In the Spotlight: Marty Raines

Good sportsmanship, respect for officials, sports as ministry—these are not fresh concepts for Marty Raines, associate director of Columbus, Ohio's Diocesan Recreation Association. In fact, they are common sense. "That's how I was raised," she says.

But after about 30 years of coaching (as a teacher, a principal, and now), the sports enthusiast knows that along many sidelines and courtsides, these concepts are often missing. So when she heard about Play Like a Champion Today®, she said to herself, "This sounds like something we should be doing in the diocese." She attended a Play Like a Champion conference and, she says, "I was sold."

Now in her fourth year with the diocese, Marty says it took a couple of years to roll out a plan for involving coaches and parents in the Play Like a Champion ministry. But as of today, nearly half of her 1000 coaches have attended a training session, with the remainder scheduled for sessions throughout the upcoming year.

Considering the influence these men and women have on the 10,000 children participating in the diocese's parish athletics, that's a tremendous impact Play Like a Champion will have in Columbus. Marty couldn't be happier about that.

True to her upbringing, Marty emphasizes that sports should bring out the joy and teamwork of children. Winning isn't everything, she says, which is why the question she always asks kids after a game is, "Did you have fun and did you try your hardest?"

Play Like a Champion is grateful for Marty's enthusiastic support of the program and recently recognized her for her service to the community and the Church in Columbus, Ohio.  The photo above shows her with the award, standing alongside Play Like a Champion's Kristin Sheehan and Clark Power.