One of the great special offerings in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Student Services program is the Coach-Captain Retreat.

The retreats are designed to help student-athletes define leadership qualities, identify key issues that affect them, learn to communicate effectively with other students and adults about these issues, and then to understand what captains can do to use their influence to prevent problems and promote healthy lifestyles. 

Retreat teams include student-athletes who will be captains or leaders of their athletic squads in the coming year, a coach from the school, and a parent representative. The retreats are designed to promote the concept of “teamwork.” Issues such as leadership development, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, violence prevention strategies and academic success are addressed at these retreats, the first of which was held in the spring of ‘95. There have been 31 of these retreats in the history of the program.

The Coach-Captain Retreats represent a great opportunity for discussion of leadership responsibilities, ways to influence others, and how to be a positive role model with other athletic directors, coaches, administrators, parents, and student-athletes from around the state!. Schools may bring four (4) student-athletes, one (1) parent, and one (1) coach to the weekend retreat.  Part of the retreat is spent working on an action plan of specific ideas to implement at the local school level.

Student Services covers all costs of housing and meals, with the only cost to schools being transportation to and from the Radisson RTP Hotel. 

Coaches/teachers in attendance will receive one (1) CEU renewal credit.

Coach-Captain retreats are organized and administered by NCHSAA assistant commissioner Mark Dreibelbis and assistant director Chiquana Dancy. More information and registration procedures may be found on the NCHSAA web site by clicking on /pages/684/Coach-Captain-Retreat/

The next retreat is scheduled for October 15-16. The registration deadline has been extended to September 23.