Expectations & Attitudes

Expectations & Attitudes Guiding Principles

The athletics department has a written, positive values statement or policy that applies to all individuals affiliated with the department. Substance misuse messages that coaches, staff, student-athletes and others give during orientation, during the year and by their own actions never allow, encourage or condone substance misuse use by student-athletes, cheerleaders, student managers and athletic training students/volunteers. Coaching, sports medicine and other athletics staff adhere to and role model the standards expected of student-athletes, cheerleaders, student managers and athletic training students/volunteers.

Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Expectations & Attitudes

CollegeAIM was created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to help schools select evidence-based programs for substance misuse prevention. Interventions listed below are rated by higher, moderate or lower effectiveness or there is mixed evidence/too few studies to rate effectiveness.  As you develop your action plan, first consider the items below. 

Moderate effectiveness

Mixed evidence/too few studies to rate effectiveness

Programs developed by past APPLE attendees:

Division I

Late Night Alternatives & Red Zone Tailgates - Saint Francis University

  • The Saint Francis APPLE Leadership Team created Late Night Alternatives and safe tailgate programs, open to the entire campus throughout the academic year.

Viking Virtues - Cleveland State University

  • The APPLE team identified 7 attitudes and expectations for their Athletics Department. Students sign a Viking Virtues pledge and there are a variety of supporting materials for student-athletes.

Student Athletes' Perspective: Alcohol and Drugs video - University of North Dakota

  • Student-athletes were interviewed on the risks of alcohol and other drug use and their personal reasons for limiting use and dealing with campus culture. Four minutes.

Division II

Student-Athlete Kick Off & Mocktail Mix-Off - Ursuline College

  • The orientation event for student-athletes allowed all teams to get to know one another and work together as well as compete together in field-day type games. The Mix-Off is a fun competition amongst student-athletes that also introduced the newly created Medical Amnesty Policy that was a part of their APPLE plan.

LACERS (Leadership, Accountability, Collaboration, Excellence, Respect, Service) - Rollins College

  • The Rollins APPLE team created a set of pillars to guide expectations and attitudes in their athletics department.  The linked slide deck provides an overview of the process they used to creating the pillars, lessons learned fand the role of persistence in creating change on campus.

Student-Athlete Perceptions Survey - Drury University

  • As part of their Blue Ribbon Committee on the Prevention of Hazing, Drury University created a survey to assess student-athlete perceptions of coaches', athletic trainers' and other administrators' attitudes towards and expectations of student-athletes, particularly around hazing prevention.

Core Values of Athletics Department - Limestone College

  • Describes the Athletic Department's mission statement and descriptions of the department's four core values for administration, coaches, staff, and current and former students.

It's on Us video - Saginaw Valley State University

  • One-minute video of student-athletes discussing the role of a caring community and expectation to look out for each other and be an active bystander in situations of interpersonal violence.

Division III

Team Captain Training - Williams College

Williams has an annual, 3-day training on leadership issues and campus resources for the captains of their 32 varsity and 15 club sports. Captains also learn about alcohol issues, including the PUBS signs of alcohol overdose, from their campus APPLE team. 

Step Up Mules - Muhlenberg College

  • Two video examples to promote the expectation for bystander intervention and details of Step UP! program.

Seagull Challenge - Salisbury University

  • The Seagull Challenge is a fun and competitive way for student athletes to engage in the community, promote school spirit and support Salisbury athletics. Teams earn points by attending events. Link provided to the attendance form.

First Year Athlete Mentor Experience (FAME) - Gustavus Adolphus College

  • The FAME program connects incoming student-athletes with current student-athlete mentors to assist with college adjustment. Website includes the mission, educational objectives and program components.