Instill a sense of Team Brotherhood

We're a small school and rely on our freshman players to fill the varsity roster. The transition from middle school to high school is challenging both physically and academically. To help our freshman players make this transition and instill a sense of "Team Brotherhood" we've established a mentoring program with every freshman assigned a mentor from the upper classes. Once assigned, the mentored will stay with a mentor for his entire time at Village Academy. The mentor is responsible for ensuring his assigned mentored are making the adjustments in the classroom as well as on the court. If a freshman is having academic challenges his mentor is his first line for tutoring or finding the resources to help him succeed. If a freshman is struggling with the playbook and learning our system, the mentor will work with him individually or at "Players Table" to get him up to speed. If a freshman player is disciplined for inappropriate behavior, either in class or on the court, the mentor will share the consequences and participate in the corrective actions. Likewise if a young player is recognized for his success, the mentor shares in that recognition. Our upper classmen have embraced their mentorship role and treat it as a competition. Their reaction when one of their mentored receives public recognition for a positive act is an immeasurable sense of pride and accomplishment. For us, the mentoring program is building "Team Brotherhood" and a path for success in whatever our players choose to do with their futures.