Cumberland University

Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall education experience. In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character-building aspects of sport. Through Champions of Character, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official, and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five tenets: respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship. The NAIA Champions of Character Program is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide student-athletes, coaches, and parents the training to help them know the right thing, do the right thing, and value the right thing inside and outside the sports setting. 

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The vision of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character program is to change the culture of sport. Its mission is to provide training to instill the values that build character so students, coaches and parents know, do and value the right thing on and off the field.

Research shows that the longer a student spends in sports, their social reasoning – sacrificing for the good of the team – rises.

The Champions of Character program helps participants find the balance by keeping five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership – at the heart of the athletics experience.

Students learn to understand how the values play out in both practice and competition. Coaches are taught how to intentionally define, model, shape and reinforce the values through their coaching and mentoring. Parents learn how their behavior is key to supporting their athletes.

For more than a decade, Champions of Character has been making a difference in developing athletes, coaches and parents of character.

The NAIA is committed to advancing character-driven athletics. 
 

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NAIA Champions of Character Core Values

• Respect
• Integrity
• Responsibility
• Servant Leadership
• Sportsmanship