East Coast Conference Holds Fitness Challenge In Conjunction with Game Environment Workshop

November 13, 2009

East Coast Conference Holds Fitness Challenge In Conjunction with Game Environment Workshop 

	Second-ever ECC Fitness Challenge.

Old Westbury, N.Y. – Student-athletes from all eight East Coast Conference institutions gathered at the New York Institute of Technology campus on Saturday to host the second-ever ECC Fitness Challenge for local youth. 

The student-athletes led groups of 8-10 children through nine student-athlete run stations that focused on the importance of fitness and healthy living. The local children were able to interact with student-athletes while playing “Fitness Bingo,” having a “Soccer Shootout” and running “Caterpillar Races.” While the children were running through the stations, their parents were invited to attend a sportsmanship workshop with Jill Willson, an NCAA Consultant and former Athletic Director. The event was capped off with a healthy kid’s lunch from Subway that included a sandwich, apple and water.

“What a great day for the kids, their families and our student athletes!” ECC Commissioner Robert Dranoff remarked. “The youngsters really had a chance to interact with our team members, learn about fitness and have fun. Several of the parents sat in with Jill Willson and had a very open discussion of how the issue of sportsmanship needs to be addressed at the youth sport level.”

The concept of a conference-wide community engagement event was initiated by the ECC Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) council. The SWAs created the Fitness Challenge concept in 2008 and held the first event last spring at C.W. Post.

“Our student-athletes were outstanding,” said Commissioner Dranoff. “Their enthusiasm and interest in working with the children was amazing. Thanks to the SWA's of the ECC, along with (director of athletics) Clyde Doughty and Lenore Walsh of NYIT for helping making this a wonderful day.”

Following the Fitness Challenge, the student-athletes joined coaches from their respective institutions to take an in-depth look at game environment issues facing intercollegiate athletics in a workshop facilitated by Willson. The group explored what creates a positive atmosphere at games and why there are negative game environments. Willson challenged the student-athletes and coaches to construct models on promoting positive game environments and questioned how the ECC can enact change.

“The Game Environment workshop was an extremely valuable resource in educating our administrators, coaches, and student-athletes about the importance of acting respectful and positively in our competitive college experiences,” reflected Francesca DeLorenzo, head women’s lacrosse coach and SWA at Mercy College. “Jill Willson conveyed a strong message that, I feel, had an impact on the group.”

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About the ECC

Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference members include: University of Bridgeport (Conn.); C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (Brookville, N.Y.); Dowling College (Oakdale, N.Y.); Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy College (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y.); Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.).

The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; men’s and women’s cross country; men’s and women’s lacrosse; softball; men’s and women’s tennis; men’s and women’s soccer; and women’s volleyball.

The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student-athlete.