Schools, Communities Invited to Sports Done Right Training
Contact: Kay Hyatt (207) 581-2761
ORONO– Maine schools and communities will have the opportunity to learn more about the Sports Done Right interscholastic athletics reform initiative during a free training session set for Wednesday, May 25 at the University of Maine.
Twelve pilot site school districts, representing 29 separate schools from South Berwick to Ashland, are currently working with their communities to develop and implement local practices and policy reflecting the recommendations in the UMaine initiative report: Sports Done Right: A Call to Action on Behalf of Maine’s Student-Athletes. The report, crafted by a statewide select panel, with input from hundreds of student-athletes, provides a working philosophical base and a blueprint for creating and sustaining a healthy sports environment and experience for youth.
The extra training session is in response to the tremendous interest expressed by schools that couldn’t make the time and staff commitments required of pilot site schools. The May 25 training session runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UMaine’s Wells Conference Center. Lunch will be served. Pre-registration is required, and interested schools and communities are encouraged to form and send teams of up to four members. Registration deadline is May 16.
The workshop is designed to develop greater understanding of the Sports Done Right core principles and practices; strengthen team relationships and build contacts with teams from other communities; articulate an initial action plan to launch a local conversation about implementing Sports Done Right; and to discuss potential controversial issues regarding the initiative, including competition and winning.
More information and registration for the non-pilot site workshop is available from Karen Brown, director of the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching at UMaine: (207) 581-2443; Karen.brown@umit.maine.edu. Information about Sports Done Right, including an on-line version of the report can be found at www.mcsc.umaine.edu.