NAIA

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 8 clinics. And it has developed an Internet- based training course to educate athletes, coaches and athletic administrators with the skills that are necessary to promote character development in the context of any given sport. Looking to the future The NAIA has a bright future ahead of it, and it’s only onward and upward. The organization is investing in future leaders in collegiate athletics. The NAIA invests in people. Whether that comes in the form of its student athletes or its minority and female athletics administrators, the organization is committed to providing the opportunities and resources to help its people learn and grow. As such, the NAIA invests its time and resources in leadership development programs for its student athletes, growth opportunities for future administrators and mental health programs for its athletes, coaches and administrators. An example is the NAIA Governance and Leadership Academy (or GLA), which provides training on NAIA governance and strategic initiatives to minority and female athletics administrators. The GLA introduces participants to NAIA committee work and service, whilst at the same time, it enhances their leadership abilities. One such program beneficiary is Amy Beall, head coach of the volleyball program at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Beall recently shared more about her own experience with the GLA. “I’ve learned lots of good ideas for getting our academics and our faculty members more involved in the athletic world,” the coach remarked, adding that the program is “pretty impressive.” Research shows that the longer students spend in sports, their social reasoning––especially the time-honored ethos of sacrificing one’s self for the good of the team––only increases. The “Champions of Character” program helps participants find the balance by keeping these five core values––integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership––at the heart of the athletic experience. Students learn to understand how these values play out in both practice and competition. Coaches are taught how to intentionally define, model, shape and reinforce the aforesaid values through their coaching and mentor work. Parents learn how their behavior is key to supporting their athletes. For more than 23 years now, the “Champions of Character” program has been making a positive difference in developing athletes, coaches and parents of character. The NAIA is committed to advancing character-driven athletics. As well, the “Champions of Character” conducts