Mission and Values
CYO endeavors to help young people be more Christ-like in the way they live. The young person, not the athletic activity, is the focus of CYO athletics. CYO provides an opportunity for as many eligible young people as possible to experience spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional growth through participation in CYO sports.
Purpose
The purpose of CYO athletics is to provide inter-member athletic competition for the youth of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. This is accomplished by:
- Providing an organizational structure for athletic competition.
- Establishing regulations for athletic governance and individual sports.
- Establishing and monitoring standards for individual participants, coaches, volunteers and contest officials.
- Providing information and programmatic materials to facilitate communication among participating members.
- Establishing and monitoring standards for good sportsmanship and healthy athletic competition.
- Establishing standards to manage risk and prevent the exploitation of members and participants.
- Providing an opportunity for as many eligible young people as possible to experience spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional growth through participation in CYO sports.
Mission & Values
- CYO endeavors to help young people be more Christ-like in the way they live. CYO promotes participation and sportsmanship to foster the total development of participants and influence the formation of Christian values.
- CYO serves youth in the Diocese of Cleveland with the leadership necessary for the coordination and administration of athletic activities between members which provide equitable opportunities for participation in a safe environment to enhance the experience of the young athlete.
- In the administration of its programs, those involved with the CYO strive to promote the following Values of Catholic Charities.
- Dignity of Person - “…in the Divine image God created humanity…” (Genesis 1:27). CYO Athletics shall contribute to the dignity of each athlete by accepting one another with compassion, respect, patience, kindness, humility and understanding.
- Hope - “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). CYO Athletics shall nurture a positive spirit in each athlete by believing that each individual has been created by God and is capable of making significant contributions to the community.
- Service - “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (Peter 4:10). CYO Athletics shall nurture a spirit of selfless service by providing opportunities and challenges to young people and adults as they learn about themselves and others as they grow in service in their parish community and beyond.
- Justice - “This is what God asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). CYO Athletics shall create an atmosphere where Sportsmanship and Fair Play are the cornerstones. CYO will develop the character of the participants and emphasize the importance of integrity, respect and accountability in our daily lives.
Athletic Philosophy
CYO Athletics endeavors to help young people be more Christ-like in the way they live. CYO programs focus on the total development of participants in order to influence the formation of Christian values. CYO sports are a significant component of a member’s ministry to its young people. CYO therefore requires the support, leadership, and supervision such a program needs. CYO Athletic programs foster the development of physical skills, social skills, emotional growth, affirmation of gifts and spiritual strength. The young person, not the athletic activity, is the primary focus of CYO Athletics. Therefore, we believe that:
- All CYO Athletic programs should be well organized and maintain standards of high quality.
- All athletes on a team have the right to participate in the game (Mandatory Participation).
- Participants should have the opportunity to be involved in athletics at an appropriate age/grade level.
The coach is critical in CYO Athletic programs. The coach’s primary role is that of youth ministry leader, therefore, the coach should strive to act at all times as a model of Christ-like values and behaviors. The coach serves young people as a teacher and a mentor who helps them learn important lessons through all athletic experiences.
Successes are important for any team. It is the role of the coach to enable the athletes and parents to see success not only in terms of winning. The coach teaches, that by setting achievable personal and team goals and striving for those goals, everyone is successful and “a winner.” In CYO Athletics, success is not measured by the final score. Success is measured by the effort of individuals striving to achieve team goals while respecting themselves, their teammates, and their opponents and at the same time having fun.
We affirm that the heart of CYO Athletics and the key to its success is found in the many volunteers who freely give of their time, energy, resources, and expertise. It is the right of everyone associated with CYO to expect volunteers and CYO Staff to model the values and ideals of our Catholic faith. Volunteers therefore must develop their skills through participation in mandatory training to help them learn the CYO philosophy and bring it to life at the parish or local level.
All CYO Athletic programs should contribute to faith building efforts for young people. These programs can be effective tools when used to invite, welcome and involve all persons into the life of the faith community. The inter-relationship of CYO Athletics with family life, parish life, and school life is essential.
CYO Athletics is committed to the acceptance of and love for people of all nationalities and races. Through our CYO program we work to build a community and a bond of unity that leads to caring for one another in the ways that Jesus taught.