Atlanta United FC’s Post

The opportunity to support student-athletes via NIL is increasingly becoming more palatable to businesses and corporations. As business leaders with strong affinities for their university continue to understand the importance of NIL, and it's strong correlation to success in college athletics, the more we are seeing businesses involve themselves in student-athlete compensation. Schools of all sizes are witnessing this shift from donor-funded NIL to corporate-supported NIL. Florida Gulf Coast University, for example below, had a collective take on a healthcare company as a corporate sponsor. The positive association and brand affinity conjoined with a prominent local or regional university is typically worth the investment alone, but the access to engaging supremely talented scholar-athletes is a welcomed bonus that can also accompany these kinds of opportunities. This type of sponsorship can create never seen before access to teams and players at a university. Universities at the "mid-major" level will continue to find ways to grow athletic support for their teams and athletes, and we need to do the same for the University of San Diego. #GoToreros https://lnkd.in/gCt-yY4X

Awesome feature with Dr. David Pillar about the future of officiating and the work we do at RefReps!

Double school sport hours, heads of five sports tell political parties… "We hope that the manifestos due to be published next week will include a commitment to put physical literacy at the heart of the school day by having a minimum of two hours of quality Sport and Physical Education mandated within the National Curriculum and every child guaranteed the opportunity to be active for an hour a day inside and outside of the school setting."   The next government (frankly any government) has an opportunity to make a simple, life-changing step to improve the outcomes of millions of children - in physical and mental health and wellbeing, in education and all the positive associations that come from putting play at the heart of the development of young people.   We know this at Greenhouse Sports because we live it.   At Greenhouse Sports we fully endorse the call from leading sports The Football Association, England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) England Rugby, The Rugby Football League, and our great partner LTA to 'put physical literacy at the heart of the school day.' We are a living example of how this delivers success. Our coach-mentors provide expert sports coaching and personal development sessions for hours beyond PE each day, week and year for more than 9000 children a year, specifically from the most disadvantaged backgrounds - all for free - and the outcomes are much higher school attendance and higher performance in education. More so, they are healthier and happier and, supported by our coach-mentors, build the resilience and the confidence to meet the clear and present challenges of growing up today.   If this is not in any manifesto this week, our young people will want answers from those who want our votes. We will challenge them with an invitation - come to our schools, meet our coaches and the next generation at play and see how it works - they will show you where you are going missing. #TeamforLife https://lnkd.in/eHUMRHSB

Its that time of the year when we review the year as a company at AJB Sports in Education and Active Minds , what has gone well, what has not, areas we need to improve, areas we have improved and put those all important plans together for next year. With our success this year being up there with the companies best in recent years - the new partnerships with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust as well as three new components of our business in HAF Camps 🏃🏼 Birthday parties 🎉 and Fundaments for pre school and nursery children 👶🏽 to name a few- it got me thinking a bit further back than just the last year. We started looking at the last few years and all the adventures, partnerships and wonderful organisations that we have worked with and are still working with (not including our brilliant partner schools). As always, some ideas worked better than others, some lasted longer than others, some didn't work at all for various reasons and some last until this day. When you start to put some down, you realise just how many we have worked / are working with and how much we have done in the few short years we have been an organisation. Pretty humbling when you look at some of the logos from Premier League football clubs, to Universities and Colleges, to the County Football Association, Radio appearances, working with the county council, partner organisations around the county and entire country and more. Very proud of where we have got to, and how we will look to use this as a springboard into the next evolution and progression as a company into 2024 Thank you to all those below and more that we have worked with, we have learnt so much from working with other professionals and organisations and would not be where we are today without everything. We are always learning and always moving forwards. #review #partnerships #organisations #companies #workingtogether #success #yearinreview #thankyou

Breaking through traditional mindsets, parents of exceptional sports prodigies also have to often navigate an arduous journey along with their children. From enrolling the children at the local clubs, sports schools or dedicated sporting academies run by corporates or government initiatives that could offer these young prodigies a lifeline and a launchpad to a career in sports, parents often have to walk the fine line between dreams and the financial wherewithal to nourish those dream. Thankfully, these government and CSR initiatives help properly mentor these sporting talents, thus guiding them towards an eventual career in sports. Read More: https://bit.ly/3SHHVbY Sutirtha Sanyal #SportsJourney #ParentingAthletes #CorporateSportsInitiatives #DreamsInSports #CSRinSports #SportingFuture #YoungAthletes #LaunchpadForDreams #FinancialSupportForSports #MentoringTalent

With the Euros kicking off tonight (come on Scotland!!!), we’ve been discussing how important our school facilities and leisure centres were to us growing up. When asked about their experience, Caitlin Morris, Southampton Women and Wales footballer said “Having access to local recreation grounds and sports fields was vital for my career. Not only did it ensure I had adequate space to attend scheduled training sessions with my clubs, but it also gave me an opportunity to do additional work as an individual to further develop”. Landscape architects go beyond designing spaces; we create environments that nurture communities and well-being. Well-designed sports facilities in schools and leisure centres offer more than just a space for lunchtime games. They are champions for grassroots sports, providing a nurturing ground for young athletes to develop their skills and passion. These facilities also act as hubs for community events, bringing people together. We ensure accessibility with features like ramps and multi-use courts, prioritise safety with proper drainage and lighting, and design age-appropriate playgrounds that promote physical development and social interaction. The impact goes beyond the school day, encouraging students and visitors to spend more time outdoors, leading to improved physical health and a connection with nature. High-quality facilities like running tracks, pitches, and courts provide a nurturing environment for young athletes to hone their skills. This can be the springboard for future sporting success, feeding into local clubs and national teams. A great example is Olympic medallist Colin Jackson, who credits his local leisure centre for fostering his love for athletics. At OOBE we wonder how many future Euros heroes will be from some of our project work! Supporting image of Hexham Middle School & Queen Elizabeth High School (with Galliford Try): This project showcases our expertise in designing inspiring learning environments that extend beyond the classroom and nurture a love for physical activity. The facilities have allowed grassroots football to continue through a very wet summer and winter where other clubs only have access to grass pitches resulting in many games & practice sessions being cancelled. We are passionate about creating these spaces that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and celebrate the joy of sport. Let's continue the conversation! Share your thoughts on the importance of school sports facilities in the comments below. #euros #sport #leisurecentre #education #football #athletics #landscape #design #community

Next week the ASCA is coming to Perth for an evening of PD and networking with coaches Corban Wroe, Laurence Houghton, Dan Barry, and Daniel Hiscock. Wednesday 15 November 19:00 - 20:30 (AWST) @ WA Institute of Sport Register now via https://lnkd.in/gPkyf3mt Topics of discussion include: 🌟'A Critique of LTAD Models' - Corban Wroe & Laurence Houghton • Discussing three long term athlete development models. • The pros and cons of each model will be reviewed to feed into discussion of presenters around a round table. 🌟'Youth Athlete Warm Ups – Hiding the boring stuff' - Dan Barry • Why engagement is key for performance in early youth athletes. • How to “hide” your physical check boxes into fun activities/exercises including real world examples. 🌟'Athlete Performance Assessment & Screening' - Daniel Hiscock • Assessing athletes for the purposes of programming, understanding physical performance output, flagging injury risks. • How to complete a full screening and a report in under 45 minutes, encompassing all key pillars of athlete planning, performance, and injury risk identification. 

A few things to unpack in school and club sports as we recover what we have lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a very long period of sedentary lifestyle we were forced to live. 1. Assessment and Goal Setting 2. Engage the Community 3. Professional Development 4. Infrastructure and Facilities 5. Diversity and Inclusion 6. Athlete Development 7. Competition and Exposure 8. Data and Analytics 9. Promotion and Marketing 10. Budget and Funding 11. Long-Term Planning 12. Feedback and Evaluation 13. Safety and Well-being Remember that growth may take time, so be patient and persistent in your efforts to improve school sports and club strategies. Regularly revisit and adapt your plans to meet the evolving needs and interests of your students and community.

I found the recent research by HMC (The Heads' Conference) on the benefits of sports participation in schools insightful. The study highlights that greater participation in sports is directly linked to higher levels of wellbeing among students. It also underscores how sports play a critical role in developing self-belief and mental toughness—essential life skills that serve young people well beyond the playing field. One striking finding is the drop in sports participation and associated wellbeing from Year 9 to Year 10. This emphasises the importance of sustained encouragement and support for students as they progress through school. Notably, the research also revealed that the impact of mental toughness and self-efficacy on life satisfaction and happiness is more pronounced in girls than boys. This underlines the need for tailored approaches in promoting sports among all students. These findings remind us of the broader value of sports in shaping resilient, confident, and well-rounded individuals. Let's continue to champion sports not just as a pathway to college or a career, but as a foundation for lifelong success and wellbeing. For more details, you can check out the full research here: https://lnkd.in/eKYtZ83p #sport #education

The NCAA held their NCAA Convention January 10-14, 2024, in Phoenix, AZ. NCAA Chief Medical Officer, Brian Hainline, gave a presentation on the topic Collegiate Athletic Trainer Workforce Issues and Trends. During this presentation, he remarked what many #athletictrainers already know. There is no shortage of ATs. There are fewer ATs who want to work in the #colleges due to lack of respect, balance, and salary. Twitter has been a frenzy with responses to this statement, with nothing short of the obvious “duh.” Is the NCAA responsible for the current situation for ATs in the college setting? Are there different pain points for ATs in other colleges that fall under other governing boards like the NAIA or NJCAA? The NCAA’s mission and priorities are as followed (directly from the NCAA website - https://lnkd.in/g9RYZDNe): Mission Provide a world-class athletics and academic experience for student-athletes that fosters lifelong well-being. Priorities Coordinate and deliver safe, fair and inclusive competition directly and by Association members: - Set rules and guidelines and provide enforcement. - Create programs that support outstanding performance on and off the field. - Deliver excellent and inclusive championships. Provide world-class services to student-athletes and members that leverage the NCAA’s collective scale: - Lead research and promote innovation that improves health, safety and performance. - Provide capabilities and programming that fill in the gaps for members. - Identify, co-create and distribute best practices to student-athletes and members. Grow the college sports ecosystem: - Inspire the next generation of athletes and up-and-coming sports. - Enable quality access and viewing for all who want it. - Use data to engage fans with highly personalized experiences and products. Deliver sustainable funding for the NCAA mission: - Excite fans fandom through compelling entertainment products and services. - Grow media, sponsorship and ticketing revenue. - Innovate new revenue streams. - Set a culture of cost discipline. Where does respect and care about the wellbeing of ATs fall within those priorities? WaveOn Health is changing the landscape of athletic training, at schools within the NCAA and beyond. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gTWSgesj Adam P. Halpern, MA, ATC, CSCS 💡 David Novosad Anna J Applegate Rachel Deal Tracy Coleman MS, ATC, CES, PES Keke Lyles August Sewell Tobin Stearns