The Play Like a Champion Today® (PLACT) Program of the University of 91�Թ� will hold its 7th annual on the 91�Թ� campus June 22-24.

This annual conference is perhaps one of the largest gatherings of youth and high school sports coaches, athletic directors and administrators in the country preparing leaders from both public and church sponsored sports organizations through coach and parental educational programs.

Leaders from a variety of fields – sports, psychology, education, medicine, athletic administration, theology, sociology, exercise science and business – will explore with participants the many ways in which the youth and high school sports experience shapes the moral, character and spiritual development of children through their high school years. It is a defining opportunity to learn the latest methods in sports-based character growth initiatives and to network with sports leaders sharing best practices around the country.

Play Like a Champion Today® partners with schools and sports organizations by offering coaching personnel and parents interactive workshops in all areas of champion character education. In the seven years since the program launched, more than 20,000 coaches and 5,000 parents have completed PLACT workshops and 95 percent say they would recommend it to others. These participating adults have in turn touched the lives of more than a half-million young athletes in North America alone.

This year’s conference will focus on developing the safe and nurturing sports environment for all ages through high school with a special emphasis on the issue of bullying and a team approach to bully resolution. “In many ways schools can learn from good sports and coaches practical and sustained methods to solve the bullying issue. Coaches working with their teams to look out for each other rarely have sustained bullying issues” said , PLACT director and a professor of liberal studies and psychology at 91�Թ�, in a recent interview.

In addition to the conference, this year an inaugural half day Champion Gridiron Coaches Clinic is scheduled for June 22. Participating coaches will engage with such football greats as Reggie Brooks, former 91�Թ� All-American and pro football player; former 91�Թ� football coaching staff members Bill Lewis and Bill Reagan; and Bill Doba, former Washington State head coach, along with other football-notables, discussing the Xs and Os of offensive and defensive strategy and best practices of the winning coach.

Conference highlights this year will include the Champion Keynote Address “Social Concerns for Today’s Athlete” offered by Grant Teaff, president of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and 2001 College Football Hall of Fame inductee; and dinner in the 91�Թ� Stadium press box with Theresa Grentz, head coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, providing insights into “Lessons Learned Playing a Child’s Game." Day two will bring together Muffet McGraw, head coach of the 91�Թ� 2012 NCAA National Championship finalist women’s basketball team; Martin Ingelsby of the 91�Թ� men’s basketball program; Christine Halfpenny, 91�Թ� women’s lacrosse head coach; Deanna Gumpf, head coach of the 91�Թ� softball team; and Mik Aoki, head coach of the 91�Թ� baseball team for a 91�Թ� Collegiate Coaches Panel leading an open discussion forum with conference attendees.

Some of this year’s noteworthy conference sessions will highlight topics such as: Creating a GROW-th Oriented Champion Sports Culture; the U.S. Sports Development System; Educating for a Champion Sport Environment; and A View from the Other Side: Self-Esteem v. Self-Confidence in Youth Sports. In addition breakout sessions relating to coach leadership, marketing for your league/school, presentation skills for sports leaders and championship sports parenting will be offered.

The Play Like a Champion Today® team is led by Power, a 30-year member of the 91�Թ� faculty; Kristin Komyatte Sheehan, 91�Թ� graduate and Monogram Club member; and Oscar McBride, a 1994 91�Թ� graduate and four-year letter winner under former head football coach Lou Holtz.

Full Conference details and registration are available . For more information about Play Like a Champion Today® and its educational programs offered year round, visit or contact the PLACT office on campus at 574-631-9981 or plc@nd.edu.

The film “Bully,” opening in some theaters today, addresses an issue that is verging on an epidemic with more than 18 million young people reportedly being bullied in the United States this year alone.

Before the motion picture has even hit the big screen, it already is inspiring a wide array of opinions ranging from educators to Lady Gaga. And all too often, the suggested solution to bullying will be a “one and done” event — an ineffective approach, according to a University of 91�Թ� psychologist.

“Bringing in a one-time motivational speaker to raise awareness will not resolve this issue and is a waste of money,” says , a professor of liberal studies and psychology who specializes in moral education and development. “Even worse, this approach will salve the conscience without solving the problem.”

Power believes the only real solution involves commitment and consistency to change the culture over time. Through his research, he has concluded the only real solution is to focus on changing the culture, not the bully’s behavior or the victim’s responses exclusively.

“The key to change is to focus on the bystanders and get them to own the bullying issue themselves by becoming involved. Often fear of being bullied themselves is the barrier to becoming involved. And the only way to create involvement is to create understanding that the bully is not the problem of just the victim alone, but the problem of all.”

Over the years, research first focused on the victim — producing no significant solution. Next the pathology of the bully was studied — again with no measurable results. Research has shown that real change occurs only when you work with the kids themselves in a group to change that group’s culture. For example, working with kids in a safe group environment with hypothetical dilemmas allows each member to feel what it is like to be both the victim and the bystander. Once kids are comfortable in this environment, researchers can move them to solve bullying issues in their “real life” through development of shared group norms.

Power has worked in the area of moral development and culture for the majority of his academic career. Approximately 10 years ago he formed the for youth and high school sports. This program is a forum for coaches, athletic administrators and parents to address issues such as bullying and character development within a team.

“In many ways, schools can learn, from good sports and coaches, practical and sustained methods to solve the bullying issue. Coaches working with their teams to look out for each other rarely have sustained bullying issues because the team will rally around a victim and shut the bullying down.”

Power and his team are currently concluding a research project within the South Bend Community School Corp. on moral development, with early findings validating the team culture approach to bullying as being sustainable both in the arena and in life.

Contact: Clark Power, 574-631-7343 or 574 315-5913, f.c.power.1@nd.edu; Jane Ralser, Play Like A Champion Educational Series, 574-229-2552, jralser@sbcglobal.net