Audrey Davidson was presented with the PAYS Parent of the Year Award, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance.
To Audrey Davidson, the Parents Association for Youth Sports (PAYS) 2011 Parent of the Year, volunteering with the Conway Falcons Youth Football and Cheerleading league in Orlando, Fla. started as a way for her to help the organization that her children played for.
However, over the past seven years it has turned into a way for her to make a difference for all of the league’s youth players.
“I enjoy volunteering with the children and the organization,” said Davidson. “I love to see the success the league has in the young lives in our community.”
The Parent of the Year award, presented annually by the National Alliance for Youth Sports at its Youth Sports Congress and sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, recognizes one special youth sports parent who consistently emphasizes fun, learning and safety, as well as treats every child with the same respect and patience as their own. This parent exemplifies the PAYS Code of Conduct by holding up its tenets, such as encouraging sportsmanship, securing a safe and healthy play environment for the youth players and supporting the program’s coaches and officials, among others.
According to Dara Trujillo, commissioner of the Conway Falcons league, Davidson is instrumental to the daily operations of the league.
Davidson has her hand in a bit of everything to help run the league, from coordinating registration and uniform fittings to completing administrative paperwork and tasks to keeping the coaching staff in line.
“Without Audrey, our organization would not be as well run or as well respected in our community, or as successful,” said Trujillo.
In 2005, a group of local parents and businesses joined to form the Conway Falcons. Since then, it has provided hundreds of youngsters with a fun and educational environment to learn football and cheerleading. The league is even affiliated with a local high school, which ensures the children will continue to experience success as their level of play advances.
PROACTIVE SAFETY MEASURES
A few years ago, Davidson was responsible for initiating the league’s background check procedure.
“We wanted to implement background checks to make sure we had the highest quality volunteers as possible,” she said. In doing so, the league has increased the comfort level for their families because they know that their children are in reliable hands.
“We don’t want volunteers with any history of domestic violence or a criminal background,” Davidson said. “The kids and their safety come first.”
However, her responsibilities are not limited to the families of the Conway Falcons. Davidson wants the players and families from opposing teams to have a fun and safe experience, too.
According to Trujillo, Davidson can often be seen driving her golf cart around to offer the opposing team water and fruit and makes herself available to answer any questions they may have.
“When we host home games it’s important to welcome the opposing team and make them feel as welcomed as you can,” said Davidson. “The friendships you make with other teams in the community are invaluable.”
“Audrey has truly made the Conway Falcons what it is today,” said Trujillo. “Our coaches respect her, our parents appreciate her and our athletes adore her.”
Nominate a Parent!
The National Alliance for Youth Sports and the Parents Association for Youth Sports (PAYS) are now accepting nominations for the 2012 Parent of the Year Award.
