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 Mission of the Office for Youth and Young Adults - CYO Athletics
Extending the ministry of Archbishop Brunett, the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry (OYYAM) provdes resources for comprehensive Catholic youth and young adult ministry. Within OYYAM, CYO Athletics exists to provide opportunities for youth to develop strong moral character, positive self-worth, interpersonal competence, and a commitment to caring for others and their community through activities of a social, educational, and recreational nature based on Christian principles.
Youth
Boys and girls from ages 5 through 18 of any race or national origin participate in CYO Athletic programs.
Communities
The CYO Athletics community is organized around the parish as its center of activities, as this is a natural environment that provides a resource of volunteers and financial support necessary for the implementation of activities for youth. It is this environment that also encourages family participation in activities, as well as serving as a base of operations for coordinated programs and service projects to the greater community upon which youth can have a positive influence.
Quality of Life
CYO Athletics is committed to the dignity and worth of each child it serves, regardless of physical talents, mental strength, or emotional health, and hopes that the same respect for life will become a part of his or her value system. A desired outcome is that each child knows that they are wanted and loved.
Philosophy of CYO Athletics
Athletic programs are seen as one way of implementing the mission of the CYO. Program goals include:
1) to provide opportunities for youth to grow in faith;
2) to increase self-confidence and self-reliance;
3) to increase interpersonal competence;
4) to increase a sense of caring toward others.
This will help athletes understand the aspect of service to others, and will help them better understand their sense of belonging. Youth are brought together from different parishes, schools, and social backgrounds in an atmosphere that fosters the recognition of one's strengths and limitations, the lessons of winning and losing, and respect for all involved; fellow players, opponents, coaches, and officials. In other words, CYO Athletics is in the business of teaching life values that aid boys and girls in their social, spiritual, physical and emotional development towards adulthood not toward becoming a professional athlete.
This philosophy is worthwhile only to the extent that it is incorporated into the CYO athletic programs. It is this philosophy that justifies CYO's involvement in athletics. It's implementation is not optional.
Sports as Ministry
The Latin ministerium means “service”. All Christians, not just ordained, are called to ministry through baptism. CYO Athletics is a ministry of the Catholic Church. As such, sports becomes a vehicle for reaching young people, for providing opportunities for them to grow in their faith, to apply the lessons of faith to their daily lives. We need to ensure that the experience of athletics serves our young people and that they do not become servants to athletics.
In order for this to happen, much as Paul exhorts the community of Corinth, we need to focus on the imperishable crown. We must create an environment and experience that focuses on the growth and development of all involved, not just merely those who wind up ahead on the scoreboard. We must create an experience that is lasting, even after the trophies have lost their luster. We must redefine what it means to “win”.
Coach as Youth Minister
In viewing sports as ministry, it is important that the coach see themselves as minister, in response to the baptismal call. Not because coaches are required to speak profoundly on theological concepts or Catholic Church doctrine but because they must help create the environment in which these are valued and lived out. One of the coach’s greatest responsibilities is to lead the team in creating a positive culture for Christian values and compassionate competition. Adherence to these is critical to the development of the individual and the team. In order to create this culture, coaches must be willing to incorporate the “Play Like a Champion Today” approach into their coaching practice.
It was St. Francis of Assisi who said, “Preach Always. Use words if necessary”. It is an age old truth that what we do says so much more than the words we speak. This is particularly important in regards to our young people who look for congruency in what we tell them to do and how we act ourselves. Our young people see and remember how we react to a poor call by an official, they witness our integrity and compassion when it is time for our least skilled player to get in the game and they experience our response and perspective when we come up on the short end on the scoreboard.
Being a Champion is not based on the results on the scoreboard. Coaches need to be prepared to redefine success for themselves, the players and their parents. Ask the questions: Are you a good coach if your team wins a trophy? Are you a bad coach if your team doesn’t? Are players good if they win and bad if they lose? Being a Champion Coach is empowering individuals and teams to maximize their potential.
Being a Champion Athlete is reflective in how personal and team growth occurs in performance and how they carry themselves within the experience, not whether they have more points or a faster time than someone else at the end of the day.
Compassionate Competition
Our belief is that CYO Athletics should reflect an integration of the Gospel values that we are called to live out through our baptismal call. It is not a choice between compassion and competition. It is not an either or proposition. One of the great elements of athletics is the aspect of competition. If we were to remove competition, we would remove one of the essential aspects of athletics that provides teachable moments and lasting memories. It is often competition that brings out the best in who we are and helps us become something more than we believed capable.
The word competition comes from the Latin com meaning “with” and petere meaning “to strive”. It is important to note that we do not compete against someone else, we compete with them. We strive with them to bring out the best in ourselves and those we compete with. Likewise, if we are to remove compassion from athletics, we remove the framework of our faith that should inform every action we take.
The word compassion comes from the Latin com meaning “with” and pati meaning “to bear, to suffer”. Compassion is the sorrow for the sufferings of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help. Christ’s passion is that which He suffered and endured on our behalf on the cross. His passion is in union with us and with God. Through this act, He reconciles us with God. We are called as disciples to take up that cross and to act in our lives with that same sense of suffering or endurance on behalf of others, to have and to show compassion for those we encounter.
Guidelines for implementing CYO Philosophy
The bigger question may be, how do we exhibit compassionate competition in the midst of athletics? The expectation is that even in the midst of working to become the best we can be, we are mindful of those we are competing with, aware of the golden rule and what it would be like to be in their shoes in the competitive experience. When there is a talent disparity, it is imperative to act to minimize the difference in order to increase the enjoyment and growth potential of the less talented without taking away the same for the greater talent. The first step in accomplishing this is to remove the scoreboard as the ultimate determination of whether the experience was fun or not. If your team is greater in talent, why not have them shift roles so that they can play positions they are not accustomed to? Why not have them use only their non-dominant hand or foot? Why not run more complicated schemes in a game situation? Why not have them focus specifically on an area of their individual game that is less developed? Why not play your lesser talented players more? These measures will look different in different sports but all will provide an opportunity for an individual and team to grow in their coordination, sport specific skills as well as their perspective and compassion for others.
At practices, each youth will receive equal attention regardless of playing ability. The goal of coaches in CYO Athletics should be to assist every player on his or her team to utilize their God-given talents to the best of their ability in the hope that each child will leave the season with a feeling of individual accomplishment and an increased sense of self-worth. Quality of experience should be taken into account when determining roster size.
Each child who faithfully attends practice must be given an opportunity to play in actual games. The degree of participation, while depending on many variables, will basically reflect the concern the coach has for each child. Each parish in this regard may determine specifics, but CYO Athletics expects each player, at a minimum, to play one fourth of the season in game or match competition. Refer to the sport-specific sections for detailed playing time policies for each program.
Coaches must be constantly aware of the tremendous influence they have on their players, and should use this opportunity to always set a positive Christian example.
Coaches and parents must always accentuate the positive, win or lose. Comment on specific performance should always be in the context of an honest, heartfelt feeling of pride in the youth's effort. "We may have lost the game but I'm very proud because you gave it your very best"...or the sometimes applicable super honest approach..."We played poorly today but it certainly wasn't for lack of effort. You just keep working like you have and you're going to earn a lot of personal and team pride."
The overriding guideline to implementing the philosophy of CYO Athletics...BE SENSITIVE TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL ON YOUR TEAM!
CYO recommends that parish athletic associations establish and communicate expectations about what it means to fully participate in the team community in terms of attendance at scheduled practices.
Levels of competitiveness
The primary purpose of CYO is to offer quality athletic experiences that accommodate youngsters having different levels of physical abilities and aspirations. In view of this, two types of programs are provided: a RECREATION program, which is a mixture of fun and self-discipline with the emphasis on fun, and a COMPETITIVE program, which is a mixture of fun and self-discipline with emphasis on self-discipline. The desired degree of competitiveness is directly related with the skill level and age. It would be highly inappropriate to run the same type of program for 5th graders and 8th graders because of the differing levels of maturity.
Prayer
St. John Damascene defined prayer as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC, #2950). Because we need to be mindful of God’s presence within the experience of CYO Athletics, prayer is an important part of what takes place at each competitive event. It is the hope that in remembering God’s presence in our program that our actions, on the competitive field and off, will reflect well upon the call of discipleship that we encounter in our baptism and in our participation in the life of the Church. We join together in prayer as competitors because in praying for the “good things” we are not praying for victory but for a fun, growth provoking competition that will incorporate performance to the best of our abilities, good health, good sportsmanship and an experience of fellowship with all who are involved.
Pre-Event Prayer Protocol
All competitions within CYO Athletics should begin in prayer. While the cross country and track and field meets will begin with the “Prayer to See God in Youth Sports” prior to the start of the meet, the other sports should follow the protocol listed below. They can use the prayer below or the “Prayer to See God in Youth Sports”.
1. Coaches should discuss prior to gathering their teams how the prayer will be led – designated captain(s) from each team, other players, or coach(es) leading it. If the game ahead of you is running late, you do not need to do the prayer on the field or court, but please do it in a centrally located area – the desire is that we do the prayer and handshake as an entire group not as separate teams;
2. Coaches should share with players and fans that a pre-game prayer for best effort, gratitude, health, sportsmanship and respect will take place at midcourt, midfield or home plate and that handshakes will be exchanged after the prayer prior to each game or match;
3. If there is a non-Catholic team competing in the event that day, the players will stand still, quiet and respectfully lined up on their sideline or outside their dugout as the prayer takes place at midcourt, midfield or home plate;
4. Otherwise, teams meet at midcourt, midfield or home plate 5 minutes prior to the game and share the prayer;
5. Players shake hands after the prayer and return to their sideline or their dugout – if a non-Catholic school is participating in the game or match, those players will meet their opponents at midcourt, midfield or home plate for handshakes upon completion of the prayer;
Pre-Event Prayer
Creator God, as we prepare to play this (game/match), we ask your help and blessing that we may participate to the best of our abilities and with a true spirit of thankfulness so that our efforts give greater glory to you. We ask that you protect us from all injury and guide us in fair play. Help us to respect our opponents as they are our (sisters and/or brothers) also under Your Guidance. For this we pray, Amen.
CYO Athletics Code of Conduct
Each player, coach and parent/guardian will be presented with a CYO Athletics Code of Conduct at the beginning of their athletic season. All parties are required to sign this document and return it to their Parish/School Athletic Director, who will keep it on record for the athletic year. Players, coaches and parent/guardian(s) will receive a copy of this agreement so that all parties understand what is expected of them by CYO Athletics.
CYO Athletics activities should be examples of the meaning of sportsmanship and Christian values. The guiding principle behind the enforcement of this code of conduct is that the behavior of everyone involved in CYO Athletics should contribute to the positive environment for all of the youth participants.
The code of conduct serves as a behavioral guideline for all players, coaches and parents to follow. Appropriate consequences will follow violations of these codes of conduct. The player and parent’s code of conduct are below. The coach’s code of conduct can be found in the coach’s responsibility section. Copies are online in the CYO Athletics section of the OYYAM blog at www.seattleoyyam.org.
Player Code of Conduct
As an individual:
· I will develop my skills to the best of my ability and give my best effort in practice and competition.
· I will compete within the spirit and the letter of the rules of my sport.
· I will respect the dignity of every human being, and will not be abusive or dehumanizing of another individual.
As a member of a team:
· I will place team goals ahead of personal goals.
· I will be a positive influence on the relationships on the team.
· I will follow the team rules established by the coach.
As a member of society:
· I will display caring and honorable behavior off the field and be a positive influence in my community and world.
Parent/Spectator Code of Conduct
Remember (all spectators):
· That the players are youth and are playing for their enjoyment, not yours.
· To remain seated in the spectator area during all contests.
· To respect decisions made by contest officials.
· Be a role model by positively supporting both teams and not by shouting instructions or criticism to the players, coaches, or officials. Please do not coach from the stands!
· Make no derogatory comments or gestures (including making noise to distract) to players, coaches, or fans of your own or the other team.
· Remember that adults set the example for the behavior of their team. If you see negative behavior, please try to appeal to their conscience at the appropriate time.
Penalties:
· Participating teams and their coaches are responsible for the conduct of their spectators.
· Any spectator who displays poor sportsmanship may be removed from the event by an official/referee, their team coach, a host-site gym supervisor, a CYO Athletics Sports Commissioner or a CYO Athletics Administrative Official.
· Any spectator who interferes with the conduct of a CYO Athletics event may, at discretion of the spectator’s parish/school or the CYO Athletics Advisory Committee, be barred from attendance at subsequent CYO Athletics events.
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