Conference Examines Middle School Sports Issues
Contact: Kay Hyatt, (207) 581-2761
ORONO, Maine –Alternatives to cutting, friction between school sports and youth sports, and the impact of specialization will be among the timely issues discussed at the Middle Level Sports Conference taking place Wednesday, March 30 at the Augusta Civic Center. “Developing Healthy Middle Level Students through Sports” is the theme of the conference, sponsored by the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching Middle Level Athletics Task Force and the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine.
“We want to engage participants in the important matters that are of interest and concern to schools, communities and anyone interested in middle level athletics,” said Karen Brown, director of the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching at the University of Maine. Many students drop out of sports in middle school, missing out on the unique physical, learning and personal growth benefits that participation offers, according to Brown. “We want to change that trend by making middle level sports more enjoyable and meaningful for students,” she said.
The conference opens with a keynote address by Dr. Robert McAfee of Portland, appointed by Gov. John Baldacci to chair the board of the newly established Dirigo Health Plan. The retired surgeon and former president of the American Medical Association, is also a member of the statewide Select Panel, which last month issued the highly anticipated report Sports Done Right: A Call to Action on Behalf of Maine’s Student-Athletes.
UMaine Women’s Soccer Head Coach Scott Atherley will give the second keynote of the day following lunch. Atherley has amassed the highest winning percentage in the program’s history, and his teams have proven to be among the strongest defensively in the Northeast Region. With the focus on excellence on and off the field, his teams have also been honored for their academic distinction. In 2002, the Black Bears were recognized as the top academic women’s soccer team in the America East Conference. Atherley will also be the speaker for the breakout session on sports specialization.
The conference will feature approximately 20 workshops led by athletic directors, community recreation coordinators, game officials and other sports leaders and professionals from around the state. In one of three morning sessions alone, participants may choose from topics such as: Innovative Ideas for Small and Rural Schools, What New Middle Level Coaches Should Know, Basic Legal Issues in Middle Level Sports, and Middle Level to High School Transition and Connection.
“The conference offers a full day of professional development for people who want to learn how to create healthy sports experiences for middle level students,” Brown said.
The registration fee, which includes lunch and conference materials, is $50. The registration deadline is March 21. For more information and to register, contact the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching at (207) 581-2443 or e-mail MaineCSC@umit.maine.edu.