NAIA athletes stress character to students

2009 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships

Posted 03.06.09

Johnson City Press
By Marianne Steffey
msteffey@johnsoncitypress.com

Along with skill, good athletes also possess the ability to work as a team and be a champion while off the playing field.

On Thursday, student-athletes from Concordia University in Portland, Ore., were showing sixth- and seventh-graders at Indian Trail Middle School how to develop skills necessary for competing in track and field events, while also telling them that academics and good character go hand in hand with sports.

Their visit was part of “Champions of Character” days where student-athletes participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes track and field competition this weekend visited Johnson City schools to promote health and wellness that extends beyond the physical.

“They are talking about teamwork and cooperation,” said David Nutter, health teacher. “They’re not only talking about actions on the playing field, but what you do off of it. They stress how academics play a key role in sports because without academics sports is nothing. Sports is a privilege to these athletes and we’re trying to instill that idea here at Indian Trail.”

The students were divided into three groups. Each group learned a different skill. In Herman Johnson’s group, students learned the “basics” of the long jump. One by one the students lined up to practice their new skills by attempting to hop over an invisible bar.

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