For the Southern Oregon Sports Commission, 2022 was a year we focused on helping others to Know Their Role. The organization saw great success and growth, not only in our community, but throughout the country as half a dozen organizations from across the nation joined in as official licensees of the Know Your Role program. These organizations span from coast to coast, and include memberships of 25,000 all the way up to over 2 million participants! With their help, the positive message and impact of Know Your Role has begun to take root in areas and sports all over the US. And it all started here, in the Rogue Valley! Many of our local sports groups and organizations use the program, and most of the gyms and other facilities proudly display the Know Your Role banners. However, there are still some local athletic groups that are unaware of the program, and the positive impact it can have on our local athletes and referees. For those organizations still unsure of how to get involved or uncertain of the value of the program, allow us to share with you a few examples of local organizations who have already joined the movement, and who have seen tremendous change as a result.
The Rogue Valley Timbers was one of the very first local sports groups to fully embrace KYR. The club has fully immersed its entire staff and membership in the message, and the use the program to advocate for both player and referee safety. With the help of KYR, the Timbers have been able to not only grow their membership/participation, but have been able to provide sufficient referees for the Rogue Memorial Challenge, one of the largest soccer tournaments in Southern Oregon. Kevin Primerano, Executive director of RVT said “It serves as a simple reminder when parents or players or coaches might be starting to act up, and I believe that we’ve seen a definite change in the approach to the game by all parties involved.” Thanks to RVT’s support and shining example, Know Your Role is now available to all 40,000+ youth soccer players throughout the state of Oregon as a result of a licensing partnership with Oregon Youth Soccer Association.
Like many school gyms in the area, Crater High School proudly displays the message of Know Your Role. Even before you enter the facility, spectators and participants are greeted with a simple reminder on a sandwich board display, reminding all parties involved to Know Their Role. The message not only resonates amongst the high school athletes, but is also incorporated all the way down through their youth/AAU levels. The Crater Boys Basketball AAU Board of Directors have included the message of KYR in their club charter, and remind parents often to “keep things in perspective.” Often times the competitive nature of youth sports distracts us from the beauty of these young athletes learning and growing together. With the help of KYR, Crater Basketball is one of many local hoop groups hoping to change the culture of youth basketball in Southern Oregon.
One of the newer groups to join the ranks of Know Your Role, Medford Youth Football, is excited to fully embrace the positive message and influence of KYR in 2023. With the help and support of Skyler Tacchini and other club leadership, Medford Youth Football hopes to help change the often times violent and aggressive environment surrounding the sport of football. This can be a difficult task given the sports tolerance for regulated violence; however, it is a goal that we here at SOSC support fully. These young athletes and the referees who officiate their games should be protected at all times, and should be able to learn and grow together as they enjoy the sport. We are so pleased to have Medford Youth Football joining the ranks of KYR, and look forward to assisting them in any way possible.
Is your youth sports group or organization fully embracing the message of Know Your Role? Not sure where to begin, or how to gain access to all of the wonderful KYR resources available through the Southern Oregon Sports Commission. Visit travelmedford.org/know-your-role to learn more about the program and how you can start getting involved today! We know this program isn’t going to fix the problem completely, but many hands make light work. If we all do our part as a community to promote better behavior with youth sports, we will all begin to see the dial move in a positive direction. Above all else, it is the safety of all participants which matters most and why we need you to remember to always Know Your Role!
