In the Spotlight: Play Like a Champion Today

It's something most of us have witnessed from the bleachers of a local youth sports event: stressed-out players, intense coaches and parents, a clear over-emphasis on winning at all costs. Back in 2005, the Citizenship through Sports Alliance noticed it, too, and turned out a report card giving youth sports programs a "D" average in terms of child-centered philosophy, coaching, health and safety, even parent behavior and participation.

Enter Notre Dame Professor Clark Power and his team of education, psychology, coaching and ministry experts. Together they created Play Like a Champion Today, an educational series for parents, coaches, and kids that emphasizes sports as a formation tool—that is, sports as a means toward not just physical fitness, but mental, social, moral, and spiritual growth.

In workshops with names like, "Sports as Ministry" and "Coaching for Character," Play Like a Champion aims to elevate the culture of youth sports by teaching child-centered educational practices, reasserting the value of play for young athletes, and building partnerships that will form a healthy sports climate not just here, but abroad.

Over just a half-dozen years, Play Like a Champion has educated hundreds of sports administrators, coaches, parents, and young athletes, who in turn bring the lessons learned into their own spheres of influence.Their feedback speaks to the good this initiative brings. Said one participant, "[The workshops were] simply outstanding. Extremely professional. You can be confident that you are making a difference in the world and proclaiming the word of God." Another added, "This conference gave me great inspiration...I walked away feeling we can make a difference with our mission."

To learn more about Play Like a Champion, click here.