Le Provocateur

Issue date: 9/15/04 Section: Sports

On the field, athletes are expected to focus their maximum aggression towards their opponent. However, when the game is over, players can have trouble dealing with their aggression off the field. In order to help athletes deal with this problem, the football team took part in the Mentors for Violence Prevention (MVP) Program this past preseason between their regular meetings and practices. The program was started in order to help athletes control their aggression, as well as to discuss many issues facing student athletes.

Dr. Neil Castronovo and David Kowalczyk, Student Development and Counseling Center counselors, along with Head Football Coach Cory Bailey and Senior Captains Brian Gordon and Paul Randazzo helped get the program underway.

"Gordon and Randazzo were chosen to head the program because they are our team captains," said Bailey. "They have exhibited strong leadership skills and are highly respected members of the team."

The MVP Program was originally started at Northeastern University, and has been utilized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the New England Patriots. The focus of the program is to both educate and help the athletes, especially in traditionally violent sports such as football and hockey.

"The purpose of the program was to address concerns about anger control off the football field," said Bailey. "Football is an aggressive, violent game in which emotions run high. By discussing ways to control these emotions off the field, we are able to head off potential problems."

In addition to harnessing aggression off the field, the ability to stay in control on the field is also very important.

"The prevention of physical and verbal abuse is a primary goal of the MVP Program," said Kowalcyk. "It encourages athletes to accept their responsibility to be positive role models."

The programs can promote focus and concentration and help cut down on any unnecessary penalties, according to Kowalczyk.

The program contained, "A lot of focus on violence prevention, dealing with anger in a nonviolent way, addressing gender stereotypes, and promoting the dignity of every person," said Castronovo.

The programs focused on how athletes should remove themselves from possible incidents, how to accept the importance of their role as role models, and how to deal with the issues of gender stereotypes and sexual orientation. Alcohol related problems, such as binge drinking and underage drinking were also discussed.

Continued...

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