CAMBRIDGE,
Mass - The America East Conference announces the launch of its
new sportsmanship program for the month of October, the America East S.T.A.R.S.
Sportsmanship Initiative. S.T.A.R.S.
(Student-Athletes Advancing Respect through Sports) was developed based on the
underlying belief that good sportsmanship habits must be instilled in athletes
at a young age.
Each of the nine member institutions has worked to create
a unique set of events that will help America East student-athletes reach out
to youth athletes and help develop their sense of sportsmanship. Each event will bring young athletes to
campus to meet with college student-athletes, attend games and receive direct
instruction about sportsmanship on and off the field.
S.T.A.R.S. events throughout October will occur before
and during America East games. Some of the sportsmanship activities planned
at various America East schools include:
-
A sportsmanship school where young athletes
will learn about good sportsmanship and receive a certificate to show they
graduated
-
Youth athletes attending campus sporting
event alongside college student-athletes to learn how to root for their team
respectfully
-
Youth athletes participating in a collegiate
pre-game handshake line so they understand the importance of treating opponents
with respect
-
Publicly recognizing youth athletes who have
demonstrated good sportsmanship on and off the field
-
Youth athletes reading the America East
sportsmanship pledge over the public address system prior to games
Keep
checking back at AmericaEast.com for the latest updates on S.T.A.R.S events.
University of Hartford's program
University of Vermont's program
About the America
East Conference: Into its third decade of operation, America
East has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences
with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing
the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions. Progressive in
its approach to its more than 3,200 student-athletes, America East recognizes
champions in each of its 20 sports. America East also conducts the nation's
most comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes.
With a geographic footprint covering the Mid-Atlantic to
Northeast regions of the United States, America East strives to develop
champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine member
institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University,
University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of New Hampshire,
Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.