ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Beyond the Field Leadership Academy program is an evidence-based youth development through sports program based on the National Football Leagues’ “Play It Smart” Player Development Program model. The mission of the program is to provide educational enhancement opportunities for underserved youth who have deficits in social, emotional, and financial support needed to achieve future success. We accomplish this by partnering with local schools with the idea of using sports as an opportunity for student athletes from disadvantaged communities to enhance their personal and academic skills.

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This program has been run successfully in Cleveland South High School, St. Peter Chanel High School, and Shaker Heights High School, as well as the Cleveland MUNY League Northeast Ohio Kings football program.