ROA® RESEARCH BRIEFS

Character Education
Ongoing training and professional development for coaches, athletics administration staff and student-athletes.

• Ensure ALL coaches complete Character-Driven Coaching course, review coaches’ profiles annually.
• Champions of Character PA Announcements. Utilize these PAs to promote the 5 Core Values and encourage positive fan behavior. These spots are available in both 15 and 30 second formats and can be used during games or live-streamed events.
• Boost awareness of the 5 Core Values by featuring our latest Champions of Character commercial during your live-streaming events. Enhance the impact by co-branding: add your institution and conference logos alongside the Champions of Character logo at the end of the video.
• Use the Champions of Character PowerPoint presentation and promotional video during student-athlete and new athletic staff orientation sessions to introduce and emphasize the importance of character from the outset.
• Make sure all marketing and educational materials feature the new Champions of Character logo.
• Follow the Hiring a Coach of Character guide to help ensure new hires embody the values and principles of the Champions of Character program.
• Explore the NAIA Learning Hub for examples and resources on Champions of Character and character development.

Hospitality & Game Management
Oversight of athletics events include Conduct in Competition Guide

• Conduct contests according to the Conduct in Competition Guide.

Share the Character Message
Organize a servant leadership activity characterized by student leadership and athletic community engagement.

• Develop Champions of Character outreach activities in your community; partner with a local school or organization to deliver the core value message.
• Conduct at least one student-led, servant leadership activity per academic year.

Promote & Recognize Character

• Submit award nominations.

Oversight & Assessment

• Understand the Champions of Character Core Report requirements and input Core Report data in NAIA Connect.
• Use the Core Report to identify areas that need improvement; review ejections and suspension report to address areas of concern.

Sample Champions of Character Handbook

• KCAC Champions of Character Handbook

Promote & Recognize Character
With awards and recognition of conference officials, athletics directors, coaches, and student-athletes.

• Coordinate Champions of Character National Awards for your Conference.
• Recognize officials, Athletic Directors, coaches, and student-athletes for demonstrating character with individual and Champions of Character All Conference Team awards.
• Create a Champions of Character page for your conference website.

Oversight & Assessment
Of progress in implementing conference plans

• Use the results from the Champions of Character Core Report in NAIA Connect to assess your conference plan.
• Conduct game experience survey for officials, athletic directors, and coaches.

• Guide
• Official & Policy Handbook
• Code of Ethics
• FAQ Ejections and Suspensions

Officials

It is important that everyone understands the role they play in developing champions of character including officials. As officials of the NAIA, your role is vital as you have the opportunity to shape the lives of young people by ensuring that ethics, sportsmanship and fair play remain important factors during competition.

We will ask you once again to continue to enforce the expectations of the NAIA by the following:

• Enforce a “zero tolerance” rule on profanity in NAIA competition. NAIA officials will be expected to apply penalties (e.g., personal fouls, yellow cards) to any participant (player or coach) in NAIA competition.
• Game officials must submit an ejection report through the NAIA national office when an ejection of a coach or student-athlete occurs during a contest.