By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
The Caribou Parks and Recreation Department has announced that Matt Bouchard, director of recreation, recently attained his national certification as a youth sports administrator from the National Alliance of Youth Sports.
To date NAYS has become the nation’s leading youth sports educator and advocate with a variety of national programs that educate administrators, coaches, officials and parents about their roles and responsibilities in the context of youth sports, in addition to offering youth development programs for young participants. Bouchard traveled to a NAYS national conference in Orlando recently where he participated in a number of training sessions and programs.
Kathy Mazzuchelli, superintendent of the Caribou Parks and Recreational Department stated that, “having Bouchard attain national certification is extremely important and will allow the department to continue to stay abreast of the numerous issues surrounding youth sports today. NAYFS is the country’s leading advocate for positive and safe sports and activities for children. “Bouchard’s commitment to the certification program will allow for continued growth and training for both staff and volunteers,” she added.
Both the NAYS and the Caribou parks and Recreation Department seek to make the sports experience safe, fun and healthy for all children. In addition, both promote the value and importance of sports and physical activities in the emotional, physical, social and mental development of youth while developing important character traits and lifelong values, Mazzuchelli said.
NAYS also believes that volunteers are important in helping create positive impacts if they have proper training and information which is what park and recreation official work to promote.
