One of the key attributes the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) will bring to the
Greater Kansas City area is its Champions of Character initiative.
What is the NAIA Champions of Character initiative?
This initiative will create an
environment in which every NAIA student-athlete, coach, official and spectator
is committed to the true spirit of competition through respect, integrity,
responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
Throughout its history, the NAIA and its members have used sports informally as a vehicle for character
development. Because the athletic arena has become a microcosm of society, the NAIA sees the present culture of sport
as an opportunity to bring a more formal emphasis to character development.
Through awareness, education and community involvement, the NAIA will continue to develop an atmosphere of
integrity in sport. Character and cooperation will grace our youth as they compete in athletics and life.
Objectives
NAIA objectives for the Champions of Character initiative:
- To encourage all NAIA institutions to champion
character development in all sports programs.
- To
establish character development expectations for NAIA student-athletes,
coaches, administrators and spectators involved in intercollegiate
athletics.
- To
develop standards of accountability for all NAIA student-athletes,
coaches, administrators and spectators so all will take responsibility of
their actions.
- To
implement a program of assessment and accountability of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative
at all NAIA institutions.
- To
initiate a community outreach program with a character development
emphasis.
- To
develop community service outreach opportunities at NAIA championship
sites.
- To establish
a Character Center that will bring national attention to effect character
traits, educate people on character principles and develop initiatives for
character education.
The main objective of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative is to
assist those involved in sports to know the right thing, do the
right thing, and value the right thing inside and outside of the sports
setting. The intent of this program is
to have NAIA student-athletes exhibit exemplary character and sportsmanship in
NAIA athletic competitions and in day-to-day “real life” activities.
Implementation
NAIA schools across the nation have
already begun to implement Champions of Character on their campuses and in their communities. NAIA student-athletes and coaches are working directly with youth organizations, schools and civic groups to educate, promote
and incorporate the five core character values of respect, integrity,
responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship within the sporting
and/or daily activities of youth and adults.
The NAIA will continue to provide its members with materials to expand their efforts on their campuses and in their
communities. Outreach and Game Management Kits will be provided to each member institution to support these
goals.
Building a Commitment to Youth
By utilizing existing character and youth development venues to communicate the NAIA’s five core character values,
the NAIA and focus groups from the Olathe District Schools met and developed
initial thoughts on different target groups the program should include and how
each group could be reached. The chart below outlines this information:
| Student-Athletes | Coaches | Administrators | Spectators |
| Definitions of expectations | Code of Ethics | Code of Ethics | Code of Conduct |
| Awareness | Implementation tools | Conference Involvement | Awareness |
| Student-Athlete pledge | Training seminars | Training seminars | Game Mngt. Kit |
| Training Seminars | Game Management Kit | Game Management Kit |
Bringing It Home
The NAIA Champions of Character initiative began in the city of Olathe and
the Greater Kansas City area. From this point of origin, the program is expanding to regional and national levels.
The NAIA, the community of Olathe and
the Kansas City area must work together to assist the organization in the roll
out of Champions of Character. A local leadership group is a key element to
the success of the local programming.
These leaders must be ready, willing
and able to assist the NAIA incorporate its Champions
of Character initiative into the community.
For
more information on NAIA Champions of Character please visit www.championsofcharacter.org
or email us at championsofcharacter@naia.org.
