Dec. 19, 2006
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Center Valley, Pa. - Forty-six individuals from the Patriot League office and its eight-member institutions convened in Bethlehem, Pa. for the Patriot League's first-ever sportsmanship summit, which was facilitated by Alan Patterson, the chair of the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct.
"Sportsmanship is a cultural issue that extends beyond the athletic department to the entire campus community," Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich said. "The message across the League is that we want and expect to be leaders with respect to good sporting conduct, to be role models. We want to set a higher standard that all eight campuses will embrace and be active participants in assuring a positive atmosphere at Patriot League events.
"The bottom line is there is no quick fix. This issue requires a committed and sustained effort from everyone, including the involvement of our administrators, campus leaders, student-athletes and coaches. The Patriot League office's role will be to serve as a resource and facilitator."
The subsequent report from the Summit was received and enthusiastically endorsed by the Patriot League's Council of Presidents at their meeting last week. The Patriot League will now create a standing League-wide sportsmanship committee with a focus on supporting teams in a positive way. Additionally, each institution will be charged with creating its own sportsmanship committee, to include representation across the campus, including the student body, not just student-athletes.
The Summit's role call was coordinated by Patriot League Associate Executive Director for Sports Management and Governance Joanna Kreps and included several athletic directors, deans of students, directors of resident life, student government representatives, head coaches, faculty, student-athletes as well as individuals from athletic marketing, communications and facilities.
The Summit was a continuation of the first steps initially taken by the Patriot League's Council of Presidents in 2002 when they endorsed the Patriot League Code of Conduct based upon principles on which the Patriot League was founded - fairness, equality and excellence in academics as well as in athletic participation.
The Patriot League member institutions will ensure that their athletic programs promote and require the highest standards of sporting behavior and ethical conduct by all participants and supporters while providing venues that foster an environment of fair play and civility.
The concept of the Patriot League's Sportsmanship Summit was advanced by the Patriot League's Policy Committee and endorsed by the Patriot League's Council of Presidents. Discussion points included the type of environment desired at all Patriot League events, how to educate fans, parents and alumni, how to proactively discourage poor sportsmanship and how best to react when incidents do occur.
Patterson, who is also the commissioner of the Carolinas Virginia Athletic Conference, has facilitated a number of these Summits since becoming chair and said he cannot recall one that involved such a broad group of campus and athletic representatives.
"Kudos to the Patriot League for sponsorship and organization of a productive two-day Sportsmanship Summit," Patterson said. "This Summit was distinctive because of the campus wide representation and partnership aimed at sustaining proactive sportsmanship."
"Today's Scholar-Athletes, Tomorrow's Leaders" - The Patriot League continually demonstrates that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing its high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.