GOALS OF THE CYO PROGRAM

The goals of the St. Raymond's CYO Program are to provide a Christian atmosphere of play, enabling children:

• To maintain good health through physical fitness; 

• To develop social skills and an appreciation of diversity;

• To develop healthy relationships with trained adult leaders who see their role not only as coaches but as youth ministers; 

• To learn sports skills;

• To develop and practice good sportsmanship with teammates, to other teams and to sports officials;

• To grow in the qualities of courage, initiative, honesty, cooperation, self-confidence, and loyalty;

• To learn an appreciation of rules and performance in regards to rules;

• To play at their own level of ability and to be able to recognize and to accept that level;

• To work for legitimate goals; 

• To accept winning with humility and to accept defeat gracefully;

• To have an opportunity through athletics to practice Christian values and virtues;

• To grow closer to God, to the Church, to each other.

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PURPOSE

A diocese or a parish sponsors a Catholic Youth Organization as one dimension of its total ministry to youth. Athletic programs can help young people toward imperishable crowns as well as perishable ones. A parish CYO program justifies its existence and the sacrifice and expense it entails only if it allows young people to practice Christian attitudes and responsibilities.

In CYO programs, emphasis rests not on the number of games won or lost, but on the participants’ attitude in victory or defeat. Learning how to lose is just as important as learning how to win. Learning how to win graciously is more important than winning itself.

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CYO programs serve the needs of all youth. They enable the gifted to excel, the less gifted to participate and improve. “Star” athletes and teams do not receive exclusive attention.

Principles of fair play and sportsmanship must govern every game. Dishonesty has no place in CYO competition. CYO competitors must not borrow from professional sports questionable techniques for winning at any cost.

All participants should have the respect of others on their own team and the opposing team. Competitors should regard the opposition as friends, not enemies.

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CYO participants should have a spirit of loyalty to CYO ideals, to parish, to coach, and to the team. They should learn patience with and tolerance of those of less ability. They should feel grateful to all who make the CYO program happen. Speech and actions should reflect Christian values.

At times, during the heat of competition, a participant may temporarily forget some rule of conduct. Prompt correction can turn even failures into learning experiences.

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Ultimate responsibility for the success of CYO programs lies with the volunteer adult participant. Adults involved in CYO must remember that the program exists for the Christian growth of young people. Conduct of adults must always model Christian values and virtues. When adults forget the primary focus of CYO, the program becomes destructive. When adults remain faithful to the Christian ideals of CYO, they exercise a unique and rewarding ministry to the young with whom they come in contact.

“Run to win,” St. Paul advises (I Cor. 9:24). In CYO athletics, all who compete can win, if they run to win the real prize; closer union with Jesus Christ.

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PRAYER

Prayer with young people is encouraged. All CYO activities will begin with prayer. The home team is responsible for leading a prayer prior to each game, with both teams assembled at center court. At track and cross country meets, all participants and coaches assemble for prayer prior to each meet. Parish/school CYO programs should encourage prayer during team practices and should consider hosting an annual parish CYO Mass.

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