High School Senior Sports Development Internship

High School Seniors Sports Development Initiative & Internship

ELEVATE: A purpose-driven initiative

Building Men's & Women's Division 1 Aspiring Athletes with Purpose Beyond the Game

Must Have 3.0 High School GPA

Program Overview

ELEVATE is a groundbreaking 12-month athletic development and purpose discovery program designed specifically for ambitious male and female student-athletes pursuing NCAA Division 1 opportunities. Our program provides equal focus on men's sports (football, basketball, baseball, track) and women's sports (basketball, volleyball, softball, track, soccer), ensuring that athletes of all genders receive the specialized support needed for D1 success.

What makes ELEVATE unique is our dual-focus approach: while athletes undergo intensive sport-specific training, they simultaneously participate in a structured year-long internship and academic coursework that earns them 7 transferable academic credits. Crucially, this academic advancement is designed to preserve their full 4 years of NCAA Division 1 eligibility, giving them both academic progress and a complete collegiate athletic experience.

Unlike traditional athletic development programs that focus solely on physical performance, ELEVATE integrates intensive sport-specific training with purpose discovery, personal brand development, and social impact planning. We recognize the unique challenges and opportunities for both men and women in collegiate athletics, tailoring our approach to maximize each athlete's potential.

Core Program Pillars

1. Elite Athletic Development

Personalized training regimens designed by former D1 and professional athletes that target sport-specific skills, strength conditioning, speed development, and mental performance needed for Division 1 competition.

2. Purpose Discovery

Structured exploration of personal values, interests, and experiences to uncover the deeper meaning behind athletic pursuits and identify causes that spark authentic passion.

3. Platform Building

Strategic personal brand development, media training, and digital content creation skills that prepare athletes to effectively communicate their story and amplify causes they care about. Our approach recognizes the different platform-building opportunities available in men's and women's sports, with specialized strategies for each athlete's unique situation and sport.

4. Impact Design

Mentorship and resources to create an actionable impact initiative connected to the athlete's sport and personal purpose, ready to implement upon reaching D1 status.

5. Academic Advancement & Internship

Structured academic coursework and internship experience that earns 7 transferable college credits while maintaining full NCAA eligibility, giving athletes an academic head start before entering their D1 program.

Academic & Internship Structure

Accredited Academic Coursework (4 Credits)

- **Leadership & Purpose Development** (3 credits): Accredited course covering leadership principles, purpose discovery, and social impact theory

- **Athletic Platform & Communications** (1 credit): Study of effective communication strategies for student-athletes

Structured Internship Experience (3 Credits)

- 150-hour supervised internship with partner organizations aligned with athlete's purpose area

- Weekly reflections and skill application documentation

- Capstone project connecting sport platform to social impact initiative

- Academic advisor ensuring compliance with NCAA eligibility requirements

NCAA Eligibility Preservation

- All academic components carefully structured to comply with NCAA regulations

- Full maintenance of 4-year athletic eligibility at D1 institutions

- Transfer credit evaluation support for seamless transition to college programs

- Regular consultation with NCAA compliance experts throughout the program

Sport-Specific Development Tracks

Equal resources are devoted to both men's and women's sports:

**Men's Football Track**

- Position-specific skill development with former D1/professional players

- Football-specific strength and conditioning program

- Film study and game intelligence development

- Showcase preparation and college program matching

- Combine-style metric improvement

**Men's & Women's Basketball Tracks**

- Position-specific skill enhancement tailored to men's and women's games

- Gender-specific agility and athleticism training protocols

- Game intelligence and basketball IQ development

- Film creation and distribution strategy for men's and women's programs

- Recruiting tournament preparation with exposure to appropriate D1 coaches

**Baseball (Men's) & Softball (Women's) Tracks**

- Hitting, fielding, and position-specific skill development

- Sport-specific strength and conditioning adapted for each sport

- Game strategy and situational awareness training

- Showcase preparation and scout visibility strategy

- Metrics-based performance enhancement relevant to each sport

**Women's Volleyball Track**

- Position-specific technical skill development

- Volleyball-specific power, agility and vertical training

- Game strategy and court awareness development

- Recruiting tournament preparation and visibility planning

- Video analysis and highlight creation

**Women's Soccer Track**

- Position-specific skill enhancement with former D1/professional players

- Soccer-specific fitness and endurance training

- Tactical awareness and game intelligence development

- ID camp preparation and recruiting tournament strategy

- Performance analytics and video highlight production

Purpose Discovery Journey

**Phase 1: Athletic Identity Exploration (Months 1-3)**

- Personal narrative workshops uncovering why athletes chose their sport

- Identification of core values expressed through athletic participation

- Assessment of personal strengths, interests, and experiences

- Exploration of athletic heroes and their impact beyond sports

**Phase 2: Social Cause Connection (Months 4-6)**

- Research into social issues that resonate with personal experiences

- Mentorship from athlete-advocates making impact in various causes

- Identification of intersection between athletic journey and social purpose

- Development of personal mission statement connecting athletics to impact

**Phase 3: Platform Development (Months 7-9)**

- Personal brand strategy development aligned with purpose

- Communication training for effective storytelling

- Social and digital media strategy creation

- Content creation skills and authentic voice development

**Phase 4: Impact Initiative Design (Months 10-12)**

- Action plan for cause-related platform building at D1 level

- Resource identification and partnership development

- Timeline creation for impact initiative launch

- Measurement framework for tracking impact

Weekly Schedule Integration

Balanced Weekly Structure

- **3-4 days**: Sport-specific training (3-4 hours/day)

- **2 days**: Academic coursework and internship (4-6 hours/day)

- **1 day**: Purpose development workshop (3 hours)

- **1 day**: Strength and conditioning (2 hours)

- **1 day**: Recovery, film study, and mentorship sessions (3 hours)

Monthly Components

- Performance assessment and training plan adjustments

- One-on-one purpose coaching session

- Sport-specific showcase or competition experience

- Athlete-advocate speaker series featuring equal representation of male and female athletes

- College recruitment strategy sessions with specialists in both men's and women's NCAA programs

- Mixed-gender workshops on shared challenges and opportunities in D1 athletics

- Academic progress reviews and internship supervision

Support System

Athletic Development Team

- **Sport-Specific Coaches**: Equal representation of male and female former D1 or professional athletes in participant's sport

- **Strength & Conditioning Specialists**: Gender-specific training experts certified in protocols optimized for men's and women's physiological differences

- **Athletic Performance Analysts**: Data-driven approach to identifying improvement areas with experience in both men's and women's sports metrics

- **Recruitment Strategists**: Experts in navigating D1 recruitment processes for both men's and women's programs with specialized knowledge of Title IX considerations

Purpose Development Team

- **Purpose Coaches**: Diverse team specializing in helping athletes connect sport to deeper meaning, with dedicated coaches familiar with both men's and women's sports landscapes

- **Athlete-Advocate Mentors**: Network of established male and female athletes making impact in various cause areas, providing gender-specific guidance

- **Digital Platform Strategists**: Experts in building effective athlete personal brands with specialized knowledge of gender-specific opportunities and challenges in sports marketing

- **Impact Initiative Designers**: Specialists in creating sustainable cause-related programs that leverage the unique platforms of both men's and women's sports

Academic & Internship Team

- **Academic Advisors**: Specialists in NCAA eligibility requirements and transfer credits

- **Internship Coordinators**: Professionals connecting athletes with purpose-aligned opportunities

- **Faculty Instructors**: Experienced educators teaching accredited coursework

- **NCAA Compliance Consultants**: Experts ensuring all program elements maintain eligibility

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of ELEVATE, athletes will:

- Demonstrate measurable improvement in sport-specific performance metrics

- Possess high-quality game film and showcase materials for recruitment

- Have a clear recruitment strategy with targeted D1 programs appropriate for their gender and sport

- Articulate a well-defined personal purpose connected to their athletic journey

- Possess a developed personal brand strategy aligned with their purpose

- Have designed an impact initiative ready to launch upon reaching D1 platform

- Own a portfolio of content demonstrating their athletic skills and purpose

- Have established relationships with mentors in both athletics and impact areas

- Possess a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage their specific athletic platform for positive change

- Understand the gender-specific landscape of their sport while working to advance equity within it

- Be equipped to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of men's and women's NCAA athletics

- Have earned 7 transferable academic credits while maintaining full NCAA eligibility

- Have completed a purpose-aligned internship experience with documented outcomes

Success Stories

*"ELEVATE helped me not only improve my 40-yard dash time and receive interest from five D1 programs, but also discover how my journey overcoming a speech impediment could become a platform to help young athletes find their voice both on and off the field. Plus, I earned 7 credits that transferred to my university, giving me a head start academically."*

— Marcus J., Football, D1 Commit

*"Before ELEVATE, I was just training to win races. Now I understand how my platform as a D1 track athlete can bring attention to environmental issues affecting the communities I've grown up in. My athletic goals have new meaning, and my internship with an environmental nonprofit gave me real-world experience I could never get elsewhere."*

— Tasha W., Women's Track & Field, D1 Scholarship Recipient

*"The specialized training for women's basketball helped me refine my game in ways general training never could. More importantly, ELEVATE connected me with mentors who showed me how to use my platform to advocate for girls' sports programs in underserved areas. I earned academic credit while improving my game and discovering my purpose—all without using any of my four years of eligibility."*

— Jasmine K., Women's Basketball, D1 Signee

*"As a volleyball player, ELEVATE not only improved my technical skills and vertical, but helped me discover how my journey as a first-generation college student could inspire others. The internship component allowed me to work with a nonprofit helping first-gen students navigate the college application process. Now I have both a D1 scholarship, 7 college credits, and a purpose beyond the court."*

— Sofia M., Women's Volleyball, D1 Recruit

Gender Equity Commitment

ELEVATE is committed to full gender equity across all aspects of our program:

- **Equal Resources**: Identical investment in men's and women's sport programs

- **Balanced Coaching**: Equal representation of male and female coaches and mentors

- **Equitable Opportunities**: Commitment to the same quality of development for all athletes

- **Representation**: Showcasing success stories from both men's and women's sports

- **Title IX Awareness**: Education on how Title IX impacts collegiate athletic opportunities

Join ELEVATE

Ready to transform not just your athletic prospects but also discover how your sports journey connects to a greater purpose? Apply to join our next ELEVATE cohort and begin your journey to becoming a purpose-driven NCAA Division 1 athlete, regardless of gender or sport. Gain a competitive advantage with 7 academic credits and real-world internship experience while maintaining your full 4 years of NCAA eligibility.

Voice Up's Core Principles: Guiding Student Athletes and Social Entrepreneurs

At the heart of Voice Up Publishing's mission lies a commitment to empowering student athletes and aspiring entrepreneurs who seek to create positive social change through purpose-driven initiatives. Our core principles serve as both compass and foundation for these changemakers as they navigate the challenging terrain of social innovation.

Collaboration: Strength in Unity

For student athletes, collaboration is already woven into their daily experience. On the field or court, they understand that individual talent flourishes within a cohesive team structure. VoiceUp channels this natural inclination toward collective achievement into the social entrepreneurship space, encouraging athletes to bring their team mindset to community challenges.

When these athletes transition into entrepreneurial roles, this collaborative spirit becomes invaluable. Rather than viewing other organizations as competitors, they learn to see potential partners whose complementary strengths can amplify impact. VoiceUp fosters environments where ideas are exchanged freely, resources are shared strategically, and diverse perspectives are not just welcomed but actively sought. The most innovative solutions often emerge at the intersection of different disciplines, experiences, and viewpoints—a truth that collaborative entrepreneurs understand deeply.

Our best days can inspire excellence. We connect people to their purpose.