R.I.S.E November 21'

R.I.S.E 2021-22 TRY OUT What to expect this upcoming season

ALUMI HIGHLIGHT Alumni Highlight: AnnMarie Lawerence

Issue 02 | November 2021

MEET THE TEAM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bernie Headley coachbernie@sportsacademy360.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jahlynn Hancock

DIRECTORS Kayla Palmore Social Media Director Video/Content Director Jahlynn Hancock Digital Content Director Areonna Dowdy Sports Information &Communications Director

Visit

HTTP://WWW.SPORTSACADEMY360.CO M for more information

27 04 What to expect 05 Alumni Highlight 06 R.I.S.E

HELLO

ISSUE

02 08 Strength in # 10 Recruiting HL Harris 11 Recruiting HL Chaney

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WHAT TO EXPECT THIS 21-22 SEASON by: Jahlynn Hancock As try-outs have come to a successful close, we are proud to spring forward in preparing our athletes to compete at the highest level. This 21-22 try-out, we had the honor of working with over 150 athletes from across the Chicagoland area.

In comparison from last season to this season, we have seen an 30% increase in athletes joining to further expand their athletic and self-development. We welcome both our return players along with our new athletes that have taken the time to join our R.I.S.E and 360 family.

Earlier this year, 360 Sports Academy held its first annual HB See You Combine & Exposure Camp. We had a tremendous turn out and have welcomed a large wave of familiar faces from the combine.

Expect a new and improve travel team.

The goal is to develop our 21-22 teams fundamentally, incorporate foundation and provide elite training as our athletes prepare for a competitive upcoming season.

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Its always great to hear about the success stories of our athletes and their current up life adventures.

Meet AnnMarie Lawerence, class of 2021, 360 Alumni. Ann has always been a major contribution to the 360 family and has been able to continue her academic and athletic career at Kalamazoo University.

Ann has been playing for the 360 for several years and has since then developed her athletic foundation through skills and drills and the daily motivation received through the coaching staff.

Ann currently is leading her team in kills, starting off her freshman season with a bang. She is one of the 16 freshman on her team of 21 players, which she faces challenges as her team is relatively young.

The positives-- Ann playing on a young team allows for herself and her teammates to develop into matured players, as they compete against more polished and matured athletes.

She has commented on the discouragement that she has experienced with her team due to being a younger team, playing polished teams.

The accomplishments that Ann has managed to conquer through her transition from high school to college, has been one to watch and follow. From her fundamental training to the life lessons she has incorporated into her college transition, has managed to build Ann into a stronger and foundational student-athlete.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:

ANN LAWERENCE

Being apart of a young team, she is still learning to adjust with her teammates and work together.

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RESILENT

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RESILENT

BY M. HARRIS My name is MiMi Harris, and I am a volleyball

Fast forward-- I had to undergo surgery, and then

athlete residing in Arizona. Life brings its own

discover truly how much resilience I hold within

obstacles that we encounter daily. Adding sports into

myself. Going through surgery, getting stronger

your life is definitely a factor of enjoyment, but being

through challenging physical therapy, while also

an athlete also comes with its obstacles too. Injuries,

trying to not only get accustomed to my new life,

acquiring new skills, and dealing with several

but also getting back some of my old life, left me

personality types are some of the obstacles you can

to do nothing but find my way to get through this.

run into.

My other most memorable encounter with

With most athletes, their dream is to play in college,

resilience was experiencing the recruitment

and maybe even go pro. Also with most athletes, most

process to get me playing volleyball at the next

of us all get injured at least once in our careers, as it is

level. I was told no by so many coaches that I

inevitable. When obstacles like these arise, you have

aspired to play for, and that was a hard thing to

to find it deep within yourself to have resilience,

hear, especially after you had so much hope to

something no one can teach you or discover for you.

hear positive news from them. Trying to show your best self on the court can be hard going

Resilience is having the ability to recover from

through an injury, but I had to remind myself to

something negative that has happened to you, and

always make the best of my situation, and not let

turning it into a positive to help shape you along your

the pain become an excuse for me to not always

life journey.

give my best effort. After a million no’s, all that matters is receiving that one yes. Which is what I

My first encounter with discovering my own

finally got. After looking at a university athletically

resilience was experiencing my hardest injury. I

and academically, I found a new home for me,

struggled with playing at my best mentally and

where I can prosper, mature, and expand my

physically. It seemed like no matter how long I

family.

rested, no matter how long I did physical therapy, and no matter how much ice I wrapped, nothing could get me healed to play at 100% on the court again.

I had to start focusing on the little things to keep me going: not doing anything to increase the pain, doing whatever I can to expedite the healing, and ensuring that I do not take a decline in my skills while being hurt.

Although not every situation we encounter is always positive or what we want to come to us, we have to strive to always make the best out of it.

Some situations are given to you to help you prove to yourself just how strong you are, and help you see that you can overcome any obstacle thrown at you, no matter how big or small it may be.

INSPIRED

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INSPIRED BY: ANONYMOUS

Inspiration-- it is a feeling that we as athletes

As a former athlete, I have made it a goal to teach

feel to keep going, to find our overall

those that follow in my footsteps. I want to be able

purpose of why we are doing what we are

to teach those upcoming athletes to feel inspired,

doing for the better outcome.

no matter what their situation maybe. Sports can make any bad situation feel temporary, and it is

Athletes are inspired for several reasons. so athletes rely on sports for a way out, while others rely on sports for the simple enjoyment.

important to be there as their backbone.

Growing up as a female and a minority, there are a-lot of sigmas in sports I had to push myself through. I didnt have my people to look up to or feel inspired by when it came to entering the

To be an inspiration to those that may look

sports world. I am in the other athlete in my

up to me, I have to tke into consideration the

immediate family that played sports and went to

inspirations that I had that made me want to

college for it.

continue playing sports. I started playing sports in order to express the personal

I want to be an inspiration for girls in the Chicago

emotions that I was feeling and using those

area and for those that may find themselves

emotions as an inspiration brought forth the best out of me as an athlete and an inspiration for others that may be able to relate to me.

It is important for not only myself, but for all athletes to inspire one another and others by motivating them and encourgaing those of the next generation, by passing along skills and teaching the importantce of discipline, sportsmanship and determination.

without anyone to look up to. It is important for us to inspire each other and help each other be better.

STRENGTH

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STRENGTH STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”

– Vince Lombardi

The mental strength of an athlete is the most important aspect when it comes to the strength and conditioning of those athletes.

Athletes are strong. The strength is takes for

Without a strong mental, athletes would have a

athletes to push through some of the hardest trials

realitively hard time performing well. The mental

and tribulations is unspeakable. But in the end, you

strength of athletes is challenged everyday and at

have to get up to keep going.

all times when it comes to how far can pain and training push someone.

Athletes go through things that an average person may have trouble doing. This consists of putting

However, it is very important to consider the

your body through rigorous training, mentally

mental health and how strong their mental is,

strengthening your brain to push through pain and

because this effects several areas for athletes. Not

injury and making the end goal to be the best.

just on an athletic viewpoint, but their mental strength transfers into their private lives outside of

Their bodies work like clockwork and it takes an

sports.

endless amount of strength to get up and do everything you did the day before all over again,

Strength comes in numbers. As athletes we have to

but this time you are doing it 10x harder.

be there for one another and for ourselves in order to keep our strength above water. Understanding

No matter the sport, no matter the training load,

the importance of our internal and external

the strength it takes doesn't just include the

strength is important and needs to continue to

physical components.

grow.

The mental, physical, emotional load that athletes take on is very strong. The physical strength is self explanatory. Practices, games, weight training, rollouts, the physical strength to keep going is built through the physical training that assists in their performance.

EMPOWERED

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EMPOWERED BY: B HARRIS One of the greatest joys in life is watching your

Teaching my daughter to be empowered, helps

child succeed in life, academics, athletics, and in

develop confidence in decision-making,

personal growth. But, as a parent, there is nothing

responsibility, and a higher level of motivation.

greater than watching your child overcome

Some of the practical examples to develop

obstacles and RISE to the occasion displaying resilience, strength, courage, and determination – all of which leads to their self-empowerment.

As a former Division 1 volleyball player (setter), I understand the work ethic, mental toughness, and discipline required to succeed on the court. For example, as a setter on a volleyball team, the goals are to create the offense and control the tempo, set the plays that exposes your teammates hitting ability, and to know where every teammate belongs on the court. The setter’s position is likened to that of a football quarterback or basketball point guard as both individuals in these roles are leaders and an extension of the coach on the court.

I am lucky to experience both roles as a former college setter and a parent of a daughter who is a

empowerment instilled in my daughter are: ·

Encouraging her to take risks which helps lead to

independence ·

Communicating to let go of fear and play freely

without holding back ·

Encouraging self-discipline and helping her to

understand mistakes are opportunities for growth and learning ·

Use practice as a way to take risks, perfect what is

going well, and work on challenges so they no longer remain a weakness ·

Demand nothing less than 100% effort

·

Be committed to excellence and relentless in

your pursuit of excellence ·

Always believe in yourself

·

Always set new goals and work towards achieving

them ·

Giving praises on success whether big or small

volleyball setter. Needless to say, the commonality

wins, accomplishments, or tasks

that we share playing the same position has created

·

some interesting and hard conversations that were

remain humble, but be a beast on the court at all

discussed in love. The conversations were necessary

times.

Lastly, lose with dignity, win with class, always

to cultivate her leadership skills to be an empowered, strong, confident and resilient person

Teaching my daughter to feel empowered,

and player both on and off the court. In order to

independent and self-confident took time. Actually,

help propel my daughter to empowerment and the

the teaching is still on-going as new situations arise

greatness she is designed to be, empowering her had

that require a different approach to critical thinking

to begin at a young age so she could develop specific

and decision-making development. But with the

skills and a mindset to nurture her journey to

foundation of examples provided in this article, the

autonomy and independence.

road to complete empowerment is not too difficult to achieve.

RECRUITMENT HIGHLIGHT: MIMI HARRIS By: Jahlynn Hancock Recruitment season is starting for some and coming to an end for others as athletes have begun the recruiting process and then there are others that have had the opportunity to confirm their recruitment.

Arizona athlete, Mimi Harris, attended the HB See You Combine & Exposure Camp earlier this year, showcasing her athletic talents and putting forth her efforts in securing an opportunity to further her academic and athletic career.

Fortunately enough, Harris was able to secure a spot with none other than Alabama State University.

The setter officially has set the pace for her future both academically and through athletics. Harris is one of our very few athletes who is the definition of RISE and has put forth her best efforts to secure a scholarship to continue perfecting her craft.

Our RISE team congratulates Mimi on her commitment and wishes her the best with her future endeavors.

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RECRUITMENT HIGHLIGHT:

KAMRYN CHANEY By: Jahlynn Hancock Chicago native, Kamryn Chaney, is another athlete that we are proud to announce has begun her college recruitment.

Chaney attended the first annual HB See you Combine & Exposure Camp which she has moving eyes on her at all times.

Although Chaney has not confirmed a solid commitment, she has definitely begun to do her research and get some coaches on her radar.

Chaney currently is leaning towards having the opportunity to secure a scholarship to continue her academic and athletic career at Princeton University.

With the help of our RISE family and future events with our HB See You Combine & Exposure Camp, we hope to continue to support and guide Kamryn in the direction in which supports both her academic and athletic career.

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