Northborne Partners’ Post

Education-based athletics is about more than wins and losses, it's about more than championships and awards. Educational-based athletics helps teach important life lessons, teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication, and how to work through adversity.

10 minutes before this picture I was the most nervous I have ever been in my entire life. It was May of 2007 and it was the district finals for Volleyball. We had a chance to do something we had never done before in the history of the school. Win a district title. My position that year was serving specialist. I would check in to serve and then immediately check out once my serve was done. I was basically a pinch hitter for volleyball. It’s my turn serve and it’s 23 to 24. If we lose this point, the season is over. My body felt like it was in quicksand. My heart felt like it was coming out of my chest. I remember feeling like I was on an island with everyone in the gym staring at me (because they were). I also remember standing behind the service line taking a giant deep breath before I tossed the ball in the air to serve. It 2 serves later we had the lead. We were still alive. I kept the sever line moving. Our next server would seal the deal for us and our first ever district title. I moment I will never forget. Achieving great things is hard. There will be self doubt. Push through it all and trust in your abilities. You will fail sometimes. But that shouldn’t be feared. Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, think about what could go right. #volleyball #failure #mindset P.S. Sports are such a great teacher. The amount of amazing lessons and skills I learned from sports is immeasurable.

Leading Student-Athletes to Success Beyond the Field: Assessing the Role of Leadership in Adopting High Impact Practices in Intercollegiate Athletics. #CollegeAthletics #HighImpactEducationalPractice #BeyondCompletionChallenge

At Next Level Lacrosse, we understand that success in lacrosse often depends on the strength and cohesion of your team. Our Lacrosse Team Training programs are designed to take your team's performance to the next level. Whether you're a boys' or girls' team, we offer tailored training sessions that cater to the specific needs of your squad. Our training approach combines the best elements of Lacrosse Training Camps with a team-oriented focus. We emphasize not only individual skill development but also teamwork, strategy, and game understanding. Our experienced coaches work closely with your team to enhance communication, build chemistry, and develop effective game plans. Join us for Lacrosse Team Training sessions that will empower your team to compete at its highest potential. We offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate your team's needs, ensuring that you're well-prepared for your season. Elevate your game with Next Level Lacrosse's team training programs. Visit us at https://lnkd.in/gFZx74xU to elevate your game with Next Level Lacrosse's team training programs. #LacrosseTeamTraining #TeamDevelopment #GameStrategy #LacrosseCamps #TeamCohesion #NextLevelLacrosse #ElevateYourTeam #PeakPerformance

Alex Senior Firsts Hockey Semi-Final Sometimes in life, victory is not measured solely by the number on the scoreboard. It is in the lessons learned, the bonds forged, and the indomitable spirit that emerges from the depths of adversity. Such is the paradox of the Alexandra College semi-final in the Leinster Hockey Cup last week. While the outcome may not have been what we desired, a parent remarked that the girls are both 'losers' and 'winners'. It is a notion that encapsulates the essence of overcoming dreadful adversity, personal pain, and hardship. In the face of setbacks and challenges, it takes tremendous bravery to dust oneself off and get back in the saddle. The Alexandra College community showcased this remarkable resilience, demonstrating the unwavering determination to rise above difficulty and heartbreak. Moreover, the experience of the semi-final instilled a powerful sense of school spirit. It unified students, teachers, parents, and supporters, creating a common thread that stitched the whole of Alex together. The unwavering support from Gavin Groves, the dedicated hockey coaches, and the incredible parents and supporters played an instrumental role in providing an opportunity for the girls to thrive and grow again. Today, I want to give a huge shout out to Gavin Groves who stood by the team every step of the way. His unwavering dedication and belief in these young athletes have not gone unnoticed. As we reflect on this remarkable journey, let it serve as a reminder that setbacks are not the end, but merely stepping stones towards greatness. The Alexandra College semi-final may not have resulted in victory, but it has ignited a fire within these remarkable young athletes. So, watch out Ireland, for we are on the hockey march again. Let us harness this experience, learn from it, and emerge stronger and more determined than ever before. Together, we shall conquer new heights and redefine what it means to be winners and survivors. #AlexandraCollege #LeinsterHockeyCup #Resilience #SchoolSpirit #OvercomingAdversity #HockeyMarch #Inspiration #Determination #Growth

Hockey tryouts for my 8-year-old were over the last few weeks. He asked what it would take to make the top team at our local rink. Of course, I reviewed the 3 lessons I teach the teams I coach that summarize about a dozen books on human performance: 1. Never give up. 2. The more you practice, the better you get. 3. Always keep learning. He was struggling with backward crossovers (i.e., skating backward in a circle while stepping over your own feet) and preferred to practice the things that were fun (like top-shelf shots). It was time to introduce the 4th key to success. 4. You must be willing to do what others are not. In sports, business, and your marriage, if you want superstar results, you can't settle for doing what everyone else does. You must be willing to practice and learn the hard things that only the most successful people do. And he made the top hockey team! #success #motivation #coaching

Winning at the highest levels comes down to the margins. - Selah In high school @ Detroit Country Day School I ran track for three years (played lacrosse my freshman year) and twice made it to the state finals in the 100-meter dash. My best time was 10.98 seconds. What’s interesting is that to qualify for the 2000 Olympics, you needed a time of 10.40. The gap between my personal best and that Olympic standard? Just 5%… Now, I’m not suggesting I could have been an Olympian—because shaving 5% off my time would’ve been incredibly tough…nearly impossible. But improving by 1-2%? That could have put me on a collegiate track…and maybe had school paid for. Here’s why that matters as a grown up today: at the highest levels, winning is about small gains. Consistent effort compounds over time. If you get 1% better every day, in a year, you’ll be 38% better. And that difference? It can be the deciding factor between closing a deal or not, raising capital or not, seizing an opportunity or missing it. Championships are won in the margins…go ask any Olympian.

Good news/bad news: all three courses are now waitlisted for the Winter term: -History of College Athletics* -Name, Image & Likeness -Leading and Coaching *we can squeeze a few more people in History, I know a guy #GoBlue #LeadersandBest

GRIT - DETERMINATION - HONOR: three words that describe what I observed this week as two of our University of North Georgia athletics teams competed in the NCAA Division II Championships Festival in Orlando, FL.  Our Women's Tennis team finished in the Final Four and lost to Nova Southeastern University (the team who went on to defeat Barry University for the National Championship). Perspective: 1 of 4 final teams out of nearly 170 DII women's tennis programs across the country. Our Men's Golf team finished in the National Championship Final and barely lost to Colorado Christian University by only 3 strokes (it was close). Perspective: 1 of 2 final teams out of nearly 220 DII men's golf programs across the country. Observation: the competition was intense BUT our Nighthawk student-athletes responded in a manner befitting of warriors. Truly second to none - I am so proud of these amazing young people. For the golf championships, the NCAA teamed with Folds of Honor (an amazing organization that honors the sacrifices of fallen and disabled military veterans and first responders by providing educational scholarships).  During the matches, they highlighted a fallen warrior on every hole of the course and during the first tee pairings - it was powerful! My takeaway from this week was captured in this photo that I took while on the golf course watching our young men compete in the sweltering heat. This was the 9th green...notice the 9th hole flag is replaced with an American flag.  Here's what happened and was captured in this photo: a competitor had thrown the flag on the ground (a natural action on a golf green).  Instinctively, one of our golfers (who was locked in competition) saw the flag lying on the ground - stopped what he was doing (preparing for a key putt in the match) - ran over - picked up the flag - and placed it on his golf bag.  No one was watching - no one noticed - I did - see for yourself!  In that moment, he delivered.  It was instinctive - I saw North Georgia on full display.  In that moment, I observed the very essence of our amazing university - true warriors and champions!  GRIT - DETERMINATION - HONOR...what a week - we are North Georgia!

Sharing our latest Sidwell Summer newsletter blog about all our wonderful Summer Sports options! Take a look! #indyschools #independentschools #sportscamps #summerprograms #leadershipdevelopment