ORONO – The goal all along has been to generate discussion.
When the federally-funded initiative to produce the report Sports Done Right began more than a year ago, sparking conversation about reforming high school sports was the objective.
Tuesday, the talking truly began.
The 12 selected pilot schools attended a training session at the University of Maine to get the ball rolling in taking the report to the masses.
“It’s exciting. Today was the day,” said Karen Brown, the director for the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching. “It’s just energizing. I’m full of energy right now because I know things are going to happen. The people in this room had the passion and that was nice to see.”
Representatives from Lewiston, Auburn, Poland and Winthrop had leadership teams in attendance to discuss moving forward with Sports Done Right.
“I think it was a great start to help get us focused on what we need to do to get this instituted,” said Susan Robbins, co-curricular director at Poland Regional High School. “We’re not far off from what we’re already doing, but this is going to help us put a little more meat behind our current policy.”
Brown, Sports Done Right co-directors J. Duke Albanese and Robert Cobb, and Paula Mirk, Vice-President of Education from the Institute for Global Ethics, went through the report and facilitated discussion.
“It really served the purpose that I hoped it would, which was trying to crystallize the game plan for outreaching into the community,” said Eric Turner, Winthrop’s athletic director.
The various leadership teams participated in discussions on topics such as specialization, athletic programs beyond the schools, parental involvement and finding commonality in determining what is in the best interest of kids.
The groups then developed action plans and shared their ideas with other groups.
At this time, Lewiston and Auburn has two separate teams, but will work together as one site. That makes things a little more cumbersome as the two schools get accustomed to working together.
“We are totally different, but we are working on this together,” said Paul Amnott, Lewiston’s athletic director. “There are some things we can do together. We have to understand where they’re coming from, and they have to understand where we’re coming from.”
There be a public forum at Auburn Hall on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. Brown, Albanese and Cobb will review the report and answer questions.
Informing coaches and athletes about the report will be one of the first steps for the Lewiston/Auburn site.
“It’s a matter of getting everybody started and really understanding what the program is,” said Dan Deshaies, athletic director at Edward Little. “I’m not sure our coaches understand what Sports Done Right is, our athletes don’t and our community doesn’t. So this helps us figure out how we’re going to make people aware.”
Poland’s challenge is dealing with three different towns and school boards. Members of its committee will visit with the various schools and boards in the towns of Poland, Mechanic Falls and Minot. They’re planning on a community barbecue in late May to bring the public on board.
“A quote we often use is trying to bring three towns on one page,” said Robbins. “Poland is one of the schools where we’re trying to set the standards high, especially academically. I think now’s the time to set a really high mark for athletics. I think this will help bring legitimacy to our athletic programs.”
Winthrop has established a Community Athletic Council of 14 or 15 people. Turner hopes that group will meet sometime this month and then branch out, culminating with a public forum.
“What I really see happening here is to network out,” said Turner. “From these core schools, there will be an increasing flow of information.”
The Maine Center for Sport and Coaching will hold a similar training session May 25 for community groups that aren’t pilot schools.
“One thing we have to remember is this is something that’s never been done before and something the university has never done before,” said Brown. “So this year is going to be a learning process.”
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