By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
Photographer: Courtesy
Valarie Lloyd, holding plaque, and Frank Ramos, in yellow cap, join other Miami-area trainers for their award on behalf of the Archdiocese of Miami at the 2022 Play Like a Champion Sports Leadership Conference.
NOTRE DAME, Indiana | The Archdiocese of Miami has been given the 2022 Jack Mack Champions for Children Award for helping to "elevate" the culture around sports and athletics in Catholic schools.
The award was presented by the Play Like a Champion Educational Series during a June 17 banquet at the University of Notre Dame. Accepting the award were two archdiocesan lay leaders.
One of the recipients was Valarie Lloyd, dean of students for Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens, as well as moderator of athletics for the archdiocese. She proposed and launched the archdiocesan partnership with Play Like a Champion.
“Valarie is a gift to the children of Miami and our community,” said Kristin Sheehan, program director for Play Like a Champion. “Her exemplary commitment sets her apart as a key thought leader in Catholic youth sports.”
Also honored was Frank Ramos, physical education teacher at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables. Ramos, who has served Miami Catholic schools for 54 years, accepted the award on behalf of physical education teachers across the archdiocese.
The archdiocese has worked with Play Like a Champion since 2017 to elevate sport culture for its students. Before each athletic season, local trainers hold workshops for coaches and parents to foster a faith-based sports environment.
The partnership began by training elementary and middle school coaches in Play Like a Champion’s philosophy of coaching as ministry. The program expanded to elementary school parents — Parent Like a Champion — in 2018, then high school coaches — Coaching for Character — the following year. Finally, middle school students took part in the Play Like a Champion physical education curriculum in 2021.
Play Like a Champion praised the archdiocese for its commitment to a quote by Pope Francis: “Sports in a community can be an optimal missionary tool, where the Church comes close to each person and helps him or her to excel and to encounter Jesus Christ.”
