Empowering Teen Athletes for Success
Game Up Success equips young athletes with leadership skills and character-driven insights designed to win on the field—and in life.
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Featured Release:
Student Athlete Success Guide
Karen Thompson, Author Publisher: BK Royston Publishing
Format: Paperback. Secure your copy at KWT Books
Book Overview
The Student Athlete Success Guide is a simple, easy reference guide to help student athletes maximize their potential and become productive leaders of tomorrow. Student athletes who read this book will have a clearer understanding of the distinctions between civility, incivility, and sportsmanship.
Summary
This book is not an exhaustive manual on all manners and etiquette rules, but rather a starting point to guide young student athletes through the important aspects of civility and behavior that will help them succeed in sports, school, and in life. Civility goes beyond good manners, it shapes the way we interact with others, how we handle challenges, and how we treat ourselves. This book will provide useful guidelines for young student athletes, to stand out as an individual with great potential, both on and off the field.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview
| CHAPTER |
| Role of Parents & Guardians |
| What is Civility? |
| Sportsmanship |
| First Impressions |
| Communication in Digital World |
| Dynamics of Good Friendships |
| The Perils of Alcohol and Drugs |
| Mental Health and Self-Care |
| The Goal of Sports |
| Understanding Team Rules |
| Team Photo Shoot Preparation Team Practice Game Day Protocol |
| Celebrating a Championship |
| Table Manners |
| The End of the Season |
| Coaches Corner Coaches Corner II |
NIL Awareness for Young Athletes and Families
To help pre-teens, teens, parents, and grandparents understand Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities.
- What NIL Means
NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness. It allows athletes to earn money or benefits from their personal brand. - You Are a Brand
Your name, your face, and your reputation have value. How you act on and off the field matters. - Social Media Matters
Colleges and sponsors look at your posts. Keep your pages positive, respectful, and clean. - School Rules Still Apply
Every state and school has rules about NIL. Always check what is allowed before signing any deals. - Education Comes First
Grades, behavior, and attendance still matter. NIL opportunities depend on being eligible to play. - Family Support Is Important
Parents and guardians should be involved in decisions about contracts, money, and opportunities. - Watch Out for Scams
If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always review deals carefully. - Build Your Reputation Early
Good sportsmanship, leadership, and community service make you more attractive to sponsors. - Learn Basic Money Skills
Understand taxes, saving, and budgeting before accepting any NIL money. - Ask for Help
Talk to coaches, school counselors, or trusted adults before making any NIL decisions.
About the Author
Karen W. Thompson
Karen brings twenty-eight years of dedicated service in the criminal justice field. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, with academic interests focused on the development of effective after-school programs that support youth success. Her professional training includes certifications such as Save Our Youth and the Teen Confidence Academy through the Professional Woman Network (PWN), founded by Linda Eastman, a global organization of coaches, consultants, and authors.
Earlier in her career, Karen taught Your Manners Matter, a national civility-based eighteen-week curriculum developed by Cynthia Grosso, founder of the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette, at a local community center.
Soon after, Karen devoted her time to traveling with her daughter, Kendria, embracing the role of a “volleyball grandma” for several years while supporting not one, but two student-athletes. Drawing from her professional background and personal experience, she wrote the Student Athlete Success Guide to complete the work she began years ago—helping young athletes and their families navigate the path to success on and off the court.
