At the Summer Academy, in addition to our group College Counseling seminars and one-on-one College Counseling, all student-athletes take at least one leadership class and one sports psychology class every day. 
All classes meet for one hour daily.
Created and refined by career educators, the research-based Leadership and Sports Psychology curriculum applies unique and cutting edge techniques for teaching high school students-athletes. Our classrooms are interactive and our teachers are dynamic and engaging. The Summer Academy opens with a leadership forum that introduces athletes to leadership styles and theory that are central to their development. Student-athletes are challenged to consider how they will highlight their leadership strengths and improve upon their leadership weaknesses over the nine days and beyond.
In addition to the coursework outlined below, the entire Summer Academy community gathers each evening to participate in an interactive leadership seminar where a specific leadership theme is dissected. Through the evening seminars, the coursework and on-field/court discussions, SportsChallenge provides student-athletes with specific leadership tools thus enabling them to return home and effectively lead their teams, schools and overall communities.
This course focuses on the leadership process as a combination of leaders, followers and context. Student‐athletes become aware of the intricacies of group dynamics and team culture. They learn to adapt to changing environments and apply their leadership skills to sports, school, and extracurricular life. Learned motivational techniques support the development of the student-athletes as they evolve into effective leaders and team players.
Student-athletes learn to organize thoughts and articulate opinions as they develop confidence speaking in front of classmates, teammates, large groups and interviewers. Student-athletes strive to develop the ability to be clear and concise. Student-athletes learn and strengthen their ability to speak up, lead and direct others, as well as gain confidence in preparation for the college interview process. While completing a personal inventory of their communication strengths and weaknesses, student-athletes will determine their own communication style and learn how to communicate more effectively with others.
This class focuses on the mental preparation for varsity athletics. Student-athletes learn to remain calm, focused and under control during high-pressure games. Techniques for the development of a consistently focused and positive mind-set direct the course as student-athletes investigate various forms of relaxation and positive mental imagery. All student-athletes are challenged to incorporate a mistake ritual into their athletic routine.
Student-athletes explore and debate the impact of sports leaders past and present. Among the questions considered: What attributes do the greatest sports leaders “outside the lines” share and why? What can we learn from the careers of: Jackie Robinson, Muhammed Ali, Pat Summitt, Lance Armstrong, Billy Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Pelé, Cheryl Miller, Phil Jackson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, John Wooden, Bill Bradley, Mia Hamm, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Thierry Henry, Martina Navratilova and Bill Russell? The course will culminate with students creating a fictional documentary designed by the class about an imaginary sports figure who embodies the leadership characteristics most admired by the student-athletes.
Student-athletes investigate intra‐team conflict during both games and practices. Class discussions and debates focus on conflicts between teammates as well as between players and coaches. The class centers on methods for maintaining composure, maturity, and perspective as the group looks at high energy, real‐sport situations. The class also analyzes the use of power in effective leadership. Techniques for resolving disagreements, learning to guide emotional energy and leading friends are tools student-athletes will acquire.
Students explore the pressures put on their time as they attempt to balance family, academics, sports and social lives. Student-athletes learn to clarify their values, prioritize their time and investigate the ramifications of their decisions. Student-athletes are challenged to create personal visions for their athletic careers and overall school life.
This advanced course challenges returning student athletes to delve deeper into the mental side of athletics, specifically those that affect their teams. By delving deeper into performance profiles, relaxation, visualization, and team dynamics through debate and reflection, student athletes leave with the tools necessary to take their team to the next level.
Student-athletes investigate their personal identity and how this shapes their leadership on the fields and courts. Student-athletes dissect how their biases can impact their leadership style and how they connect with and relate to teammates. Finally, student-athletes participate in exercises that highlight how to recognize and communicate across cultural and personal differences in order to become a strong team leader.
Through this class you develop concrete, off the field and court leadership skills that help you in high school, college and the working world. Through interactive classes, you learn how to: run for class office, start a school event, deliver presentations, create an action plan, run an effective meeting and work in diverse groups. Instructors share strategies while students practice skills and receive critique. These practical skills allow you to make a greater difference in your community as well as prep you for life after school.
This course teaches student-athletes the art of facilitation as they are exposed to the instructor side of key leadership exercises. The student-athletes practice leading a series of leadership initiatives with groups of staff and students acting as “the team.” Student-athletes return to their schools and programs prepared to run leadership exercises for middle and elementary school students back home.
SportsChallenge Leadership Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | 1419 Columbia Road NW Washington, DC 20009 | 202.321.3917
