Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World

I teamed up with Simmons College Head Coach Kristen Rasmussen in Project Inspire’s 5 Minutes to Change the World Contest (http://www.5minutestochangetheworld.org/). Project Inspire is holding holds its second annual contest offering 18-35 year olds a 5-minute platform to pitch their inspired idea to the

world.

Our Video Pitch:

Our Idea:

The Doc Wayne Athletic League, Inc. (www.docwayne.org) seeks to train and certify Nigerian women in its therapeutic life skills curriculum, do the good, thus preparing them for employment in the African Basketball Organization (ABO) (www.africanbasketball.org). With the increase of female coaches in ABO camps, we aim to bolster camp participation and the accessibility of role models to girls.

Our Inspiration:

What is your personal source of inspiration? Becky-Doc Wayne GM
A group of severely abused, neglected, and traumatized girls changed my views of life and sport. After hearing their stories, seeing both their triumphs and struggles, and being invited into their world they transformed my goals in life and became my inspiration. To my team, sport was a gift, it freed them from reality and made them strong and powerful women. Nearly nothing was as valuable in their lives as the team. Being trained as a do the good coach I felt equipped and skilled to make sport a meaningful experience where life skills were the focus. I take inspiration from them to train female coaches and create opportunities for girls to be empowered through sport across the globe.

What is your personal source of inspiration? Kristen-Head Basketball Coach Simmons College
I want to use my talents to make the world a more equal, peaceful and safe place for all people. As a woman, athlete and coach I dream of a better world for women one day. My family inspires me to do my best and have an impact on those who surround me daily.
do the good.

Doc Wayne - do the good Program Video

Doc Wayne (www.docwayne.org)

Honored to Take Part in Celebr8-U (Article by EJewishPhilanthropy)

ejewishphilanthrophy.com has followed up with an article on Moving Tradition's Celebr8-U Conference. Please see the link below for the piece wrapping up a great afternoon.

http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/moving-traditions-holds-first-celebr8-u-conference/

It was an honor to take part in an event celebrating adolescent females’ strengths and diversity. Every teen should be granted the opportunity to build her identity in such a supportive, developmentally appropriate and engaging environment!

For former WNBA star and current Simmons Women's Basketball Head Coach Kristen Rasmussen, Doc Wayne volunteer Maren Madore, and myself the workshop we presented on values, ethics, and balancing one's life on and off the fields and courts was a representation of the lives we've lived the past 15-20+ years. To have the opportunity to share and learn about the young womens' experiences participating in our workshop was a mutually fulfilling experience for participants and facilitators.

While discussing all life activities to be juggled in the game oriented workshop, it became clear that the impact social media has upon young female athletes lives is significant. While attempting to be athletes, students, musicians, friends, daughters, sisters, healthy eaters, and excellent at "hanging out" some teens voiced that they were feeling under pressure keeping up with the speed of Facebook and Twitter. They spoke about the assumption that good friends responded quickly and engaged in these activities often. Within the group there were some teens that were avid users of social media and enjoyed every moment. However, it was surprising to hear how needing to respond, RT, post or update weighed on the minds of teens during times you would generally think of as dedicated to practices, games, homework, meals or sleep.

As a sport psychology consultant, my take away from Celebr8-U was a strong reminder that coaches, parents and sport psychologist should take the time to engage their teens or adolescent clients in conversation to learn about their experience. Your experience, no matter how similar, can never be assumed to be your child's, your player's, or your client's. This is often difficult when you have played the same sport perhaps even on the same field and lived to tell about the same pressured situation.

Being an adolescent female is difficult. It's a rough road at times. It can also be a magnificent journey. As one conference participant put it  "All of us are different, yet, we had a common goal; to demonstrate that girls are more then someone just “sitting pretty” but equal intellectuals." Ask these adolescent intellectuals what they're thinking about. You may be surprised and learn a great deal.

do the good.

RR

www.docwayne.org

Concerns of Adolescent Teen Girls

The Girls on The Field sport psychology workshop was created to address the concerns of adolescent teenage girls. While having conversations with teens playing middle school and high school competitive athletics the following struggles came up:

·         Time conflicts (sports vs. academics)

·         Your needs vs. the team’s needs  (position, playing time and number of teams competing for)

·         Competition with teammates (positions, playing time and varsity spots)

·         Difficult social situations (unsportsmanlike competitors and/or teammates)

·         Dealing with your mistakes

·         Cliques

Teen girls requested ethical and moral guidance via an active workshop. Thus Girls on the Field was born. 


For more information on individual or team sport psychology workshops and/or counseling please contact Rebekah Conway Roulier, Ed.M at rebekahconwayroulier@gmail.com or rroulier@docwayne.org. 

"Girls on the Field" Sport Psychology Session Photos

Maren Madore, Kristen Rasmussen and Rebekah Conway Roulier (TEAM DOC WAYNE)

Rebekah Conway Roulier Facilitating

Catch! (Rebekah Conway Roulier with Middle School Participant)