Overview: Today’s families value holistic youth development; which combines social, physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. Our CYM Sports program, at its core, is a ministry that aims to provide this all-encompassing approach.
As a parish-based sports initiative, we offer a powerful platform to foster faith, build character, and cultivate vibrant community life. Athletics serve as an extension of our parish ministry; with each practice, game, and team gathering providing real-life opportunities to demonstrate Christian virtues such as integrity, perseverance, respect, and compassion. Through positive coaching, spiritual guidance, and shared prayer, our sports programs become formative experiences that help our youngsters grow holistically – in mind, body, and spirit.
The following provides general guidelines that are highly encouraged and recommended by Catholic Youth Ministry for your affiliated athletic programs. Athletic Administrators, coaches, and volunteers should consider these when providing faith formation within their programs.
3.1 General
- 3.1-1 Coaches and Athletic Association leaders are youth ministers within their parish communities, and should conduct themselves appropriately within this role.
- 3.1-2 In accordance with 2024 guidelines from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and “Listen, Teach, Send” framework, CYM Sports encourages young people to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
- 3.1-2.1 All parishes and schools are recommended to celebrate a mass and provide blessings for youth participants, at the discretion of the pastor and local athletic association.
- 3.1-3 “Sunday Mass Policy” Parish and private Catholic School athletic teams (regardless if involved in CYM or non-CYM teams) are not to practice or participate in athletic contests prior to noon (12:00) on Sundays.
- 3.1-3.1 It is the responsibility of the pastor of each parish (or principal in the case of private Catholic schools) to monitor all parish/school teams for Sunday Mass Policy.
- 3.1-3.2 In the event an athletic event is scheduled to begin at 12:00pm on Sunday, it is the responsibility of participant(s) to attend their mass obligation at a different time.
- 3.1-3.3 In the event an athletic event is scheduled by CYM prior to 12:00pm on Sunday due to facility-restrictions or weather-related issues, it is the responsibility of participant(s) to attend their mass obligation at a different time.
- 3.1-3.4 CYM reserves the right to schedule any and all teams in an available facility for noon, including championships.
- 3.1-4 No tryouts, practices, or athletic contests should be played on specific, designated dates as determined from the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and listed on the CYM Office calendar:
- Winter Break
- Christmas Eve (after) 3pm
- Christmas Day
- Spring Break
- Holy Thursday (after 6pm)
- Good Friday
- Holy Saturday
- Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday
- Winter Break
- 3.1-5 All practices and competition dates are recommended to start off with a blessing and prayer, led by volunteer coaches and/or players.
- 3.1-5.1 The Sportsmanship Prayer has been provided by the Office of the Bishop for athletic events in the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, and can be found on the homepage of www.cymsports.com.
- 3.1-5.2 Programs should utilize 10.1.8 Sportsmanship Guidelines, referring to proper sportsmanship guidelines and prayer before competition.
3.2 Misc.
- 3.2-1 The CYM Sports Office may offer additional activities, services, or events outside of competition for ministry in athletics, depending upon budgetary restrictions.
- 3.2-2 Local athletic associations are encouraged to expand upon ministry in athletics at the local level, provided such events meet Safe Environments standards.