A program for male athletes providing strength-training alternatives to alcohol and illicit and performance-enhancing drugs.
Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) is peer-led and interactive and is intended to be implemented by coaches during the sport season.
Selected student athletes called “squad leaders” lead ten 45 minutes sessions typically delivered during a “light” practice day. With supervision from an adult coach, squad leaders provide a majority of the instruction for a small group of team-mates. Activities include role-play, student-created campaigns or public service announcements and interactive games. Participants learn attitudes and skills that will help them make healthy choices throughout their lives.
ATLAS is endorsed as a model prevention program by Blueprints for Violence Prevention and SAMHSA