Pinecrest Athletics Brings SportsLeader to All Sports Programs

Pinecrest Academy and the Paladin Athletic Department have partnered with SportsLeader for the next three years to implement the organization’s virtue-based formation program for coaches. The non-profit organization, based in Louisville, KY, has worked with universities and colleges across the country, and has partnered with high schools nationwide and in Canada.

SportsLeader will work with Chris Kane, Athletic Director, Fr. Daren Weisbrod, LC, High School Chaplain, Kathleen Nichols, Director of Formation, Bob Holdsworth, Director of Sports Ministry, and the Pinecrest 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 to Pinecrest’s athletes via the coaching staffs of all 15 sports programs during the 2017-2018 season, and to parents at respective parent meetings, with the intent to involve all parties in this initiative. The school's 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, Fr. David Steffy, LC, Pinecrest President, recognized 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 will be guided by an initial three-year development plan, with the goal of incrementally adding new formation and apostolic opportunities on an annual basis. The school's coaches, parents, and student athletes are the foundation on which the athletics team will build the program, with

Integral Formation® as the constant goal and guiding light.

One of the unique facets of Pinecrest's SportsLeader program is to actively partner with other 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, the team will focus not only on mentoring but will seek to identify student athletes who have a special talent and maturity to become senior mentors to younger high school peers.

To learn more about Pinecrest’s SportsLeader program, contact Bob Holdsworth.

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.