Kansas City Parochial League board members and trainers Dave Schmitt and John Svetlecic, and Vince Fitzgerald, League director, show their Certificates of Recognition with Kristin Sheehan and F. Clark Power, of ‘Play Like A Champion Today.’

What follows is a copy of the article on the KCPL which appeared in the KANSAS CITY Catholic Key — Shortly after taking the reins of the sports program in 2002, and following a diocesan mandate, Kansas City Parochial League director Vince Fitzgerald began requiring volunteer coaches and assistants to participate in “Protecting God’s Children,” a child sexual abuse awareness program. Each coach receives certification that they have taken the course, and may not continue coaching unless they have that certification on file with their school’s principal. Certification must be renewed periodically.

Four years ago the former Visitation School football and basketball coach introduced a new educational series to coaches and volunteers in the diocesan elementary school sports programs.

Last month, Fitzgerald and Parochial League board members Dave Schmitt and John Svetlecic, were presented with Certificates of Recognition, signed by the university’s president, for their efforts in the “Play Like a Champion Today” series.

The series, “Coach Like a Champion Today,” “Play Like a Champion Today,” and “Parent Like a Champion Today,” were developed by the Center for Ethical Education at the University of Notre Dame, for coaches and parents of young athletes, as well as the athletes themselves. It is a research-based, child-centered approach to youth sports designed to help Catholic elementary school sports programs reflect Gospel values. Through discussion and educational materials, coaches learn that coaching is a ministry, and the sports program is a continuation of Catholic education; athletes learn to have fun and bring their best to the game. There is nothing wrong with winning, but losing a game doesn’t make them losers. Each game is a new game. Non-coaching parents learn to work with coaches and act as partners to provide young athletes with a rewarding experience. Parents also learn to develop a positive “spectator climate” that respects and supports all the players and the officials.

Parochial League director Vince Fitzgerald said that after parents take the workshop, they should be able to understand the “current culture of youth sports, bear witness to sport’s spiritual side and learn and carry out the techniques of championship parents.”

Fitzgerald said that he decided to introduce this new workshop after several minor incidents involving over-zealous parents during basketball tournaments.

“Winning is important, but more important is how you achieve the win,” he said.

The schools’ athletic directors will coordinate the sessions, which must be completed between mid-September and mid-November.

Fitzgerald said that in four years, more than 1,000 coaches and 1,500 parents in this diocese have been trained to see coaching as ministry. “Coaches and parents have a bigger influence on kids’ lives than they may realize,” he said. “This series helps coaches and parents realize that in sports, they are like youth ministers to the players.”

There are youth sports programs in dioceses all over the country using segments of the program, but only two dioceses, Kansas City-St. Joseph and Los Angeles, that have the original coaching as ministry, recertification and parent programs in use.

The coaches training is what it’s all about, Fitzgerald said. The series uses the GROW approach:

G (goals) emphasize that each child has different skill levels and set obtainable goals

R (relationships) develop sportsmanship — respect coaches, officials, fans and other players

O (ownership) make kids feel like they have ownership of their team, confidence and responsibility

W (winning) winning is important, and it is how the game is played.

In reports the last two years, the athletic programs in this diocese have surpassed the national average in attendance, participation, satisfaction with the program and recommendations to others.

“We’re proud of it,” Fitzgerald said. “The ‘Like a Champion’ series makes coaches think and it helps parents and coaches be on the same page with youth sports.”

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