College of Saint Mary

NAIA Champions of Character

Program Center

Part I: Introduction

• What is Champions of Character?
• Why the Champions of Character initiative is needed.
• What Champions of Character looks like in our community.

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INTRODUCTION

What is Champions of Character?

Champions of Character is a national initiative to change the culture of sport. It is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport, and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know the right thing, do the right thing, and value the right thing inside and outside of the sports setting.

Why the Champions of Character Initiative is needed:

Today, more than 52 million boys and girls participate in organized sports in the U.S. However, more than 70% of youth give up traditional team sports by the age of 13, citing poor relationships with coaches and parents as the determining factor.

The attrition of youth in sports, combined with a media culture that showcases increasingly abhorrent behavior by athletes, coaches, fans and parents demands change.

Champions of Character can build confidence, develop the five core values, and create leaders and role models. It promotes coaching for significance and development of the whole person.

What Champions of Character will look like in our community:

• Teams that reflect the Champions of Character core values
• Parents and fans modeling proper behavior
• Student-athletes serving the community as positive role models in athletics and in the classroom
• Organizations leading youth in changing the culture of sports
• Corporate partners supporting the values-based mission of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative

COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY PROGRAM CENTER

“One athlete of character will improve a team. One team of character will improve a school. One school of character can impact an entire community.”

—Bruce Brown, NAIA Champions of Character Special Presenter

Vision

To have a positive impact on the culture of sport in our community.

Mission

The CSM Champions of Character initiative, along with the NAIA, will create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official, and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Purpose

• To promote the five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship
• To teach and instill character values
• To build relationships with community organizations
• To rekindle or ignite a passion in coaches’ teachings
• To promote ethical leadership practices
• To provide training sessions for coaches, student-athletes, officials, parents and spectators

Methods

• The themes of This is the NAIA/Redefining the Term “Athlete,” Coaching For Significance, and Teaching Character Through Sport are presented through broad-based workshops for coaches, athletes and parents by NAIA certified staff.
• SALT (Student-Athlete Leadership Team) will be prepared to share character-based messages with youth ages 6-18 in our community as a part of the “Sparks” Program. They will also promote awareness of Champions of Character on campus.
• The “Sparks” Program is an outreach initiative designed to promote leadership through CSM student-athletes and coaches to schools and community organizations.
• Annual “Champions” Community Summit brings together coaches and students from the community to hear the Champions of Character message and its positive effect on the culture of sport. It also shows how the CSM Program Center can benefit their schools and organizations.
• Athletic camps, clinics, and tournaments have a Champions of Character theme in which the core values are defined, modeled, shaped, and reinforced.
• CSM will sponsor Character Awards for youth organizations.

PROGRAMS AND DESCRIPTIONS

Champions of Character within CSM Athletics

Program: This is The NAIA

Description: This program is required for all coaches and is taught by a certified instructor. The purpose is to present the NAIA to coaches so they will have an understanding of the history, mission and purpose of the Association. Themes include: Redefining the Term Athlete/The 5 Core Values, NAIA Eligibility,

Program: Coaching for Significance

Description: This program focuses on character and coaching and includes themes like the power of a coach’s words, positive conditioning, positive traditions, and the role of a coach. It is required for CSM head coaches.

Program: This is the NAIA for Student-athletes

Description: This is a course required for all student-athletes during the inaugural year of the program center and for all first-year students thereafter. It is an abbreviated version of “This is the NAIA” for coaches and focuses on eligibility, history of the NAIA, the five character values, leadership, and service to others.

Program: Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT)

Description: At least 12 student-athletes will be designated as CSM/NAIA Leaders of Character. These student-athletes will be prepared to share character-based messages with youth ages 6-18 in our community as a part of “Sparks.” They will also promote awareness of Champions of Character on campus.

Champions of Character at CSM

Program: Champions of Character Week

Description: An annual campus event to promote the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character Program. It will be organized and lead by CSM Champion Leaders.

Program: Teaching Character Through Sport

Description: Required for all Champion Leaders and open to any CSM student who aspires to coach, this course is designed to develop awareness, advocate, teach/model and hold people accountable for the five core values of respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship, which exemplify positive character development values that need to be put into right actions.

Champions of Character in the COMMUNITY

Program: “Sparks”

Description: This outreach program is designed to promote leadership.

CSM Director of Athletics, coaches, and student-athletes will exert a positive influence in the developmental process of the youth and coaches in our community by:

• Instilling an understanding of character values in sport
• Providing youth the training to help them know the right thing, do the right thing, and value the right thing inside and outside of the sports setting
• Advocating and defending the position of championing character values in CSM students and those they associate with in sports and in their communities
• Creating a positive environment that nurtures personal growth and fun sport activity for youth
• Motivating coaches to make a difference by showing them how to coach for significance

Method: CSM Athletics has established relationships with Toro Soccer, Premier Volleyball, Girls on the Run, and Quakes Softball. In addition, we will develop relationships with other organizations like the YMCA, PAL, CYO, etc. The CSM Champions of Character Director and the directors of each organization will meet to determine needs specific to the organization and a plan to meet those needs. CSM administration, coaches and student-athletes will partner with the organization to assist in teaching sport fundamentals, character values, leadership, appropriate parent and fan behavior, the role of the coach, etc.

Program: Champions of Character Summit

Description: This is a great way to reach a large audience and to “kick-off” the program center at CSM. The format brings together coaches and students from the community to hear the Champions of Character message and its positive effect on the culture of sport. It also shows how the CSM Program Center can benefit their schools and organizations.

Method: Since the NAIA conducts training and motivational presentations to groups in communities, The Champions of Character Director at CSM will seek corporate sponsorship for a “Character” community summit that will be promoted through public relations and marketing. The NAIA’s Bruce Brown and Rob Miller will be keynote speakers at the summit for teams, clubs, and organizations that wish to lead youth in changing the culture of sports in our community.

Program: Coaching for Significance

Description: This is a CSM Athletics program offered to local youth coaches as a series of advanced-level courses that provide key elements for the successful character coach. It focuses on character and coaching and includes themes like the power of a coach’s words, positive conditioning, positive traditions, the role of a coach, fan behavior, and the role of parents in athletics. To complete the program, a person must attend six one-hour courses to earn certification as “Leaders of Character—Coaching for Significance.”

Program: CSM Sports Camps/Clinics

Description: CSM coaches and student-athletes will conduct camps/clinics both on and off-campus that have a Champions of Character theme in which the core values are defined, modeled, shaped, and reinforced.

Program: CSM Champions of Character Tournaments

Description: CSM coaches and student-athletes will host youth tournaments with a Champions of Character theme in volleyball, soccer, basketball, and softball.

OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM CENTER

Staffing

Program Center Director (a.k.a. Athletics Director)

• Oversees the operations and continued development of the program center.
• Is certified by the NAIA as a Champions of Character Instructor and Champions of Character Trainer.
• Presents or facilitates the presentation of “This is the NAIA” for CSM coaches.
• Presents “This is the NAIA for Student-Athletes” to all CSM student-athletes.
• Teaches “Coaching for Significance,” a course required for all CSM head coaches and offered to community coaches.
• Instructs “Teaching Character Through Sport,” a course for students designed to develop awareness, advocate, teach/model and hold people accountable for the five core values.
• Implements Champion Leaders and prepares the student-athletes involved to share character-based messages with youth ages 6-18 in our community as part of “Sparks.”
• Initiates Champions of Character Week and supports Champion Leaders in its implementation on campus.
• Promotes “Sparks” by meeting with the directors of youth organizations to determine needs specific to the organization and a plan to meet those needs.
• Keeps records of Champions of Character events and reports to the NAIA office regularly.
• Trains or facilitates the training of new instructors.
• Presents Champions of Character messages to local organizations, schools, etc.
• Organizes and directs the CSM Champions of Character Summit.
• Coordinates and schedules annual events like Champions of Character Week and the Champions of Character Summit.
• Ensures that CSM coaches are implementing the five core values into sports camps/clinics.
• Develops a certification process for coaches at all levels.
• Develops a leadership certification program for CSM students.

CSM Coaches

• Become certified as “Character Coaches.”
• Promote Champions of Character publicly through conversation with other coaches, parents, community members, etc.
• Promote Champions of Character in public speaking engagements.
• Integrate the five core values into their programs.
• Support Sparks and any fundraising efforts tied into Champions of Character.

CSM Student-Athletes

• Participate in “This is the NAIA for Student-Athletes.”
• Compose Student-Athlete Leadership Team.
• Support Sparks and Champions of Character Week.
• Strive to uphold the five core values.

CSM Athletics Administrative Assistant

• Participate in “This is the NAIA.”
• Support the Program Center Director as needed.

Facilities

The Lied Fitness Center and the fields in Heritage Park will be the hub of the Champions of Character Program Center. The LFC multi-purpose room will serve as a classroom, and the gym will be used for large presentations. Whenever necessary, other facilities on campus will be scheduled and utilized according to College policies.

FUNDING

Corporate Partner

Benefits to Corporate Partner

• Cause Related Marketing

--Develops public awareness

--Targets new markets

--Improves the corporate image

--Boosts employee morale and commitment

--Differentiates the company from its competition

--Improves customer loyalty

--Contributes to building a better community

--Achieves positive media coverage

• Advertising in all CSM Athletics media guides, fundraisers, facilities

CSM Champions of Character Program Center will receive:

• Financial support for promotions, education, outreach
• Moral support from employees for special events and Sparks Program

• Exposure
• Campus and community involvement

Institutional

Potential Expenses:

• Support materials
• Time
• Travel

Potential Revenue:

• Course fees for “Coaching for Significance” and “Teaching Character Through Sport”
• Sport camps/clinics
• Training session fees for off-campus presentations

TIMELINE

College of Saint Mary – Champions of Character Fall Calendar of Events

(addition to program center normal activities)

(All events at Lied Center unless otherwise noted)

August 22 nd – 7:30 – All Athlete Champion of Character Session – Free of charge to any Omaha Area Athlete – All College of Saint Mary Athletes will be attending

August 19, Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct.7 – 9:30 AM – Junior Flames – Champions of Character Volleyball Clinics for ages 6-14

September 23 – Champions of Character Summit – Immediately following CSM vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan Volleyball Game(around 3:00)

October 7 – Champions of Character Walk – Begins at 8:30 at Hixson-Lied Commons – Mini-Youth Clinics, Breakfast – Call 399-2451 or 6271 for a brochure

November 4, 11 & December 2, 9, 16 Junior Flames – Champions of Character – Basketball Clinics - Ages 6-14.

Champions of Character High School Athletes recognized at all home contests.

(Nominated by coaches)

Seminars, clinics, camps, coaches training available upon request – call 399-2451 or 6271.( Sparks, Coaches availability, etc)

(Will add Junior Flames Soccer Clinics when dates are confirmed)

Rationale – We are really making an overt attempt to live these five values through our women’s development as athletes and people – each of our programs are dedicated to visibly making a difference in the way sport is applied and used as a growth environment.

• We are the only institution that is making this commitment in the area
• We are training athletes and coaches to go out and touch area athletes with our focus of these five traits
• We will stand behind this aspiration to make sport a better learning environment.
• This will touch so many kids’ lives, and we will make certain we live up to every obligation to help in Omaha area character development.