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Training Leaders through Athletics (TLA) is an impact driven initiative that “utilizes high level physical training to develop young men and women beyond the physical.” Through the combination of sports performance training with character formation and leadership development, TLA seeks to leverage the platform of athletics to help participants grow as “EVERYDAY Champions” in ways that extend far beyond the playing field. Beginning with traditional Strength & Conditioning training, and coupling it with additional opportunities through camps, competitions, mentoring, workshops, retreats, leadership and captain’s training, service initiatives, and teambuilding challenges, TLA hopes to offer opportunities that are transformative for young men and women both on and off the playing field. TLA’s Journey of Excellence is an intentional Student-Athlete Development Program that combines all of TLA’s programs into a systemized process geared toward providing participants the essential life skills to “Lead a Life of Excellence” both now and in the future. Some highlights of this journey will include the opportunity to:
• Engage Sports Performance training under the direction of certified collegiate strength and conditioning coaches
• Be taught and mentored by certified leadership coaches who will help you bridge the gap between head-knowledge and real-life application
• Participate in camps, retreats, and competitions that take the leadership material to a deeper, more practical level.
• Become part of a community of student-athletes from different districts that train and grow alongside each other, breaking down the walls of school district rivalries and challenging each other to grow as “Everyday Champions.” If you want to look back on these years as milestones rather than just memories, and desire to use your time in high school to help prepare and equip you to become a man or woman of influence in every area of life, then we invite you to join us...
EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE
TLA’s leadership development model is predicated upon training the few to reach the many. We desire to make a deep investment into a core group of student-athletes each year in hopes that they will in turn take it back into their high school hallways, athletic fields, and locker rooms. We believe that leadership development is best accomplished through relationship – including, relationship with their peers, with college student-athletes who are little further ahead on the journey, and with our staff. Through certified Leadership & Character Coaches, community leaders, and program volunteers, we invite students into relationship with one another and our staff to progress through different leadership series throughout the year – including, topics such as:
Identity: Growing as Everyday Champions • The Journey Begins with a Dream • Leading a Life of Excellence • Leadership: What it Takes? • Having a Mission Mindset • Winning Championships on the Athletic Fields and the Fields of Life •
INCLUDED IN THE LEADERSHIP-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ARE: • Weekly leadership workshops • Intentional application of leadership material within the Strength & Conditioning sessions • Participation in camps and retreats that take the leadership material to a deeper, more practical level. • Opportunity for ongoing mentorship with one of our leadership coaches as well as current or former college student athletes.
“Early in my high school career, I knew I wanted to be a better athlete, but I didn’t realize how much I needed to grow up and focus on who I was as a son, a friend, a teammate, and a classmate. TLA pours into students so they can be better prepared to be light in a dim world. I knew that it was a great opportunity at the time, but at the age of 16, I didn’t realize it would change my life. Looking at what I’m blessed with now (an incredible wife, supportive family and friends, a great career, and the opportunity to coach), there is no doubt that TLA helped to prepare me for where I am now.” JORDAN MILLER
Talent Specialist for Spooky Nook Sports Former Journey of Excellence HIgh School Participant and Eastern University Baseball Team Captain
DO TODAY WHAT OTHERS WON’T SO YOU CAN LIVE TOMORROW AS OTHERS CAN’T
Our certified collegiate Strength and Conditioning coaches know what it takes to be successful as an athlete and desire to help athletes use their natural abilities to reach their full athletic potential! AS PART OF THE ATHLETIC-DEVELOPMENT PORTION OF THE PROGRAM, ATHLETES WILL:
• Participate in (2) weekly small group
Strength & Conditioning sessions • Participate in (1) Speed & Agility session per
week • Be coached and mentored by certified
collegiate Strength & Conditioning coaches. • Train through a periodized program meant
to build a strong foundation of movement & sport performance • Progress to increase overall strength, power
production, and speed development.
“The strength coaches’ commitment to creating a plan that works for the group (and to make specific modifications for individuals when needed) allows each individual in the program to receive training that is beneficial for their personal growth. They make sure each person feels seen, and they take time to coach one-on-one, even within group settings. Rather than simply pushing weight, there is a focus on form and movement to ensure a solid foundation before progressing.” LILA GOODHILE
Former TLA Summer Mentor Messiah University Track & Field Athlete
It is said that “if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” Recognizing that we thrive most when healthy community is at the foundation, the Journey of Excellence is designed to purposefully invite athletes to participate within a larger community made up of our TLA staff, fellow student athletes, and former or current college athletes who know what it takes to be successful as a student-athlete. Whether it takes place in a group leadership session, on the training floor during a physical training session, or in the midst of camps, competitions or retreat opportunities throughout the year, the athletes will grow and learn alongside other top athletes from the area while in a challenging, supportive, and encouraging atmosphere.
“Not only did TLA prepare me as a leader in my school district and train me to have a standout high school and collegiate baseball career, but it also allowed me to meet and become close with people like me who wanted to work towards the dreams that they wanted to pursue. It broke down the rivalries of neighboring school districts, making it a unified effort to come together as one and impact each participants’ classroom, household, and community.” RYAN KEHR
Supervisor at SEI Investments Company Former Journey of Excellence High School Participant and Eastern University Baseball Player
PICK-UP SPORTS NIGHTS COMPETITION WEEKENDS TEAM-BUILDING RETREATS SMALL-GROUP MENTORING GROUP LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS SMALL GROUP TRAINING SESSIONS OPPORTUNITIES TO SPUR ONE ANOTHER FORWARD
“The School vs. School Tournament taught me the importance of finding your “Dream Team;” those people who are willing to chase a dream with you. Also, it showed that by combining everyone’s talents, your team can become so much more than you could have ever been as a single individual. This journey taught me that a champion is not just the winner of the game. A champion is someone who looks past the results because they gave it 110% and focused only on the things they could control. A champion celebrates the moments when they succeed, and is thankful for the moments when they fail, because they know that it gives them the opportunity to grow.” HALEY STAUB RAPPOLDT
Assistant Director of Volunteer Programs at Penn State,
Quoted during her time as a Journey of Excellence Participant
C U LT I V AT I N G A M U T U TA L P U R S U I T O F E X C E L L E N C E
We see competition, wilderness leadership, and teambuilding challenges as the avenues that help what’s happening in the weight room or in a mentoring session come alive for studentathletes – and, often times represent their favorite times of the year! We’ve often heard that experience is the best teacher…in that, we seek to capitalize on experiential learning in ways that are both growth-oriented and a lot of fun for all involved! During the year, there will be opportunities for athletes to compete alongside those they train with on a weekly and monthly basis through speed/agility games, non-traditional training, and pickup sports. Athletes are also invited to participate in competition and leadership based camps where they will both learn how to train and to compete alongside others to bring out their best. From whitewater rafting and paintball competitions to service-based retreats both domestically and abroad, the Journey of Excellence provides countless opportunities for student-athletes to challenge themselves, work together and get outside their comfort zones. Opportunities could include: • POWER OF ONE: School vs. School Tournament
(a weekend competition between teams from local school districts)
• CAMP STRENGTH
(week-long camp focused on building strength from the inside-out)
• JAMES PROJECT
(service opportunity volunteering at a summer camp for developmentally disabled adults)
• ONE HEART; ONE MIND RETREAT
(whitewater rafting retreat focused on developing student-athletes’ teamwork and communication skills)
AND MANY MORE...
INCLUDED IN THE 10-MONTH JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE (February-December) •
(2) Strength & Conditioning Sessions per week
•
(1) Speed & Agility Session per week
•
Monthly Pick-Up Sports and Hangout Nights
Camps, competitions, and retreats strategigically placed throughout the year to provide application opportunities for what students are learning •
Regular Leadership Development and/or Small Group Mentoring Workshops segmented into (4) 8-10 week series. •
Ongoing mentorship and encouragment by TLA staff, current/ former college student-athletes & program volunteers • •
Team service opportunities to impact the larger community.
PROGRAM COST*: General Participants: $112/wk (10 months) Scholarship Participants: $65/wk (10 months) *Because we never want finances to prevent someone from participating, financial assistance is available, above and beyond the scholarship subsidy. See the program application for more details on need-based financial assistance.
WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP PARTICIPANT? Through the generous gifts of local businesses, TLA supporters, and staff, $1500$2,000 subsidies are provided to a limited number of accepted student-athletes each year. To be eligible for one of these scholarships, the student-athlete must be nominated by their coach, athletic director, or a TLA staff member.
“Joining TLA was one of the most life-changing decisions I ever made in my life. Coming into the program as a scrawny high-schooler, I never really knew much about lifting weights or strength training. I quickly learned the impact it can have, not only my primary sport of basketball, but in all of my athletic endeavors. However, within the program I realized this was not the end all be all. The relationships I have made with others are what sets this program apart. Still, almost 8 years later, I would consider some of the many studentathletes I trained with and served alongside as some of my closest friends. I would strongly encourage anyone looking to better themselves in all aspects of life to consider this program.” - KYLE KROUT
Susquahannock Junior High Teacher and Girls Basketball Coach Former Journey of Excellence High School Participant and Messiah University Basketball Team Captain
“Personally, my life goal is to intentionally invest in athletes for the benefit of their Spirit, body, and mind. TLA provides programs that achieve this goal, and present the special opportunity of ongoing mentorship for student-athletes. The TLA Staff are incredible at what they do. Not only do they have great knowledge in the realm of strength and conditioning but they have great skills in team building and in leadership development.” - BRENDAN PROVAN
Former TLA Summer Mentor Messiah University Track & Field Athlete
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist B.S. Exercise Science Eastern University M.A. Organizational Leadership Eastern University Former Collegiate Baseball Player Former Assistant Baseball Coach Eastern University Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Eastern University (2018-2020) Strength & Conditioning Coach Messiah University
“I have always loved the opportunity to help athletes grow physically and feel it is a great environment to build confidence, character, and great relationships!”
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist B.S. Applied Health Science , Minor in Adventure Ed. Messiah University M.A. Kinesiology Louisiana State University Former Collegiate Basketball Player Certified K-12 Physical Education Teacher Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach LSU Men’s Basketball (2018-2019) Strength & Conditioning Coach Messiah University
“I desire to see athletes reach their full potential both on and off the athletic field. I have seen the value of integrating both physical training and leadership development in my own journey, and want to give that same opportunity to other student-athletes.”
If you desire to grow both mentally and physically through the Journey of Excellence, we invite you to begin the process by applying. To do this, you can either scan the code below, or visit our website at www.TLAteam.com to access the application and learn more. As applications are recieved, invitations into the program will be given on a rolling basis. In order to provide a safe, effective, and personalized experience, limited spots are available each year. Donor dollars have provided for a specific number of scholarship seats per district. Once those are filled, general invitations will be offered until we reach our cap.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: _____________________________________________ APPLICATION DEADLINE: __________________________________________, or once spots are filled. If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact: Neil Murren 717.688.3093 nmurren@tlateam.com Tim Gorton 631.514.5408 tgorton@tlateam.com