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NCSAA Frequently Asked Questions
To submit a question about the NCSAA, please submit an inquiry form.
Click on one of the questions listed below to skip forward to the answer to that question.
1) Why is NCSAA needed? Aren't there other organizations already doing these things? 2) Our athletic program is not "second-rate." Why should we join NCSAA? 3) What types of community outreach programs does NCSAA conduct? 4) Our school's mission is training, not evangelism. Why should we pursue community outreach programs? 5) I can't contribute financially to the NCSAA right now. Are there other ways I can help? 6) Why should we host an NCSAA camp or clinic, instead of just hosting one of our own?
Answers:
1) Why is NCSAA needed? Aren't there other organizations already doing these things?
What sets the National Christian School Athletic Association apart from other organizations are its combined missions of serving Christian schools, pursuing excellent athletics, and ministering to the needy and the community. There are organizations (ACSI, CSI, etc.) which seek to serve Christian schools, but their central focus is not athletic. Though they do organize some tournaments in various sports, NCSAA (because it is organized primarily for an athletic purpose) will be able to provide more athletic opportunities than other non-athletic Christian school organizations would ever seek to provide. There are also many organizations which pursue excellent athletics, but NCSAA is distinct in that it is committed to helping Christian schools to achieve that goal. Finally, there are organizations which minister to the needy and the community (and even ones which accomplish that through athletic means, like Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action), but these organizations are not primarily organized to serve and aid Christian schools. Though their commitment to ministry and evangelism are excellent and reach many people, we believe that NCSAA has a unique purpose of bringing ministry opportunities and challenges into the arena of Christian school athletics -- and helping schools to organize programs which can have an outreach in their own communities. We believe that these three distinctive qualities can combine to achieve a lofty purpose for Christian schools, as well as their families and communities. However, let us also make clear, at this time, our commitment to working alongside these existing organizations to achieve our goal; we do not wish to "take over" what these existing organizations are accomplishing at the present time. We desire to partner with these organizations to serve and glorify the Lord in the arena of excellent and life-changing Christian athletics.
2) Our athletic program is not "second-rate." Why should we join NCSAA?
NCSAA does not seek only to help and serve developing athletic programs which need to raise their level of organizational and competitive excellence. We seek to be composed of schools which are committed to attaining a high level of excellence in athletics, so we highly desire to be joined in membership by schools which currently run very well-developed and top-notch athletic programs. NCSAA is always in the process of identifying the needs of Christian school athletic programs of all types, in order to develop and maintain programs which will serve all member schools, including large and well-developed schools. In turn, those schools which are already committed to maintaining excellent programs of their own will be able to help smaller schools or schools with new athletic programs, as they work to develop their own programs to a level of excellence. We hope that Christian schools of all sizes and levels, if committed to seeing the goals of excellent and life-changing Christian athletics take root nationwide, will desire to be in a cooperative partnership; NCSAA seeks to bring those schools together in the task of undertaking that mission. NCSAA aims to be an organization which provides helpful services to all of its member schools, and we're always interested in hearing input or program suggestions from any schools or individuals. If you have a suggestion for a new program or area of development for NCSAA, please contact us with your thoughts.
3) What types of community outreach programs does NCSAA conduct?
4) Our school's mission is training, not evangelism. Why should we pursue community outreach programs?
We understand that many Christian schools are organized under a mission statement of "training up children in the way that they should go," and that some such schools do not place a high priority on spending large amounts of their operating budgets or instructional time on evangelistic types of activities. We respect that purpose of Christian schooling, and we see the mission of NCSAA as complementing the mission of Christian training. We believe that one of the most important elements of training students is providing opportunities for those students to engage in service-oriented activities within their own communities. These service opportunities do not have to dominate large amounts of instructional time or weigh down schools with significant monetary costs. What a great opportunity it is to allow students the opportunity to serve at a summer or weekend sports camp, or to engage your school population in a community-oriented giving or service program! Our hope is to organize programs and outlets through which all Christian schools can provide the experience of service to their students, as well as extend and share the blessings of their own athletic programs with the own local communities.
5) I can't contribute financially to NCSAA right now. Are there other ways I can help?
Certainly! We don't expect all individuals or schools that are enthusiastic about the mission of NCSAA to make a monetary donation. There are many ways in which any school or individual can support the NCSAA (serving as a coach at NCSAA camps and clinics; subscribing to or distributing information about the NCSAA publication; sharing our vision with local churches, athletic leagues, and individuals; volunteering as an NCSAA representative school; lending consistent prayer support; and many more ways). To learn more about how you can volunteer to help NCSAA, please CLICK HERE.
6) Why should we host an NCSAA camp or clinic, instead of just hosting one of our own?
Most schools that host an NCSAA-sponsored sports camp or coaching clinic do so because of a desire to support NCSAA, but there are significant advantages to your school in doing so. A percentage of the revenue from the camp or clinic will be given to your school (as an honorarium for hosting the event), so an NCSAA event could be an excellent fundraising opportunity for your school or athletic program. NCSAA will promote your event in a mailing to Christian schools, on our website, in Christian publications, and via our extensive e-mail contact list; we will also send you flyers which you can post in your school and local area. We will handle all registration for your camp or clinic, so you'll be relieved of the bulk of organizational “busy work". Once you decide to host a camp or clinic, we will put the printable registration forms online — and mail you a stack of them. All attendees will mail their forms and payments to us, and at the end of the registration period for your event, we will mail your share of the revenue to you. We will provide some “freebies” for all registered attendees of your event; this will typically include balls and T-shirts at sports camps, and coaches' shirts and notebooks at coaching clinics. We are sometimes able to provide some volunteer coaches for your event, if you are interested. Occasionally we are able to obtain volunteers from your area (or from a distance) who are willing to donate time to a camp or clinic. We will pursue that possibility and let you know if we can help in that way. We will also assist, as you request help and advice, in the organization and planning of your camp or clinic. In these ways we hope that organizing your event as an NCSAA-sponsored sports camp or coaching clinic will be mutually beneficial to your school, your camp or clinic, and NCSAA. If you'd like more information on hosting a camp or clinic, please CLICK HERE.
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