Public Forums to Discuss Statewide Sports Initiative
Contact: Kay Hyatt (207) 581-2761
ORONO, Maine — Maine residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the new initiative to improve middle school and high school sports at a series of informational meetings around the state. Sessions will be held in South Portland, Rockland, Auburn, Brewer, Machias, Presque Isle and Augusta
The federally funded, University of Maine project led to development and publication of Sports Done Right: A Call to Action on Behalf of Maine’s Student-Athletes. The report, crafted by a statewide Select Panel, defines healthy interscholastic sports and makes recommendations for shaping the best possible learning environment for student-athletes. It was unveiled at a Jan. 6 rollout at the Augusta Civic Center, attended by more than 400 educational leaders, athletic directors, coaches, parents and student-athletes.
The intent of the public regional meetings is to discuss what Sports Done Right is, what’s in the report, and how schools and communities can get involved and start local conversations about the core principles that describe healthy sports experiences for young people. The informational sessions are open to anyone interested in positive sports programs for children and adolescents. These meetings would be particularly helpful to those who did not attend the Jan. 6 rollout and want to discuss the report in a small, intimate setting.
The regional meetings will be facilitated by J. Duke Albanese, project co-director and former Maine education commissioner; Karen Brown, director of the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching at the University of Maine; and other initiative staff members and Select Panel representatives as available. Robert Cobb, dean of the UMaine College of Education and Human Development, also co-directs the initiative.
Free copies of the Sports Done Right report will be available, and refreshments will be served. More information about the initiative is available on the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching website:
Regional Forum Schedule
All sessions run from 4-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 16 — South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway
Thursday, Feb. 17 — Rockland Middle School cafeteria
Wednesday, March 2 — Brewer High School cafeteria
Thursday, March 3 — University of Maine at Machias, Science Building, Room 102
Thursday, March 10 — Augusta City Center Lecture Hall (next to Fort Western)
Thursday, March 17 — University of Maine at Presque Isle Student Center, St. John Room
Thursday, March 24– Auburn Hall, All Boards Chamber, Second Floor