Catholic Schools Week and Athletics

This week marked the 34th annual “Catholic Schools Week.” Catholic Schools celebrated “the important role that Catholic elementary and secondary schools play in providing values-added education for America’s young people.” (NCEA website) For most schools, the week consists of special prayer services, Masses, dress-down days, teacher-appreciation days, and community meals shared between students, parents and school faculty.

This week should also present a wonderful opportunity for Catholic schools to promote the Catholic identity not only of their academic programs, but also of their school athletic programs. Many of our nation’s Catholic Schools are known for their competitive sports programs. Nearly half of the high school athletic programs ranked in the Top 25 by Sports Illustrated in 2007-2008 are Catholic High schools.

But the pride in our nation’s Catholic school athletic programs should not be in the numbers of state titles or Division I athletes that they produce. These athletic programs and others like it all across the country have an amazing opportunity to develop young athletes to be leaders, men and women of virtue and character, and selfless servants for others. “The Catholic school is committed thus to the development of the whole man, since in Christ, the Perfect Man, all human values in find their fulfillment and unity,” wrote the Congregation for Catholic Education in its document “The Catholic School.” (no. 35) Such an education includes “physical education and sports,” wrote the Congregation in “The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School.” (no. 84)

This is why the University of Notre Dame, with its strong reputation for academic and athletic excellence, has created a program to improve the Catholic identity of athletic programs in Catholic schools. This program presents a “Sports as Ministry” approach to coaching that is both athlete-centered and competitive. Based on the latest research in motivational psychology, theology, and sport physiology, the Play Like A Champion Today™ Sports as Ministry program is designed to help athletic programs renew their Catholic image and focus on the student-athletes. It is time to reclaim the culture of sports in Catholic schools and the Play Like A Champion Today™ program is the leading catalyst for change.