Air Academy: One Athlete’s Vision to an Entire Program

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Air Academy: One Athlete’s Vision to an Entire Program

We all strive for player-led teams. What’s even cooler are player-led movements and that’s what happened at Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In 2021, their star lacrosse player Grant Rodny traveled to the East Coast and participated in an event called the Committed Combine with fellow Division One lacrosse commits. During that weekend, he was able to experience the Lead ‘Em Up program that hosted all the leadership training for the athletes.

As he was going through the program, he immediately thought how much his team back home would love it.

So he went home and talked about it with his family and shared it with his coach and a few months later Lead ‘Em Up was on site hosting a special three-hour training camp with the lacrosse team.

The team was all in. The boys were excited and they were off to the best start they had in years.

The girl’s program at the school saw the success of the boys and had Lead ‘Em Up come back out to do a midseason Lead ‘Em Up training with the girls. The girls were all in.

It was at this point going into the upcoming school year that the girl’s lacrosse coach ended up becoming the Athletic Director and she started working with Patty Rodny and other community members to start fundraising to bring Lead ‘Em Up to the entire athletic program.

Years later the programs continue to thrive using the Lead ‘Em Up, teaching exercises and curriculum as a driving force in their culture, athletic program wide.

Have fun and #LeadEmUp

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