• Opportunity

    Build Your Toolkit: Beyond Grit

    Grit is defined as "the tendency to sustain interest in and effort toward very long-term goals (Duckworth et al., 2007). It belongs in a coach/educator's toolkit. The term "toolkit" refers to skills and strategies used by the professional with a student, and taught to the student for future use. We…

  • Opportunity

    E-Valuating the Future of Sport: E-Sports as Education

    The e-sports landscape is rapidly expanding. Hundreds of millions of people tune into live events and millions of dollars are offered in scholarships and tournament prizes. Roughly 200 colleges across the nation have developed varsity e-sports programs and that number continues to grow. Now, as colleges recognize the potential value…

  • Leadership/Character - Strength

    Westtown Throwdown

    By Chris Dertz On Saturday, December 10th, over 50 high school students representing five area schools gathered at Golder College Prep in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood for a powerlifting meet. Golder College Prep, the newest member school of the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association (IHSPLA), hosted the aptly named Westtown…

  • Opportunity

    The Gift of Injury

    A quick trip to the emergency room had me stitched up and crutching my way back to work the next day. That day I spent about 10 hours on my feet. The swelling was worse than I thought it would be and that night was a painful one. I went…

  • Athletes

    Strength and Support

    Officer Holecek and the rest of the department were always open-minded, patient, and understanding with me, but in my experience, gym-goers seemed entitled, condescending, and unwelcoming. I was too afraid and insecure to step foot in their territory. This was different. In the basement gym of the police station, I…

  • Uncategorized

    Tim Dohrer: Leading with Kindness

    In a quiet office overlooking Northwestern University’s autumn-tinted campus, Dr. Tim Dohrer is quietly inspiring the new wave of teacher-leaders. Leadership is a skill for all. Whether it takes the form of coaching, parenting, or teaching – whether it occurs in the boardroom, on the field, or at home –…