Purpose – WHY do we play sports, what’s the purpose?

When we started 360U 10+ years ago, our goal was to give athletes a place to train where we could provide a focus on both their mechanics and their growth and development as a person. We want our athletes to compete at the highest level of course, and many do, but let’s look at the stats for a second:

According to NCAA.org:

• 45 million athletes play youth sports in the US

• 8 million athletes play high school sports in the US

• 530,000 athletes play college sports

• Of those 530,000 college athletes competing at NCAA schools, only 1-2% play professionally after college

Being blessed to have the opportunity, Maria, myself, Maria’s husband Joel, and my husband Scott, all played college sports. We were four-year starters at our programs, were captains, held school records in many categories, and graduated with degrees in various fields (business, business, engineering, kinesiology).

Those four years of life come and go QUICKLY, as many of you I’m sure could agree with! When we reflected on our careers as athletes, what stood out most to us shortly after graduation was that the mechanical piece and competing on the field goes away FAST. Any athlete will agree, here’s a little hole, a void, for awhile as you navigate what comes next in life. That hole that we felt is what drove our true PURPOSE for starting 360U.

What is our WHY, our PURPOSE at 360U?

Our PURPOSE is to use softball and baseball as a vehicle to teach athletes the game of life. What are some of the main things we took away in our playing careers that DROVE our lives post-sports, and ultimately the core mission of 360U?

1. The importance of preparation

No one has been great without committing blood, sweat and tears to their dream. Grinding day in and day out – being process driven over results driven.

2. Responding to adversity

Life is a game of winning and losing. When we are losing, the response progression kicks in. Get up, dust off, reset, remind ourselves that we are awesome, and get back in the ring! When we can get this response firing off instinctively without emotion, we are GOING to win…but it takes practice!

3. Leave a legacy

No one dreams about being the last person off the bench, or the backup starter. But we get in lulls and live in the middle - complacency sucks! Push harder, get up earlier, make tough choices! WILL your way to leave a legacy. How do you want to be remembered??