By Press Times staff
GREEN BAY – On Sept. 6, InSideOut Initiative co-founders Joe Ehrmann and Jody Redman hosted InSideOut School Implementation Team (SIT) Training at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
The program serves as a blueprint for change in school athletic programs.
“The SIT training is designed to guide athletic administrators and their team through the InSideOut Five-Step Pathway,” said Jody Redman, “with the goal of building a purpose-based sports culture in school athletic programs.”
“Our goal in launching the InSideOut Initiative is — and remains — to transform the ‘win-at-all-costs’ sports culture so prevalent in sports today,” said 13-year National Football League (NFL) veteran Joe Ehrmann. “Coaches and administrators who participate in our training programs gain a greater awareness of the true purpose of sports, focusing on and directing resources to making a positive impact in the lives of students.”
The initiative was piloted in Colorado and Texas in 2015.
Since then, the InSideOut Initiative has partnered with 23 NFL Teams across 20 states.
The program was launched in Wisconsin in January 2023, with funding from the NFL Foundation and the Green Bay Packers.
“The Packers are proud to support the InSideOut initiative in Wisconsin. Sports can serve as a powerful catalyst to build unity and bring people together, regardless of what the scoreboard says. Being involved in sports during childhood can help kids develop critical skills and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, accountability and dedication. The Packers are committed to encouraging participation in sports to help young people discover more about themselves, their teammates and the world around them,” Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said during its launch.
Over 150 coaches, athletic directors and school administrators participated in the training program, developing a “Transformational Purpose Statement” during the session held Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field.
The InSideOut Initiative is a four-phase implementation process designed to “reclaim the educational purpose of athletics in the school communities” through “first systems-level intervention to prioritize the social-emotional and character development of student-athletes in high school athletics.”
An InSideOut School Implementation Team consists of the school’s athletic administrator, the head football coach or other male coach of influence, a female head coach of influence and an additional school administrator or leader.
In addition to the Packers and NFL Foundation, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) collaborated on the training event.
“We are excited to be a partner along with the Green Bay Packers and other education organizations by continuing to offer the InSideOut Initiative to our member schools,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “We believe the foundation of the InSideOut Initiative supports the goals of education-based athletics and will enhance the positive experiences that high school sports provide.”
“Equipping our schools with the tools and training needed to enhance the lives of their student athletes will not only benefit their athletic programs, but their communities as well through InSideOut’s Purposed-Based approach,” added Packers football outreach manager Ryan Fencl.
For additional information, visit https://insideoutinitiative.org.