FIRST DAY!!!!

And the student-athletes have finally arrived! Finally putting faces to the names we have been elegantly drawing on dorm name tags and binders, the coaches and staff have illustrated the true meaning of enthusiasm and friendliness in the opening 5 hours of the program with hugs and high fives (to the student athletes who don't understand why everyone already knows there name). While perhaps ambushed at first with the energy and encouragement to "open up," by evening forum the different sports were already having yelling competitions with who can be the most loyal (and therefore loud) to their sport. Already imitating the meaning of family, we (for the most part) sat politely and listened to the rules for the next 8 days, voiced encouragement to Savannah as she took the second public risk of the program (the first to everyone who came without knowing any one here!), and gave our first appreciations. Right now they are all in their first classes, learning the art of sports psychology and soaking up as much knowledge as they can from their beloved coaches. Sports Challenge Leadership Academy has finally started!

Boy's Basketball huddles in their first session. Guest Eric Boateng (St. Andrew's and Arizona State student-athlete graduate,) helps coach.