Overview: The vibrants life of CYM Sports is realized most fully through its local affiliated programs: parishes, schools, and athletic associations. They serve as the primary points of encounter where the CYM Sports vision takes shape. While the central office for CYM Sports and the Athletic Advisory Committee provides unified standards, policies, and support across our affiliated programs, it is at the local level that registration, team formation, coaching assignments, stewardship, and volunteerism is formed for the community. These grassroots programs function as faithful extensions of the broader ministry in athletics, ensuring that every decision and action remains rooted in the Gospel and through Catholic values.
This section sets the framework for local affiliated programs (ie. athletic associations and/or organizations), leadership roles, and accountability structures that enable local programs to administer CYM Sports with integrity and organization. By uniting clear administrative practices with CYM and Catholic Diocese of Wilmington’s commitment to forming missionary disciples, these guidelines ensure the holistic approach for formation of young people and the adults who accompany them, with the joy of competition, discipline of athletic pursuit, and bond with Catholic values within our community. In this way, Program Administration becomes a vital component of ministry in athletics; this allows one that safeguards our youth, supports our volunteers, and allows the foundational pillars of CYM Sports to flourish in every parish and school that participates in this century-old tradition of faith-filled athletics.
2.1 Athletic Associations – affiliated Parishes & Schools
- 2.1-1 Parishes and schools are to establish guidelines for participation and can include factors such as number of teams and/or participants, budgetary considerations, facility availability and similar considerations. These guidelines must be clearly stated and properly followed by the local level.
- 2.1-2 Parishes and schools are required to assemble an Athletic Association to govern parish and school guidelines for participation in CYM Sports programming.
- 2.1-2.1 Athletic Associations and departments must, at minimum, include a President, Coordinator, Athletic Director, or representative known as an Athletic Association Representative (AAR).
- 2.1-2.2 The Office for Catholic Youth Ministry requires each parish or school to name an individual as the Athletic Association President (AAP), Athletic Director (AD), or Athletic Association Representative (AAR).
- 2.1-2.3 The pastoral leader, school administration, and/or CYM representatives must recognize the Athletic Association President (AAP), Athletic Director (AD), or Athletic Association Representative (AAR) to be accepted as formal leadership of the affiliated program in order to conduct business.
- 2.1-2.4 The AAP, AD, or AAR is responsible for managing their athletic organization and following all CYM/CDOW regulations and policies as the Athletic Association Representative or AAR.
- 2.1-3 Guidelines for local Athletic Associations must be clearly stated on official association websites.
- 2.1-3.1 Athletic Associations may request the CYM Sports Office for a page on the official website (www.cymsports.com).
- 2.1-4 All affiliated programs and their affiliated administrators, coaches, student-athletes and spectators are held accountable by the pastor of a parish or the principal of a school.
- 2.1-4.1 The Athletic Advisory Committee may hold Athletic Association members accountable and recommend disciplinary actions, if deemed necessary.
- 2.1-4.2 The CYM Sports Coordinator may hold Athletic Association members accountable and recommend disciplinary actions, if deemed necessary.
- 2.1-5 All affiliated programs are responsible for the team registration and participation fees.
- 2.1-5.1 All affiliated programs are responsible for fees assessed by the CYM Sports Office, which may include but is not limited to: late payment, forfeit fees, official fees, facility fees, or financial penalties as expressed in writing.
- 2.1-6 The Office for Catholic Youth Ministry reserves the right to overrule the Athletic Association of a parish or school on any decision if, in the opinion of the CYM Sports Coordinator, the decision is not in the best interest of the overall program.
2.2 Athletic Association Representative
- 2.2-1 The representing athletics leader for the association or department shall be known by the Diocese of Wilmington and CYM Sports as the Athletic Association Representative or “AAR”.
- 2.1-1.1 Parishes and Schools must provide their AAR with a parish or school registered email address, unique to that person and not generally accessible, for the purposes of administration for program and communication.
- 2.1-2 The AAR is to serve as the primary contact between CYM and each individual affiliated program.
- 2.1-2.1 Parishes and Schools are to establish clear responsibilities and duties for their AAR.
- 2.1-2.2 The Office for Catholic Youth Ministry may, for any grave reason, require the parish or school to replace their AAR.
- 2.2-3 The Athletic Association Representative is solely recognized as the leader of the parish or school athletic association.
- 2.2-3.1 Pastoral, School, and/or Athletic Department leaders may request inclusion in an AAR extended distribution list.
2.3 Athletic Association Coordinator
- 2.3-1 An Athletic Association Coordinator may be utilized by the Athletic Association Representative and/or Athletic Association for purposes of organizing a specific sport or local specialty.
- 2.3-1.1 An Athletic Association Coordinator is exclusively a member of the local athletic association and is given authority by the athletic association representative, not CYM Sports.
- 2.3-1.2 An Athletic Association Coordinator is held responsible by the local Athletic Association, principal, and/or pastor.
- 2.3-1.3 The Office for Catholic Youth Ministry may, for any grave reason, no longer recognize a local coordinator or discipline appropriately.
- 2.3-1.4 In the event no local coordinator is available, communications will move to the athletic association representative and/or coach, depending upon required need.
2.4 Oversight of Athletic Associations
- 2.4-1 All affiliated programs and their affiliated administrators, coordinators, volunteers, coaches, student-athletes and spectators are held accountable to the Office for Catholic Youth Ministry and the CYM Sports Coordinator, when appropriate or deemed necessary.
- 2.4-1.1 In the event it is appropriate or deemed necessary, disciplinary actions, sanctions, or corrective actions will be done in accordance in with CYM policies, CDOW policies, and state law and communicated by the CYM Sports Coordinator.
This section remains under-review for 2026-2027. Inquiries on updates regarding this section may be sent to aac@cdow.org.