Today, we look back at a topic we brought to light again this April as Rising Stars celebrated the start of a new program that has roots in Rising Stars' past. We discuss with Paul Savramis how this promises to have a tremendous impact on its future.
Q: What exactly is the new program that has everyone so excited at Rising Stars, and why is it so special for you, Paul Savramis?
Paul Savramis: The new program addresses today's performance expectations among parents and young athletes and the excess pressure placed on them to meet those expectations. That issue has to be part of what we deal with in the future.
Q: That's definitely a hot topic in today's world of sports and a concern for future generations. What do you see as being the root of all that pressure?
Paul Savramis: Kids make mistakes. That's a healthy way of learning. When you're afraid of making mistakes, that adds pressure, creating stress and anxiety. That then becomes a real problem with today's players.
Q: So what's your answer, Paul Savramis?
Paul Savramis: A big part of the answer was having the question explained to us by someone from our program's past who understands it and can present solutions.
Q: That's the reference to Rising Stars' history you led with?
Paul Savramis: It is. And those answers now lie with Dr. Kathleen Everson, a Rising Stars alumna and daughter of a close personal friend and also a Rising Star family member, Chuck Everson.
Paul Savramis: They are. Rising Stars alumni are what stand out for me as the most significant part of our history. Players coming back and helping to create Rising Stars' future means a great deal.
Q: So back to Dr. Everson, how is she helping define Rising Stars' future?
Paul Savramis: Simply put, in every way possible. The question, "At what cost do we price a child's success?" is asked daily. That cost gets higher every season, and it's being measured in a child's emotional well-being, which is too high a cost to pay. Dr. Everson deals with this by developing exercises that reduce stress while building confidence. That's huge!
Q: We see that you're starting Dr. Everson's program on April 29th. What does that entail?
Paul Savramis: The first step was scheduling the parents to attend a workshop on the 29th that will introduce the issues and offer solutions. When we talked about this to parents, we got a unanimous and immediate, "Sign Us Up!" across the board. The April 29th workshop sold out in a day.
Q: Sounds great. Seems like this topic was on everyone's mind.
Paul Savramis: Yes, it certainly was, and it most certainly should be. Creating excessive pressure in sports is very unhealthy. That pressure comes from both coaches and parents, and it hurts everyone. Kids stop playing organized sports, and that creates other social and academic issues. It's a domino effect. If we at Rising Stars can offer some level of relief and provide some answers to this problem, we will be taking a huge step into the future. It's a very satisfying thought for me and made even more satisfying knowing our future is tied to our past.
