GOSHEN – Due to the success of a program Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler held for student athletes in March, he is bringing it back later this year for additional students.
In October, the DA will hold five presentations of The Uncommon Athlete, a joint program of Rachel’s Challenge and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. The program is designed to promote leadership among student athletes and as a crime prevention tool against bullying. It was very successful when held earlier this year.
“When we had the original session earlier this spring with the 300 students and athletic directors, the response was overwhelming,” Hoovler said. “More schools asked me to bring the program to them than we can actually fit into the schedule and afford, so we tried to bring the program here for five sessions this fall and we are hopeful we will be able to do it again in the spring or at last the fall of next year.”
Hoovler said it is “an unfortunate fact” that bullying occurs in locker rooms in the context of school sports and The Uncommon Athlete provides student athletes and the adults who coach them with “valuable strategies to use that can minimize the occurrence of bullying, hazing, and other inappropriate behavior, whether or not it crosses the line into criminal conduct.”
In October, the sessions will include 12 participating schools – Burke Catholic, Chester Academy, Cornwall, Goshen, Middletown, Minisink, Monroe-Woodbury, Newburgh, James O’Neill, Pine Bush, Port Jervis, and S.S. Seward Academy.
