It was all
a dream.
My dream of playing college field hockey came true in June of 2013 when I started my freshman year at ‘Cuse. I had the honor of wearing jersey #24 and deeply identified with my special number. I quickly picked up coaching gigs on the side and fell in love with the connections. At ‘Cuse my two years at defense and 2 years at attack cemented my interest in continuing my hockey experience post-grad.
I jumped into a graduate assistantship at my parents’ alma mater, St. Joseph’s University and found myself in a full time position a year later! After 3 Atlantic 10 championships and 3 NCAA tournament berths with SJU I left for Washington, D.C. I now work as the Associate Head Field Hockey Coach at Georgetown University where I oversee recruitment, develop hockey curriculum, and embed social work practices into our program.
-Liz Sack, 24 Athletics Founder
Enhancing Lives Beyond the Field
We believe that sports have a profound influence off the field which enriches the lives of individuals and communities everywhere. The concept for 24 Athletics is inspired by the need for player-empowered curriculum in high performance athletics settings. The development of empowering curriculum is guided through sports social work where it has the potential to transform lives, promote mental health, and drive positive social change.
Our emphasis on the intersection of sports and social work provides our coaches and players with resources to support the unique challenges and opportunities they face. 24 Athletics provides athletes with resources in the following areas:
Mental Health Support
We offer mental health support through mindfulness exercises, breathwork, and player check ins. We are consciously aware of the high-pressure environments in which competitive sports are often facilitated. The intense energy can come at the cost of player mental well-being. This is why we embed mental health support practices into our lessons, camps, and clinics.
Development and Empowerment
Sports impact personal growth, self worth, and confidence of all players. It is critical at 24 Athletics that we use sports for good. We use a player led approach in our coaching where we ask the player to evaluate themselves as opposed to turning to our coaches for the answers. Players have the answers and we know that highlighting this builds their belief in themselves.
Conflict Resolution Skills
Conflict exists in all areas of our lives. Sports are a vehicle to develop appropriate coping skills when faced with conflict. Our coaches are a sounding board for players to sort out on field challenges with themselves and others. Our coaches discuss the importance of compassion, giving grace, and positive self talk with players who may be struggling.
Advocacy
As an organization guided by sports social work, we are obligated by the National Association of Social Workers: Code of Ethics to work as advocates for social change within sports organizations and our community. We promote inclusivity, diversity, and equality, and contribute to the development of policies and programs that foster a safe and supportive environment for all individuals involved in sports.
Community Engagement and Outreach
We aim to engage with our broader community to highlight the benefits of participation in sports. We integrate our love of sports with our joy of volunteering. We recognize the transformative experience that sports can provide and are committed to making that a possibility for all interested.
