coaches and club leaders to build character and self-esteem among youngsters through sport by promoting an alternative to the perceived flawed win-at-all-costs culture. It is believed these can contribute to violent and irresponsible behaviour and sport's high drop-out rate.

The Double Goal Coach concept promotes a primary goal of trying to win, but a secondary, and more important, goal of teaching life lessons through sport. The object is to encourage every child to try harder, stick at it longer, and be the best they can be in sport and life. Boyle, whose notable coaching successes include European champion Tom McKean, European and Commonwealth champion Yvonne Murray, and Scottish record-holder Susan Scott, said: "In my experience, it is clear that when sport is organised and delivered in a positive, inspiring manner it is a tremendous way of getting kids off the street and keeping them fit and healthy by providing an alternative to drugs and alcohol.

"Sport offers a unique opportunity to teach young people vital character-building life skills. With PCS, we have the opportunity to halt the decline in physical activity, social and moral standards, and tackle the obesity time-bomb by improving the general health and wellness of the nation."

PCS is aimed to reach more than 5000 adults and children in the first two years, with a potential wider target of more than 75,000.