MCLA SAAC hosts T.R.A.I.N. event in conjuction with Division III Week
North Adams, MA- The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted their second annual Special Olympic T.R.A.I.N (Testing Recreational Activities and Improving Nutrition) program on Sunday, April 6th in the James T. Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium. The event was run with the help of MCLA's current student athletes along side SAAC.
Thirty-three student-athletes and two administrators participated in today’s event bringing Special Olympians, ages ranging from 3 – 54 years, on campus for two hours of fitness assessment and nutritional knowledge. Fitness components included push-ups, agility run, sit and reach, vertical jump, throwing and kicking for accuracy and step up for heart rate.
Participants also worked to create healthy plates increasing their knowledge of nutritional values. Following the various activities, the participants, parents, guardians and student-athletes were treated to a lunch sponsored by the MCLA Alumni Association.
Dot Houston, Assistant Athletic Director stated, “the student-athletes truly shined today, coordinating today’s event along with Kaylyn Smith, our NCAA Intern and Assistant to the Director of Athletics. It was our pleasure to give back and work with the Special Olympians from Berkshire County and see such enthusiastic participants.”
TRAIN (Testing Recreational Activities and Improving Nutrition) is an assessment program developed to test Special Olympics athletes’ sports skills in specific areas. The purpose of the assessment is to provide each athlete the knowledge of his or her own strengths in specific skill areas, certain skill areas that could be improved, and recognition of other Special Olympic sports that he or she may excel in based on the athlete’s strengths and recommendations.
