Get in the Game, Global Ed

Dear Study Abroad Offices... do your job.

Please and thank you.

College Coaches are contacting tour operators about NCAA Foreign Tours (and often bypassing your office) for international experiences but that's not actually their job, is it?

A Coach's job is to push, pull, plan, motivate, strategize, mentor, recruit, watch film, win games, and challenge Athletes and Staff to be the best they can be on the field, in the pool, on the court.

A Study Abroad Office's job is strikingly similar to that above except switch "win games" to "create international programs, including diverse pockets of the student body."

This obviously satire because Study Abroad Offices are doing amazing work globalizing the world (and we are one of them) but Athletes, Coaches, and Athletic Departments NEED YOU TO STEP UP... not next year, not in a decade... now please.

Here's how:

1) Give 'em what they want.

Coaches and Athletes want to PLAY while they are abroad.

68% of Coaches agree/strongly agree they want their Athletes to compete and train while abroad, according to a survey with 830 responses from NCAA Division I, II, and III Coaches (Global Players / Athlete Network, 2018).

Sure, they could do one of the 500 other program offerings for NARPs as they call their "Non-Athlete Regular People" peers. But no, they want to PLAY their sport. And lucky for you (who is passionate about students diving deep in the Host Culture) their sport is the perfect vehicle to cultural exchange.

They best way to do this is present ONE turnkey program option: a Faculty-Led Program for Athletes which includes Athletics/Play. Let me repeat that stat: 68% of Coaches want their Athletes to play while they are abroad: give 'em what they want.

And does it really take 12-18 months to get a program approved if (1) a Professor already popular amongst Athletes is invited and onboard (2) a group of Athletes is ready to sign up once given the stamp of approval by their Coaches, and (3) scholarships and aide can cover costs, or, Athletics pays for it directly?

Push it thru! Make an exception! Make it happen!

This is like a fast break in sports: starts with a spark, builds energy and excitement, ends with a goal! If not, that's OK too, but often times it does because... it was practiced, not an accident. Whenever this reaches you is the right time; please start working on this now and don't wait. We are your partners in this, your Teammates. We are on the same Team, working toward the same goal. It's a win-win.

Study abroad offices... do your job. Please and thank you.

2) Look the part.

Whether it's interviewing for a new job, going into a temple in Japan, meeting the Parents, or pitching to Athletes and Coaches (pun intended)— you have to look the part. So head on over to the ol' bookstore and get yourself an athletic hoodie; the first step to speaking their language.

Even better, ask for swag from ANY Administrator, Coach, or Team you talk to and watch as gear suddenly spawns from under a desk, in a drawer, or an Assistant will be asked to fetch something. Then you will have a custom piece when you go support their sport!

Looking the part is important to BUILD TRUST when you present a FLP to Coaches. It signals you are aware of their culture and needs. If you go over there in your button down and pleated-khakis, or worse, a suit, they are gonna take one look at you and stop listening immediately. To be on a team, you have to look the part.

This is poking fun, but remember, you're awesome.

3) Do it scared.

As Athletes and Coaches, we are nervous and scared and intimidated ALL. THE. TIME. But we play anyway because we trained for the game, the meet, the match —and so have you.

Every conference you've attended or presented, every student advisory meeting, every program you've approved...you have trained for this and you are ready. Even if you're not, do it anyway.

ATHLETES NEED YOU!

This demographic NEEDS YOU to be their Champion for international experiences. They need YOU to call and email and pester the Athletic Director and SWA and Director of Student Athlete Academic Services in the summer when no one is in season, just before winter break when Athletes are in exams, or anytime to anyone who will listen.

And they will listen. They want it too! It's just not on their radar, yet, and also not their primary job. See paragraph 3. Just like training a muscle, it will get stronger over time. So even if you're scared... do it scared.

I'm going to do more, too. We're all on the SAME TEAM! I have to take my own advice and give YOU the resources you want (and need), look the part, and do it scared.

I need to create more content so here's what I commit to:

• Posting shorter tips on Instagram
• Posting longer instructional videos here and on YouTube
• Contacting more of you directly for a Proposal or a chat

We are on the same Team, working toward the same goal.

In closing, Athletes and Coaches need you as Champions, we need you as Partners, and you need all of us to create new programs and revenue. It's a win-win-win.

Time to get in the game. ??

Tara Michael, Founder of Global Players

Website: www.playtheglobe.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +31654693082 WhatsApp