By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
    Parents, coaches, school administrators, and representatives from youth sports programs crowded last Thursday’s Scarborough school board meeting to learn more about Sports Done Right (SDR), a program sponsored by the University of Maine’s Center for Sport and Coaching (MCSC).
    “Kids are being exploited, parents are too invested, and coaching is not where it needs to be,” said Thor Nilsen, explaining the need for the program during his presentation to the board. Nilsen, who recently retired from the athletic administrator position for Yarmouth Schools, serves as a part-time consultant for MCSC. As a consultant, Nilsen is assisting communities in exploring and adopting the program. 
    The initiative was developed to provide standards for sports in the same way that Maine Learning Results provides guidelines for academics.  A SDR school community becomes a “compact” school community, in which student-athletes, coaches, parents, athletic administrators, educators, in short anyone involved with youth sports, sign a compact each season to demonstrate their commitment to providing positive sports experiences for youth. To aid schools and communities in providing healthy and positive athletic experiences, the program outlines seven core principles that participants should adhere to. The core principles are Philosophy, Values, and Sportsmanship; Sports and Learning; Parents and Community; Quality of Coaching; Opportunity to Play; Health and Fitness; and Leadership, Policy, and Organization.
    The first principle calls for schools and community members to establish a “values-based philosophy” and codes of conduct to articulate what is expected of people participating in any level of youth sports. Attitudes that convey winning takes priority over improvement would be considered “out of bounds.” The Sports and Learning principle advocates that sports be viewed as learning opportunities. Coaches should be considered educators and they should be highly trained to successfully pass on skills to students. The third principle requests parents and community members become involved in youth sports by exhibiting positive attitudes and encouraging student athletes to be respectful of their peers and their coaches.
    One of the recommendations under the Parents and Community principle in the SDR report is that communities support a school budget that provides adequate funding for a variety of sports as opposed to one that leaves Booster clubs to come up with the funds. Assistant Superintendent, Andrew Dolloff, said Scarborough has, in the past six years, made significant steps in moving funding to the schools. He said interscholastic sports are a “bargain,” comprising roughly two percent of the total school budget. Booster club funding should also be discouraged he said because parents may see their involvement with the group as a guarantee that their child will get more playing time.     
    SDR also advocates that coaches not play favorites and allow all student athletes the opportunity to improve their skill sets. Earlier in the meeting, Scarborough Athletic Director, Frank Spencer, announced that the district still has an open spring coaching position.
    “Coaches don’t want to take the abuse,” said Nilsen referring to the trend of confrontations between angry parents and coaches. The next principle, Opportunity to Play, aims to diminish those occurrences by providing opportunities for students who do not “make the team.” Practical applications of this principle include ensuring equal opportunity for participation via increased school funding and support for junior varsity, intramural, and recreational sports. Students should also be encouraged in pursuing physical activities such as skateboarding and karate.
    SDR’s Health and Fitness principle advocates student athletes supplement their activities with a healthy lifestyle. Sports programs should put an emphasis on good nutrition and healthy levels of exercise that do not push the student over his or her limit. Students are also asked to make a commitment to abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol. Schools and community members should work to make sure all policies regarding illegal substances are clear and enforced.
    The final SDR principle, Leadership, Policy and Organization, calls for athletic administrators, parents, coaches, and students to uphold codes of conduct. Sports programs should also be subject to continuous evaluation by athletic administrators to ensure equitable involvement for students and equitable funding for programs.
    In addition to the core principles, the SDR program calls for changes in sports at the middle scholastic level and outside of school. At the middle level, student-athletes should be improving a broad base of skills rather than focusing on a position on a future position on the varsity team. Among the recommendations, the report calls for schools to  avoid post-season play and minimize the practice of cutting students from teams. For community recreational programs, the SDR report requests that parents and program leaders encourage balance in student involvement. At both levels, Nilsen said championships should be downplayed because they encourage a winning takes priority attitude.
    If the district decides to pursue SDR accreditation, Superintendent David Doyle will need to appoint a leadership team comprised of educators, parents, coaches, community members, and student-athletes. The leadership team will then attend SDR training and generate an action plan. Following adoption by the school board and the signing of the compacts, the school community will perform a self-assessment and meet with MCSC representatives. Full accreditation from the MCSC board has a five-year duration.    
    Dolloff said Scarborough is “simply exploring” the initiative at this time. He said the district is “not responding to a lot of negative issues, but seeing how (it) can improve.”
    For more information about MCSC or the Sports Done Right program, visit www.sportsdonerightmaine.org.