The Student-Athlete Support Program thanks the JHSC Community for a great 2019/20 Season and is working hard to prepare for a great 2020/21!
The SAS Program is wrapping up the season by debriefing with JHSC Program Directors and administrators from partner schools. Additionally, the SAS Director is checking in with individual student-athletes who utilized Study Hall this season and is planning how to engage more student-athletes and parents next winter. Coming up next, keep an eye out for information about 8th to 9th grade transitions, summer credit acquisition through Apex Learning Virtual School for Jackson Hole High Schoolers, and graduating senior profiles.
Have you taken the Student-Athlete Support Program end-of-season survey?
Click here to complete the survey. Your feedback is valuable. Thank you so much!
What was the Student-Athlete Support Program up to this season?
Managing relationships with schools: In the fall, SAS Program Director met with each School Partner to ensure healthy and positive relationships for the season, specifically around Early Release programming, eligibility requirements and communications. JHSC appreciates all of the local schools with whom we partner, which allow our student-athletes to maximize training times and make up school absences after important competitions. Throughout the fall and early winter, there were two school information nights, during which all schools attended to share their programs with our community. Thanks to Jackson Hole High School, Jackson Hole Middle School, Jackson Hole Community School, Teton Science School’s Mountain Academy, Jackson Hole Classical Academy, and most recently, Teton High School and Teton Middle School, for working with the JHSC community.
Conducting baseline concussion testing: In the fall months, the SAS Program facilitated four evenings of concussion testing with the help of our Concussion Testing Partners. JHSC is leading the charge to combat life-altering head injury due to sport. This year, baseline concussion testing expanded to include a comprehensive battery of tests that collected data on a variety of different brain functions, which are commonly injured during sports, thereby allowing better assessment after injury. A huge thanks to Watershed Jackson and Teton Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at St. John’s for their dedication to this effort.
Collecting paperwork: The SAS Program Director spent hours collecting various liability waivers for each student-athlete, including Early Release policy acknowledgement, release of records, JHSC limiting policy clause, and concussion policy acknowledgement waivers. While forms for various schools will differ by individual and will be collected each fall, next year, JHSC will aim to incorporate more of the paperwork collection into the registration process.
Planning educational events: A highlight for the SAS Program is the community education component, and between November and February, there were a total of six Parent/Athlete Education Series events. Topics ranged from JHSC long-term athlete development philosophy, study tips, holistic nutrition and well-being information, college and career pathway options, standardized tests and college applications, and teen athlete substance use. While attendance levels were often lower than we hoped for, the presentations from our partners were fantastic. The SAS Program is looking for suggestions on how to reach a broader audience as well as for suggestions on topics to explore next season. Meanwhile, we honor the expertise and time shared with us by JHSC Executive Director, Medicine Wheel Wellness, Teton Behavior Therapy, Jackson Hole Community School, our Standardized Test Tutor, and the panel of JHSC staff.
Defining core values: Additionally, as JHSC unrolled its Champion campaign externally, the SAS Program worked internally to develop curriculum around values education with Program Directors. This past season, the SAS Program published a monthly newsletter with information about how each program instills these values in our student-athletes and with interviews by high achieving JHSC alumni. Next season, we look forward to celebrating athletes who live by the JHSC values each month in the newsletter and to bestowing prestigious awards for student-athletes who model the values at the end of the season. We plan to recognize staff, volunteers and parents as well.
Revamping the website: Have you seen the Student-Athlete Support website? This season, the Student-Athlete Support webpage got a facelift. Click here to read about Club values, school partnerships, concussion policy, parent/athlete education series, and college information.
Hosting study hall: Starting in November and going through March, the SAS Program Director hosted three-hour study hall sessions twice weekly, open to all JHSC student-athletes. This time and space allowed student-athletes somewhere to go as well as accountability in completing work. Plus, they were able to receive help in organization and content. When a student-athlete’s grades dropped below the eligibility requirements, they were required to attend study hall per the JHSC Academic Policy. Next year, SAS Program Director hopes to have more student-athletes attending early in the season to help them prepare for the busy competition season.
Preparing for next season: As the season drew to a close, SAS Program Director debriefed the season with JHSC staff and school partners, looking for ways to celebrate the past and improve the future. Coming up next, 8th graders will receive high school information, and high schoolers will enroll in summer courses in order to secure an extra study hall into their schedule and reduce workload during the busy winter season. Lastly, keep an eye out for a newsletter celebrating our graduating seniors and their future plans.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns or comments!
What is the Student-Athlete Support Program?
Please see the Student-Athlete Support Program website for more information.
The goal of the Student-Athlete Support (SAS) Program is to foster long term student-athlete development by assisting student-athletes in balancing academic and snowsports education. In line with the Club's mission, the SAS Program equips student-athletes, and supports parents, with a toolkit to pursue personal excellence in skiing and snowboarding as well as in their intellectual, social, and educational pursuits. Through weekly study hall and community educational events, as well as with regular communication between families, coaches, program and executive directors, school administrators, and college and post-graduate counseling, the SAS Program fosters an integrated approach to students’ athletic and academic careers. By partnering with Teton County Public and Independent Schools to develop year-round programming, the SAS Program ensures that student-athletes can pursue both a rigorous academic schedule and high-caliber athletic training and competition. Additionally, the SAS Program manages injury and concussion protocols and has been working with JHSC leadership to develop the implementation and tracking of the Core Values. The SAS Program Director, Ashley Babcock, collaborates closely with the Alpine, Nordic, Freeride and Backcountry Program Directors and coaches to integrate goal-setting, time-management, and citizenship skills to ensure student athlete success and well-being on and off the hill.
Please contact Ashley Babcock (ababcock@jhskiclub.org) with any questions and for school scheduling information.
