Yale Bulletin and Calendar
News Stories

Athletics Department cited for Community Outreach Program

Yale's Community Outreach Program -- which brings varsity athletes together with area youngsters for sports- and education- oriented activities --has garnered recognition from Athletic Management magazine, receiving the periodical's Award of Excellence in the Community Relations category. The announcement was made in the magazine's February/March 1997 issue.

The Community Outreach Program, which is coordinated by student athletes, was established by the Athletics Department in February of 1995. The program is the result of Athletic Director Tom Beckett's desire to see the department become more actively involved with the New Haven community, says Timothy Ford, assistant director of athletics, who coordinates the Community Outreach Program. Over the past two years, more than 250 student athletes and 20 coaches have volunteered their time for events involving over 2,500 youth from the Greater New Haven area.

"It's the students who have driven the direction of the program," says Mr. Ford in the Athletic Management article announcing the award. "All of the events are based on their interests and time commitments." A Community Outreach Committee COC , with representatives from all 33 varsity teams, oversees student athlete activities, explains Mr. Ford. The COC is also a member of the Dwight Hall Cabinet.

The goals of the community outreach programs, says Mr. Ford, are to give student athletes the opportunity for community involvement; open Yale athletic events, facilities and fields to area groups, organizations and schools; and develop creative programs beneficial to the Yale community.

The programs benefit both the youngsters and the student athletes, observes Mr. Ford. "As much as our students have to offer and can serve as role models, they are also learning a lot from the youth they are involved with," he says. "There seems to be a natural fit when the kids and the student athletes are together. You see the smiles and the excitement on the kids' faces, but our athletes also seem to be having as good of a time."

The following programs currently are being offered:

• "Youth Days" brings area youngsters to Yale's athletic facilities four times a year. Yale Football Youth Day, offered in the fall, brings over 300 New Haven youth for instructional sports clinics and other activities. Olympic Youth Day, held in the spring, includes an opening ceremony and theme-oriented clinics "teamwork," "education," "self-worth" and "discipline," for example led by over 100 Yale athletes and coaches. A Yale Hockey Youth Day and Winter Youth Day are also presented annually.
• The "Middle School 'Buddy' Program" pairs a Yale athlete, coach or staff person with a 5th- or 6th-grader from Troup Middle School. Those participating spend approximately one hour a week at the school with their "buddy," serving as friend, mentor and tutor. During the 1995-96 school year, 40 Yale athletes were involved in the program.
• Through the "Athletes in Action Program," athletes or coaches visit local youth organizations, schools, community groups or senior citizen centers to talk about college life, their individual experiences and athletics, and to demonstrate sport skills. The visits occur about once a month. The participating organizations are invited to a home athletic game to continue the relationship between the athlete and the community group.
• In 1996, Yale participated for the first time in the "National Youth Sports Program," NYSP a summer day camp designed to give children the opportunity to participate in group sports instruction and competition with children of similar ages. The NYSP is a partnership between the federal government's Department of Health and Human Services and the National Collegiate Athletic Association and is supported by a combination of federal funds and college resources. At Yale the NYSP aims to expose participants to the many resources on the Yale campus, including athletic facilities, dining halls, museums, art galleries and libraries. Twenty Yale student- athletes, coaches and staff worked with 260 children last summer.
• The "Read to Succeed Program" provides children with incentives for reading books and gives them public recognition for their accomplishments at Yale athletic events. In addition, Yale athletes and coaches visit local schools to promote the program and talk about athletics.

Other events and programs in which student athletes participate are the LEAP Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership Program; the New Haven Children's Program or YAK Yale Athletes & Kids ; the Elementary School Sport Clinic Program; Outreach Speaker Program; Sports Equipment Drive; West Hills Middle School Extended Day Basketball Program; Habitat for Humanity; and the Walter Camp Foundation "Stay in School" Rally.

In addition to making the award announcement, Athletic Management profiled Yale in the February/March issue. The University will be presented a commemorative plaque by the magazine, which serves more than 30,000 college and high school athletic administrators in North America.