life's 2 short 4 just 1 sport™
Is it just me, or does it seem that there is a direct correlation between how fast time flies and our own age? I swear, the older I get, the more time flies!
It?s nearly the middle of February in 2020 which officially means that we are now closer to 2050 than we are to 1990.?Let that sink in for a second…or two.
Perhaps I start with some commiseration about time flying because of just how whirlwind – and quite frankly eventful – the start to this new decade has been for Kerry and I.?As you know, I really like to relay personal stories and real life anecdotes, but so much has seemed to happen in these past 6 week that it?s hard to focus on just one event.
Because many of you who are reading this are parents, I will affirm a certain fact. Parenting never stops.?As you may know, our middle daughter Michaela is a member of the?Holy Cross Women?s Rowing team that was involved in an unimaginable accident last month while on a training trip in Vero Beach,?Florida.?Thank you to the many of you who have reached out in support and concern. As we have shared with folks, Michaela, and all but one of the juniors on the roster, had studied abroad first semester, so were slated to rejoin the team upon their return from this particular trip and were not in Florida at the time.?As one precious life was lost, and many remain critically injured, being so close to all this makes us extraordinarily grateful that Michaela is OK and that so many others were spared, but as you can imagine – keenly aware – of just how fragile life can be. The outpouring of support from the rowing community around the world has been extraordinary and while the girls have a long road to recovery ahead of them, it has been heartwarming to witness their support of each other?s healing.??
As I continue my work with Whittle School & Studios on implementing the athletics component of our Physical Literacy Development Model, perhaps more than others reading this, we have been directly impacted by the coronavirus. As one of the campuses I support is in Shenzhen, China (and another is slated to open in 2022 in Suzhou), never did I imagine how an epidemic manifesting halfway around the world would impact folks I have gotten to know so well and work so closely with. As part of a global network, it has been amazing to be a part of a team working to support each other and make sure that students, faculty and families are supported. Leaders from headquarters in NYC and faculty from our DC campus are working hand in hand with staff in China to quickly build an online learning community to keep children engaged until the government allows a return to campuses. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to lend support in this process.
And on a much happier note as it relates to 2-4-1 Sports, we are so excited for a number of rea sons and seem to have hit a real tipping point as it relates to growth, interest and expansion. First, we have gone live with registration for our first international camp! 2-4-1 New Westminster, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia has its first registrants for our program that will take place in partnership with For the Love of the Game at the end of July. We have also just announced that we are adding a 2nd week of camp at our Denver South location, as well as at our camp in Monroe, Connecticut. We have a new 2-week location in Middlefield, CT at the Independent Day School, will be doing 2 weeks again at Farmington High School, we are back again at Suffield Academy, and already have over 100 campers signed up at our Flagship Location at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, CT. Lastly, we are once again partnering with Growing Great Schools here in Connecticut to offer the 2-4-1 PLUS (Physical Literacy Using Sport Sampling) Program as part of the SEE Camp for 3 weeks in New Britain, Connecticut. We also have some other exciting initiatives in the pipeline that I hope to be able to announce when I write you next. (if interested – you can visit all camps via the links below).
On a more personal note, I?ve started coaching again. While I get my coaching fix at camps and clinics, there is nothing quite like being part of a team. But, with all the traveling I?ve been doing, it?s impossible to be any more than a ?pop-in? assistant so sincere thanks to Coach Bryan Cote and the 7th grade boys basketball team I?ve gotten to know and support this winter. While I wish I could be there more, you have no idea how much allowing me to help you helps me!
There?s certainly a lot more inside this tiny brain of mine I wanted to talk about and let out, but I?ll leave you with this saying that I find myself using more and more – ?Live life while you?re living it!?
Until next time!
About Steve Boyle
Steve is the Executive Director of 2-4-1 CARE, Inc and Co-Founder/Director of 2-4-1 Sports -- a signature program of 2-4-1 CARE-- whose flagship program is held at the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Conn. but now has locations throughout the United States and Canada. 2-4-1 was recognized by the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC as one of eight model programs in the United States for its approach to anti-specialization in youth sports. This led Steve to form the National Association of Physical Literacy – of which he is now Advisory Board Chair. Steve is also a founding member of the Quality Coaching Collective – an international group of activators around sport, movement and mindfulness. Lastly, through his role at CCG, Steve was the two-year Global Lead on Physical Literacy and Athletics for Whittle School & Studios (2018-20), which currently has campuses in Shenzhen, China and Washington, DC.