Pinecrest Athletics Brings SportsLeader to Paladins Sports Programs
Pinecrest Academy and the Paladin Athletic Department have partnered with SportsLeader for the next three years to implement the organization’s Catholic virtue-based formation program for coaches. The non-profit organization, based in Louisville, Kentucky, has worked with universities and colleges across the country, and has partnered with high schools nationwide and in Canada.
SportsLeader is working with Chris Kane, Athletic Director, Father Daren Weisbrod, LC, High School Chaplain, Kathleen Nichols, Director of Formation, Bob Holdsworth, Director of Sports Ministry, and the Pinecrest Academy coaching staff, to incorporate the methods and curriculum based on the four pillars of the program: Virtue, Mentoring, Ceremony and Catholic Identity.
The program is being introduced throughout the school year to Pinecrest’s student-athletes via the coaching staffs of all 15 sports programs during the 2017-2018 season, and to parents at respective parent meetings. Our athletics department will introduce several SportsLeader traditions, activities and events throughout the year, designed to emphasize the program’s four pillars.
With eighty-two percent of Pinecrest high school students participating in organized school athletics, Father David Steffy, LC, saw the tremendous potential the SportsLeader program offered in fulfilling the mission of Pinecrest Academy. That mission is to partner with parents to teach students that they were created in the image and likeness of God, for the purpose of knowing, loving, and serving him on Earth, and sharing eternity with him. Pinecrest accomplishes this through Integral Formation®, an approach that is intended to maximize each child's human, intellectual, spiritual, and apostolic potential, allowing students to leave Pinecrest as true Christian servant leaders ready to transform society.
The Pinecrest SportsLeader program is guided by an initial three-year development plan, with the goal of incrementally adding new formation and apostolic opportunities to our program on an annual basis. Our coaches, parents, and student athletes are the foundation on which we will build this program, with Integral Formation® as our constant goal and guiding light.
One of the unique facets of our program is to actively partner with other Catholic schools in joint programs of faith sharing and apostolic works. This partnership initiative will kick off with a Rosary Rally in November 2017 with Blessed Trinity High School and Holy Spirit Preparatory School.
Via the Pinecrest Athletics SportsLeader program, we are focusing not only on mentoring, but we seek to identify student athletes who have a special talent and maturity to become senior mentors to younger high school peers.
With our great coaches leading the way, our parents providing emotional support and guidance, and students who increasingly come to understand their special role in delivering on God's plan for mankind, we are confident that the SportsLeader program will be a tremendous addition to the formation program we have in place to fulfill our mission.
To learn more about Pinecrest’s SportsLeader program, please contact Bob Holdsworth at 770-307-9381 or holdsworth.bob@gmail.com.
SportsLeader was founded in 2004 and is endorsed by the Vatican Office of Church and Sport. It is a charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Visit the SportsLeader web site to learn more.
