Nebo student athletic leaders and captains from junior high and high schools gathered this week for a Spring Captain’s Academy at the Nebo School District Office.
These team leaders were selected by their peers and/or their coaches as leaders on their respective teams. Team captains of track and field, baseball, golf, tennis, soccer, lacrosse, and softball teams from each secondary school in the district gathered for motivation and collaboration regarding sportsmanship and leadership.
The day started out with student athletes and their coaches eating a continental breakfast donated by Intermountain Healthcare. Dr. Everett Kelepolo, Coordinator of School Services, welcomed all these students and athletic directors from Nebo’s 11 schools as well as high schools from Wasatch and Provo School Districts. This is the first year Nebo has invited other school districts to participate. Athletic directors and principals from the various schools also attended.
Dr. Kelepolo said, “The two main goals that we strive to accomplish are: 1) Promote sportsmanship and positive relationships among our schools and athletes. 2) Develop team captains to lead with excellence and integrity while they build community, personally flourish and act in a positive and socially responsible manner.
Shad Martin with Especially 4 Athletes along with the McQuivey Family presented on the “Sportlight.” A couple of important nuggets that Mr. Martin presented include the following:
- “When you see bullying, it is usually because the bully feels weak. Injured people injure others. If you see bullying happening, go over and ask, ‘Are you okay?’ Usually bullies need help.”
- “Treat people like they are injured, not like an idiot.”
- “Teammates can hunger and thirst for more than food and water.”
- “Peers can have a bigger impact than their own family.”
Finally, Mr. Martin asked the captains to do three things:
1. Ask “Are you okay?”
2. Tell good stories.
3. Carry others to the aid station. (Include others in your group.)
Shaun Blakey, an administrator at Springville High School spoke on the value of sportsmanship. He asked, “How can we as leaders instill sportsmanship at our schools?” He also mentioned that high school sports and other activities exist to lift people up, not demean or tear people down. The goal is to treat everyone equally and treat each other with respect. The students then worked in groups to come up with impactful ideas.
An administrator from Wasatch High and the Region IX Chair, Ryan Bishop, spoke on the role of leadership. Then the team captains worked together at their sport's table and discussed “What is a leader?” and “What is the role of a leader?”
A big thank you to Morgan Mitchell at Intermountain Healthcare for providing a delicious lunch before all the captains returned back to their high schools and junior high schools.
Dr. Kelepolo said that the Captains’ Academy began 15 years ago as a way to assist team captains in implementing the values of Sportsmanship and Leadership in their roles. “We have been fortunate to have student leaders and captains who exemplify the qualities of great leadership.”
Nebo School District thanks these fine Nebo employees and community leaders for their guidance to these athlete captains and extends a special thanks to Dr. Everett Kelepolo for facilitating the Captain’s Academy.
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