MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – The NEWMAC, in conjunction with its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), is proud to announce the launch of the Sportsmanship Swap, a new initiative designed to highlight the conference’s core value of sportsmanship, while building connections among student-athletes across all 12 member institutions.
The Sportsmanship Swap was conceived and developed by the NEWMAC SAAC, a group of student-athletes from each campus assembled to provide insight into the student-athlete experience, offer input on policies, and offer feedback on issues that affect student-athletes.
The Sportsmanship Swap features a traveling banner that will circulate throughout the conference, serving as a tangible symbol of respect, positive competition, and camaraderie. As it makes its way from campus to campus, student-athletes will be invited to sign the banner and share their reflections on sportsmanship.
Kaleigh Putnam, NEWMAC Assistant Director for Championship and Governance, oversees the NEWMAC SAAC, along with NEWMAC Assistant Director for Strategic Communications, Lindsay Colbert. Putnam is excited about allowing student-athletes the chance to recognize their peers.
“With the Sportsmanship Swap, the NEWMAC is proud to showcase the leadership and character of our student-athletes,” said Putnam. “By sharing their experiences of respect and integrity on and off the field, we hope to build a stronger culture of sportsmanship that reflects the heart of the NEWMAC and Division III athletics.”
“The Sportsmanship Swap gives student-athletes the chance to highlight the moments that remind us why we love to compete,” agreed Colbert. “It’s about celebrating respect for opponents, recognizing the kindness and integrity we see on the field, and creating a shared tradition that connects us across all 12 campuses.”
Student-athletes will be encouraged to share a positive moment of sportsmanship experienced during their season, recognize an opposing player, coach, or team who demonstrated respect, integrity, or kindness, and reflect on how sportsmanship enriched their competition. As the banner travels from campus to campus, student-athletes will have the opportunity to read and add to the messages, continuing to inspire sportsmanship throughout the league.
The initiative aims to:
· Strengthen the conference’s culture of respect and sportsmanship.
· Foster connection and unity among student-athletes across institutions.
· Create a long-standing tradition that embodies the NEWMAC mission.
· Elevate the visibility of sportsmanship efforts within the conference.
Institutions will be encouraged to circulate the banner among as many teams on campus as possible before passing it on to the next institution. Once the banner completes its journey, it will stand as a collective testament to the respect, integrity, and unity that define the NEWMAC experience.
The first swap will take place on September 27, as the WPI football team will present the banner to Coast Guard's football team.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.