Discovering Our AIR
Coaching is life mentorship. It means looking people in the eye and saying, “We’re going on a journey together, so strap yourself in and be prepared to be uncomfortable at times.” That’s our job as educators; to push people to the edge of their comfort zone so that they can discover and expand the amazing potential they have inside. When we are successful on this voyage it will be because all of us—administrators, teachers, students, and parents—stretched beyond what we previously thought was possible. That kind of personal growth depends on our commitment to the process of improving ourselves and connecting with others.
As The Rising Point has grown and developed, both in my mind and with the families we serve, I’ve come to better understand and embrace what my calling is and the language with which that core idea is expressed. Soccer is the activity but it is far from the end in itself. This is not just a game; it’s a way of life. The manner in which we conduct ourselves on the field reflects the attitudes and behaviors that we display as we move throughout the world. Through the game we are discovering our AIR.
To successfully navigate an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world we need AIR. Without it we can’t breathe. Unless we are able to discover it for ourselves we can’t share it with others. Soccer, like life, is about harnessing one’s own AIR in order to make a positive impact on those around you. As individuals and as a group, having AIR means that we are:
A: Aware. We are constantly observing and gathering information about our world.
I: Intentional. We think and behave with purpose as we pour all of ourselves into every interaction.
R: Responsive. We are competent and accountable decision makers in any situation.
In this way, The Rising Point is about teaching how to play the sport of life by living the game of soccer. Having AIR applies as much to being a courageous citizen and compassionate friend as it does to being a good athlete. We are tasked with teaching the game in the context of life, not separate from it. Quality people and supportive communities embody the concept of having AIR. A team full of individuals who have discovered and embraced their own AIR is a special collective that can truly fly.
When sports are taught, experienced, and consumed from a values based paradigm they can educate and transform society. This is social justice work. The Rising Point is an initiative calling us to be better about how we educate through the game of soccer. Certainly, people face daunting struggles when they present a challenge to a powerful structure. I’m acutely aware of the barriers that systems and institutions erect in order to maintain the status quo. Along with being blatantly prevalent in bigoted people, the triple evils of ignorance, innocence, and insecurity are the hallmarks of an oppressive system. This is true whether we are talking about structural racism and white supremacy, sexism and patriarchy, or corruption and mendacity in youth sports.
In our society, ignorance acts as a shield to protect those who may actually know the error of their ways but who have no interest in changing for fear of losing their way of life. The concept of innocence allows for the proliferation of the idea that whatever crimes were committed by those in power were completely by accident, or perhaps worse, simply the result of coincidental advantages, nothing more. Finally, the insecurity of those who are tasked with changing stops them from dealing squarely with important issues for fear of losing what they have gained. Insecurity also allows people to project their shortcomings onto others, thereby blaming victims for their own suffering.
Soccer is a great game, but I’m thinking beyond sports every time I take the field. I believe, for example, that coaching kids to discover their AIR is anti-racism work. It is guiding and preparing them to be responsible, reflective, and compassionate members of a more just society. As a black man, and a proud African immigrant, my mission doesn’t change whether I’m working with predominantly white affluent kids or low-income brown and black kids. Through serving a wide range of children from various backgrounds, one thing I’ve learned is that complacency and disengagement can exist everywhere. All of us, especially if certain conditions aren’t met in our environments, have the ability to fall victim to hopelessness and despair. On the other hand, we also know that anyone can reach higher with the proper love and support.
The primary goal of The Rising Point is to provide access to those who need it the most. For those who are left out, left behind, and left to their own devices, we rise. Yes, that means that we must invest in and build spaces that can accommodate lower income families so that youth soccer doesn’t continue to be the domain of predominantly affluent middle and upper class children. This is just the starting point of our movement.
We’re going on a journey together, so strap yourself in and be prepared to be uncomfortable at times. When we are successful on this voyage it will be because all of us stretched beyond what we previously thought was possible. The strength of our community is shown not just by how eager we are to celebrate together but also by our ability to suffer, endure, and learn together. Along the way, we hope the ride gives you joy as well as some uneasy thrills. We hope it provides some insights and provokes self-reflection. For me, coaching soccer isn’t just about creating warrior-artists on the field. Teaching them how to play is teaching them how to live. We play to discover our AIR. We play to nurture the best version of ourselves. We play to be the authors of our story. We play to discover our collective excellence. We play to build community.
