Wow, what a day...we always worry that we might be packing in too much day one, but once again, the student-athletes stepped up and handled all that we threw out at them!
After a busy afternoon of registration and moving in, the program officially began with the Opening Leadership Seminar. After a welcome from SportsChallenge Founder and Director Kevin Morgan, fellow Directors Molly Hellerman and Jeremy Edwards explored 4 traditional myths about leadership. They energetically leaped around the stage (impressively, given Edwards' torn ACL), and challenged student-athletes to think of themselves as future leaders.
"Leaders are always vocal and charismatic," Hellerman said.
"False! That is a lie!" Edwards cried. "Raise your hand if you have ever led by example, by working hard, " he asked the student-athletes. Everyone raised a hand, demonstrating the point that leadership can often be nonvocal.
Perhaps the highlight of the seminar came when Edwards and Hellerman were looking to debunk the myth that "leaders are born, not made." Coaches Li'Esha Garcia and Shannon Drury appeared on-stage in costume, with Drury apparently in labor and "Dr" Garcia encouraging her to push a baby out. After some further encouragement from the student-athletes ("P-U-S-H! PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!"), Drury "birthed" Coach Kodi Shay, who wriggled free and then raised his arms in the air in triumph. But, as Edwards soon pointed out, outstanding athletes and leaders do not actually emerge from the womb fully formed; hard work and the right learning environment make all the difference.
With high levels of energy and good humor, the student-athletes soon began to take advantage of the unique learning environment of SportsChallenge. In the first athletic session of the program, athletes came in with positive attitudes and a ton of exhuberence.
From my post as a coach in the Boys' Basketball program, I was impressed not only by the high level of talent, but, more importantly, by the student-athletes' willingness to hustle and play together. This first athletic session was a chance for the student-athletes to meet their coaches and get a sense of the rigors and opportunities of SportsChallenge, and they took full advantage. Already, players were calling each other by name, making sweet passes, and playing hard, tough defense. As basketball coaches, we are very much looking forward to harnessing this passion into organized team basketball, and the players are right on board: Basketball Director Bobby Rue asked the basketball players how they wanted to be described at the end of the program, and the players suggested "organized," and "hard-working," as their top choices.
From my conversations with other coaches, it was apparent that each program is off to a similarly exciting start. In particular, we couldn't help but hear the girls' basketball team getting fired up, cheering loudly that each and every one of the girls "Rock!" Apparently, Coach Shannon Drury had brought a box of rocks with "I" and "U" written in marker on either side of them. She then pulled out a rock, showed the "I" side, and said, "You know what? I rock! I don't care what anyone says; I rock!" She then flipped the rock over and turned to the student-athlete next to her. "But you know what else? YOU Rock! And YOU Rock! And YOU Rock!" Before long, the entire girls basketball program was going crazy, encouraging each other and loudly ROCKING out.
These kinds of moments are what make SportsChallenge a special place. And it's only just begun. We can't wait to see what will happen in the week to come!
-Coach Matt Roach
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