Beyond The Game Academy 2019

Developing Character and Leadership through basketball.

The 2019 Beyond the Game Academy was a huge success. Over 120 athletes combined attended one of four sessions July 8th - 14th. Co-Directors Missy West (5 time Hall of Famer, Duke WBB Alumna, former professional basketball player & collegiate coach) & Colleen Healy (Connecticut Native, UConn WBB Alumna & Trailblazer of Courage Award winner for the Women’s Sports Museum) continue to be encouraged by the academy's growth and positive feedback from parents and athletes.

"I wanted to 'give back' to Malone (NY) and the North Country for all it gave me as a young athlete growing up here. We decided to pilot a unique basketball academy in July of 2018. We did not know if it would be a one-time event." stated West. "However, the response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. We recognized we had something special. Colleen and I worked a great deal to improve our concepts and ideas to make this Academy experience a very personal one for our athletes. I continue to state this is not a "basketball camp.” The BTGA experience goes beyond the basketball skills and playing/winning games. Our intention is to build the athlete from the inside out. We want to see the kids challenge themselves by trying what they cannot do (yet). We place the athletes in situations on and off the court that are uncomfortable. We have them work through these situations while supported by the entire academy. Perseverance builds confidence. If these student athletes adopt a growth mindset there is no limit to what they can achieve.”

For Missy and Colleen this academy goes beyond the lines on the court or the final outcome on the scoreboard.

“70% of our youth drop out of sport by the age of 13," states Healy. “I did not begin playing organized basketball until I was 12 years old. Sport participation was the single largest contributor to my growth and success throughout my childhood and high school years. It allowed me the opportunity to play at the college level. By the time I got to college the grit, resilience and the work ethic were already wired in me. I would have missed some of the greatest experiences and friendships of my life had I quit at the age of 13. Our mission is to create an awareness for the athlete, parent and coach that the value of sport participation is not measured exclusively in points scored or minutes played but through intangibles not included in the box score.”

"Understanding at a young age they will be a part of several teams throughout their lives, and their roles will change it is inevitable," States West. Their ability to work with others, be adaptable, recognize how to contribute and grow will prepare them for any career of their choosing. Colleen and I leveraged sport participation to help develop and master these life skills. 85% of women in the C-suite, making decisions at the highest levels in Corporate America played high school sports. This statistic alone should be eye opening for any parent. Kids are learning success skills through sport participation. Allow kids to grow into their bodies, get their balance and coordination and climb their way up. Sticking with it when a skill is difficult builds resilience and confidence that they will carry on to other aspects of their lives. This is a mission of ours - to simply keep kids in the game."

In the Academy, Colleen and Missy use basketball as their platform to teach their ORCA leadership principles to students. ORCA being the name for their new leadership consulting and coaching business they developed back in March of 2018. ORCA is an acronym for-Opportunity, Resilience, Contribution and Accountability. Through these guiding principles they tie in other important concepts such as goal setting, social media, character building, communication, sportsmanship, teamwork, etc.

"We teach much of our ORCA leadership principles in the classroom but then put it into practice by challenging the students with teamwork activities, basketball drills or scenarios and even presenting in front of the class.” states Healy. "This year we even took it a step further for our 10th-12th grade session (consisting of only girls) by adding a workshop called Trailblazing Women in American History which discussed several women, several New York natives, who trail-blazed opportunities for generations to come. "These student athletes broke out into teams, researched one of these women and presented to the academy. The girls were buzzing with enthusiasm and presented with confidence. We could not have been more proud. Why teach this topic at a basketball academy? If young women can see and hear what was once considered impossible, possible they can begin to realize the endless potential they have to create their own legacy and perhaps change the world.

Missy and Colleen continue to share their gratitude to the parents who trust and financially invest in them to teach what they have learned through their life journeys. "Within hours of a camp session ending we received emails, or Facebook messages from parents stating the excitement their kids have each day they are picked up. To paraphrase, each parent has echoed: "this academy is worth every penny based on my child's new found knowledge and enthusiasm alone."

Many traditional basketball camps and AAU teams incorporate “some" skill practice but focus mainly on developing plays and playing games. “Missy went to several camps and played on AAU teams so she in particular knows the value in them,” Healy states. "However, we constantly receive feedback that kids are no longer learning the fundamentals of the game. Playing games allows kids to incorporate what they already know. Thus, developing bad habits early that are never addressed nor adjusted. BTGA focuses on the fundamentals, the “how, why and when” from ball handling to defensive positioning. Putting kids through a drill without explaining what they are learning and accomplishing by executing it does not stick and they will not practice it with detail when nobody is watching."

What else makes BTGA so different? “This academy requires athletes and coaches to immerse themselves in the BTGA culture that we have created," states West. It is a mandatory requirement. A culture must be experienced and not described. The environment that we create within minutes of parents leaving the building is the secret sauce. We build relationships with these athletes in a short period of time. They get to experience our full authentic selves which includes our mistakes, flaws and successes. We invest in them sincerely and they know it. It is difficult for large scale camps to accomplish this and this is a huge differentiator. This type of work to us, is priceless. It lasts a lifetime.”

The momentum for BTGA continues as the Co-Directors have been asked to bring the academy to their respective states & cities including: Vermont, Sarasota FL, Connecticut to name a few.

Missy and Colleen could not bring BTGA from Tampa, FL to Malone, NY without the help and support of the sponsors and the community. “I end every academy session with my favorite quote that a mentor shared with me, “No one accomplishes anything worth anything, alone,” states West. "We have been so grateful to our many sponsors who believe in our message and are willing to help bring this Academy to Malone.”

Our Silver Sponsors - Donavan’s Steak and Ale and Ellis Chevrolet Buick GMC. Our Bronze Sponsors - William’s Construction & Spray Foam, LLC (Heather (Welch) Williams), Prairie’s Orchard, The West Family Pumpkins, Fischer, Bessette, Muldowney & McCardle LLP, D & M Market, Frenchy's Fried Dough, The Malone YMCA, S & S Sanitation & Excavation, The Malone Industrial Press Personal Touch, and Dairy Queen - WE THANK YOU!

We also want to make sure we recognize our coaching staff and support staff that helped make the 2019 academy a success. Coaching Staff - Joey Reome and Jenna Chamberlain (St. Lawrence Central), Becky Byrns and Jessica Plonka (Norwood Norfolk), Amber Goppert (FA standout athlete and fitness trainer at the Training Room Atlanta), Natalie DiSalvo (Canton and student-athlete at Suny Geneseo), Mark Flick (NAC and FA), Fred Foster (Edwards-Knox) Cory West and Ben West (Malone), Renee Lopez (Recruiting specialist and author of Looking for a full ride). Support staff- Cindy and Dan West, Penny, Cory, Julia and Madison West, Ben,Tara, and Sophie West, and Brook Meyers.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Eileen Killcullen (athletic director) and her staff for allowing us to bring this to Franklin Academy High School and Davis Elementary. Eileen has been a wonderful collaborator to work with over the last two years. She has done so much for the Huskies and our community and we are certainly grateful for her guidance and support over the years. We will surely miss her moving forward.

To bring the Beyond the Game Academy to your area contact us at btga2520@gmail.com. “Like” our facebook, instagram and twitter page (@thebtga).