The Student Athlete Summer Institute (SASI) program, one of the offerings available through the Student Services division of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, is a prevention program that targets teams of student athletes enrolled in grades 10, 11, and 12 at NCHSAA member schools.

       The curriculum includes activities centered on leadership development, effective teamwork, and lifelong skills for healthy living. Athletes are selected by their coaches and teachers and participate in a summer residential program followed by a variety of leadership activities held during the school year. Students selected should have leadership potential and an average or above academic record. A coach sponsor assumes responsibility for the SASI team.

       A school sends at least two student-athletes plus an adult mentor, preferably a coach.

       The goal of the program is to help student-athletes develop leadership skills to serve as peer educators about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs abuse, as well as develop mentoring skills.

       SASI participants learn about the following:

— Detrimental effects of alcohol and other drugs

–Peer empowerment

–Methods of empowerment with anticipated outcomes

–Positive role model influence

–Group discussions of how to be a positive role model with young children and peers

–Effective leadership skills

–Instruction in leadership skills with activities for applying skills

–Appropriate peer interactions in a variety of settings, and

–Goal setting and planning

–Opportunity to design an action plan to take a stand against at-risk behaviors at home, school, and in the community.

 

       There are five different SASI regions in the state, including Central, Mountain, Northeastern, Piedmont and Southeastern.

       More information is available by calling the North Carolina High School Athletic Association or clicking on the Student Services link in the navigation bar on the front page of the NCHSAA web site.