University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Athletics, National Fitness Foundation Partner to Support Youth Sports
November 18, 2020 | General
CHAPEL HILL – Before they were competing for championships at the NCAA level, many of the University of North Carolina's student-athletes, coaches and staff members began their careers in youth sports, learning sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership skills that will ultimately make them champions inside and outside of athletic competition.
That's why the Department of Athletics is proud to become the first NCAA institution to partner with the National Fitness Foundation (NFF) to support and expand youth sport and athletics participation across the United States.
With support from the University, UNC Health and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and members of the NFF will announce the partnership during a virtual event on Wednesday, November 18, then sign the American Youth Sports Pledge.
The event, which will be streamed on GoHeels.com and Facebook Live, will begin at 2 p.m. Each of Carolina's 22 head coaches also have signed the pledge in recognition of a "National Signing Day" for youth sports.
"As our nation's oldest public University with one of the most extensive athletic programs in the country, Carolina is proud to become the first NCAA program to support the National Fitness Foundation in this endeavor," said Guskiewicz. "Carolina reflects our state and we are deeply invested in the health and well-being of our children. I have seen the impact of sports in my own life, and I know that this partnership will have an impact on young people from our state and across our nation."
Said Cunningham: "We are thrilled to become the first university to support the NFF by signing this pledge, and we hope other NCAA institutions will join us. The more we can encourage young people to play sports and to stay active, the better the opportunity for them learn, to build social fundamentals, to stay healthy, and to stay in school. There is a life-long benefit to exercise, and learning sportsmanship and teamwork – and that's very important to our department, our University, our state and our country."
The National Youth Sports Strategy is the first comprehensive, national effort developed for the purpose of improving health outcomes by expanding youth sport participation in America. Other organizations that have pledged their support for expanding youth sports participation in America include the AAU, NBC Sports, USA Football, Pop Warner Little Scholars, the Los Angeles Chargers, the National Council of Youth Sports and the NHL.
"I'm grateful for the leadership of the UNC-Chapel Hill administration and Athletics Department. They clearly understand how valuable youth sports are in local communities," said Clay Walker, Executive Director of the National Fitness Foundation. "Because universities play such an important role in addressing societal issues, and are an essential part of the built environment, it's critically important to have NCAA member institutions fully supporting the NYSS public health policy. There's no better university to launch this program with than Carolina."
Throughout the virtual event, Carolina coaches, staff – and fans – are encouraged to share photos of their participation in youth sports with the hashtag, #UNC4YouthSports.
For more information, and to donate to the National Youth Sports Strategy campaign, visit uncsigningday.com.
NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS PLEDGE
I pledge that I will support national, state and local efforts to expand youth sports participation in America; and encourage volunteerism, good sportsmanship and diversity and inclusion in youth sports programs in America.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS STRATEGY
The National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as a resource for policymakers and key decision-makers in youth sports. NYSS aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day, all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports — regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or ZIP code.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FITNESS FOUNDATION
The National Fitness Foundation is the only congressionally chartered nonprofit dedicated to youth sport, health and fitness in the United States. Established in 2010 as the official charity of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, the Foundation develops public-private partnerships that support the expansion of youth sports participation in America. For more information, visit fitness.foundation.
What people are saying about the partnership….
Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO, UNC Health, Dean, UNC School of Medicine
"We are proud to support the National Youth Sports Strategy along with many outstanding partners including UNC Athletics. At UNC Health, our mission is to promote the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina and we know that keeping kids active in sports and other activities is a great way to set a foundation for life-long health while also promoting vital skills like teamwork, dedication, and perseverance."
Barbara Rimer, Dean, Gillings School of Global Public Health
"The Gillings School of Global Public Health enthusiastically supports the National Youth Sports Strategy to strengthen youth, family members, and communities through participation in sports. Increasing access, and helping communities make youth sports programs and facilities safe, accessible, and inclusive is consistent with the mission of the Gillings School and our research, teaching and service in North Carolina and around the world."
Mack Brown, Head Coach, UNC Football
"I am signing the pledge to commit to American youth sports because I believe in sports, and I believe in sports for youth. I'm all in. The more we can be involved in youth sports and do it right, the more we can teach our young people values, character, toughness and how to be disciplined."
Courtney Banghart, Head Coach, UNC Women's Basketball
"I am in full support of the National Youth Sports Strategy, because life is a team sport. People of all ages watch Carolina play and the opportunity to impact young people and to show them what can happen when people work together, and show commitment, grit, and dedication to something bigger than themselves, is not something we take lightly. The power of sport carries over to so many things in life, and the younger the access to these intangible lessons, the better."
That's why the Department of Athletics is proud to become the first NCAA institution to partner with the National Fitness Foundation (NFF) to support and expand youth sport and athletics participation across the United States.
With support from the University, UNC Health and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and members of the NFF will announce the partnership during a virtual event on Wednesday, November 18, then sign the American Youth Sports Pledge.
The event, which will be streamed on GoHeels.com and Facebook Live, will begin at 2 p.m. Each of Carolina's 22 head coaches also have signed the pledge in recognition of a "National Signing Day" for youth sports.
"As our nation's oldest public University with one of the most extensive athletic programs in the country, Carolina is proud to become the first NCAA program to support the National Fitness Foundation in this endeavor," said Guskiewicz. "Carolina reflects our state and we are deeply invested in the health and well-being of our children. I have seen the impact of sports in my own life, and I know that this partnership will have an impact on young people from our state and across our nation."
Said Cunningham: "We are thrilled to become the first university to support the NFF by signing this pledge, and we hope other NCAA institutions will join us. The more we can encourage young people to play sports and to stay active, the better the opportunity for them learn, to build social fundamentals, to stay healthy, and to stay in school. There is a life-long benefit to exercise, and learning sportsmanship and teamwork – and that's very important to our department, our University, our state and our country."
The National Youth Sports Strategy is the first comprehensive, national effort developed for the purpose of improving health outcomes by expanding youth sport participation in America. Other organizations that have pledged their support for expanding youth sports participation in America include the AAU, NBC Sports, USA Football, Pop Warner Little Scholars, the Los Angeles Chargers, the National Council of Youth Sports and the NHL.
"I'm grateful for the leadership of the UNC-Chapel Hill administration and Athletics Department. They clearly understand how valuable youth sports are in local communities," said Clay Walker, Executive Director of the National Fitness Foundation. "Because universities play such an important role in addressing societal issues, and are an essential part of the built environment, it's critically important to have NCAA member institutions fully supporting the NYSS public health policy. There's no better university to launch this program with than Carolina."
Throughout the virtual event, Carolina coaches, staff – and fans – are encouraged to share photos of their participation in youth sports with the hashtag, #UNC4YouthSports.
For more information, and to donate to the National Youth Sports Strategy campaign, visit uncsigningday.com.
NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS PLEDGE
I pledge that I will support national, state and local efforts to expand youth sports participation in America; and encourage volunteerism, good sportsmanship and diversity and inclusion in youth sports programs in America.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS STRATEGY
The National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as a resource for policymakers and key decision-makers in youth sports. NYSS aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day, all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports — regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or ZIP code.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FITNESS FOUNDATION
The National Fitness Foundation is the only congressionally chartered nonprofit dedicated to youth sport, health and fitness in the United States. Established in 2010 as the official charity of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, the Foundation develops public-private partnerships that support the expansion of youth sports participation in America. For more information, visit fitness.foundation.
What people are saying about the partnership….
Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO, UNC Health, Dean, UNC School of Medicine
"We are proud to support the National Youth Sports Strategy along with many outstanding partners including UNC Athletics. At UNC Health, our mission is to promote the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina and we know that keeping kids active in sports and other activities is a great way to set a foundation for life-long health while also promoting vital skills like teamwork, dedication, and perseverance."
Barbara Rimer, Dean, Gillings School of Global Public Health
"The Gillings School of Global Public Health enthusiastically supports the National Youth Sports Strategy to strengthen youth, family members, and communities through participation in sports. Increasing access, and helping communities make youth sports programs and facilities safe, accessible, and inclusive is consistent with the mission of the Gillings School and our research, teaching and service in North Carolina and around the world."
Mack Brown, Head Coach, UNC Football
"I am signing the pledge to commit to American youth sports because I believe in sports, and I believe in sports for youth. I'm all in. The more we can be involved in youth sports and do it right, the more we can teach our young people values, character, toughness and how to be disciplined."
Courtney Banghart, Head Coach, UNC Women's Basketball
"I am in full support of the National Youth Sports Strategy, because life is a team sport. People of all ages watch Carolina play and the opportunity to impact young people and to show them what can happen when people work together, and show commitment, grit, and dedication to something bigger than themselves, is not something we take lightly. The power of sport carries over to so many things in life, and the younger the access to these intangible lessons, the better."
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