This last year, it seems that the actions of professional athletes off of the field have been scrutinized as much, or more, as on the field, specifically, the pre-game protests on the football field have brought to question the integrity and character of the players.
When we see such behavior, especially when it reflects values that are different than our own, it is easy to assume that all athletes are self-serving and narcissistic and we forget the good many of them do to support their own communities. It is encouraging that many coaches at the high school and college level are making it a priority for their players to understand the privilege and responsibility involved in being an athlete and role model.
One example is Brian Barnhill, head coach of the Utah Valley University men’s lacrosse team. Barnhill believes the contribution his team makes off of the field is as important as how they play during a game. He began looking for a way his team could contribute to the local community, and luckily stumbled upon last year’s press release regarding the opening of the new autism center at UVU. When he contacted the center, he learned about the ongoing Passages program and decided it was where his players could be most beneficial.
The Passages program is a series of classes and activities occurring every semester at UVU to support those with autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 18 to 40 more fully realize their potential and strengths through higher education, social experiences, independent living and career guidance. Since learning about Passages, Barnhill and his team of more than 30 athletes, ranging from freshmen to seniors, began finding ways to best support the students and raise awareness within the team about autism.
They have learned together that what began as an effort in community service for a team of athletes quickly turned into a mutually beneficial relationship between two different sets of students, who had things in common they had never imagined.
Barnhill cited several situations where he witnessed members of his team interacting with the students from Passages on topics ranging from comic book art to falconry. They have shared experiences such as going to climbing walls, helping set up the summer social and manning a booth at the fair. When one of the players had a birthday, a Passages student made bracelets for them.
The team has benefited by learning more about autism and the areas in which the students diagnosed struggle. The team understood that many of these individuals did not have positive high school experiences with “jocks” and were anxious about interacting with them at first. However, now the students recognize the players as friends they have on campus who have modeled for them interactive social skills, something not easy for those on the spectrum. Barnhill said, “The players have been able to help the students learn social skills in the classroom. These are skills that most of us take for granted. They are learning these skills not from teachers, but peer to peer.”
Barnhill and his team intend to continue building their relationship beyond just this year and are anxious to see where it will go. They will be holding an autism awareness game at UVU’s intramural fields on April 17 at 7 p.m.
It is not clear what the future will hold for the members of the lacrosse team at UVU or where they will end up when they graduate. What is clear is during their time at UVU, they made a difference by giving to a community of students who they would most likely not have met otherwise. If they are lucky, they will walk away realizing they not only gave of themselves, but they received something valuable from the students they spent time mentoring and befriending. We can only hope more and more high school and university coaches in all sports will follow suit and seek out ways to teach that athletic skill is only one part of being a professional.
It is a positive trend happening in our local schools and an indication that we are closing the gap of what makes us different and finding the things we have in common.
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