An Overview of Student-Athlete Career Development Programs

1. An Overview of Student-Athlete Career Development Programs Young athletes aged 15 and 16 years have so much potential, but statistically, not all of them will be able to pursue a professional career in their sport. They need to be prepared— on and off the playing field—to take on leadership roles and responsibilities that can make them effective workers in the future. Having a robust student athlete career development program in school can get them started. Such a program will develop their leadership capabilities in the sporting environment by teaching them the 4 Cs of learning (competence, confidence, character, and connectedness) and inspire them to perform better in every aspect of their life and future careers. A good student athlete career development program provides both on-field and off-field courses. On-field courses are designed to help athletes become aware of the skills they need to become effective leaders and a positive influence on their field of play. Theoretical aspects will be explored, and students will be challenged to apply what they learn in their sporting environment, while being allowed to reflect on their experiences. Off-field courses are designed to deliver a holistic leadership learning experience so that the students can recognize the importance of being an effective leader not just in school or in their athletic clubs but also in the community. Athletes will be asked to determine where leadership occurs off-field, and they will develop the necessary skills to be effective in that environment. The success of a student athlete career development program does not merely lie on the students involved. The program itself must be properly designed to suit the unique needs of every school’s athletic department. A high-quality program is built around learning methodologies that are supportive and empowering to student-athletes. Alumni engagement and mentorship are also involved, along with holistic athlete development, analytics, and data to monitor the learner’s progress. Some programs can also leverage your school’s online learning platform to attract sponsorship opportunities and donors. Leaders of Evolution Melbourne, Australia , 3051 |1300 342 150| info@leadersofevolution.com | https://leadersofevolution.com/ |