Duke's Sophomore Mentoring Program - 2010

The following will provide you with information about the Duke’s Mentoring Program, which is kicking off its second year.

ALL CURRENT SOPHOMORES will be communicating with me (Coach Jason Christmas) throughout this spring as we work together to take care of the responsibilities included in the Mentoring Program.

Here is an outline of the guidelines and expectations as well as the multiple benefits of this program. Following that will be the targeted deadlines for the Duke's class of 2012 to meet throughout the spring.

1) This is the second year of the Sophomore Mentoring Program, and the class of 2011 did an amazing job setting the tone for this project.

2) This applies only to the current Duke's sophomore class of players.

3) Each sophomore is expected to reach out to his respective community lacrosse-feeder program and make contact with preferably an 8th-grader or a very advanced 7th-grader who you feel can be a candidate/prospective Duke's player the following year.

4) The Duke's sophomore is expected to introduce this younger player to what the entire Duke's program represents and stands for, explaining our Mission Statement and acquainting him with all aspects of the Duke's program: the website, tournament experiences, uniforms, recruiting, etc. Talk to him about your Duke's experience and what you hope it will give you, teach you and prepare you for in the future.

5) The Duke's sophomore, after picking his younger player, must complete a New Player Info form, sending it by e-mail to Coach Jason Christmas . This e-mail should include a note written by our Duke’s player. It should provide background on the young player’s character and lacrosse skills.

6) The Duke's sophomore must then attend a minimum of 2 practices and 1 game with this chosen player. You should be supporting, encouraging and helping that player so that there is a bond of friendship that allows for a mutual exchange that is beneficial to both boys.

7) By the end of the spring season, the Duke's sophomore will then prepare a written report of his interaction with the selected player and submit it to Coach Jason Christmas , with a copy to the other coaches. It may be possible that the sophomore can have it count toward Community Service hours or serve as some other school-related project.

8) We feel that there are multiple benefits to this Mentoring Program:
a) We will be giving back to the youth of our communities.
b) We will be giving back to the youth lacrosse programs that have helped us.
c) We will be letting people know about the value and success of the Duke’s lacrosse program.
d) It is asking our sophomore players to be more accountable to our program by taking a leadership role in their interactions with the young players.
e) It is creating the opportunity for friendships and bonds that may go beyond this simple exercise.
f) It may serve as a useful tool for a Duke's player's school project.
g) This gives players a chance to see and appreciate the game of lacrosse from a different perspective.
h) Lastly, it will target potential future Duke's players and give them the framework of understanding who we are and how we work.

CURRENT SOPHOMORES - Targeted Dates
Each player will be expected to communicate with Coach Jason Christmas and have made contact with a younger player by April 15, 2010. This gives you over three weeks to reach out to a younger player and make that connection that we will build up over the course of this spring. By April 15, each sophomore is expected to communicate the name of their chosen player to Coach Jason Christmas , which will be followed by having that younger player fill out a New Player Info form from the Duke's website. GET STARTED ON THIS ASAP!

The goal in the month of April will be to attend at least 2 practices and 1 game of the young player. It's also important that you can provide them a copy or link to your game schedule so that they can get to some games and see you in action.

I will be in open communication with you, your player, as well as Coach Ebe to make sure things are running as smoothly as possible and that you as members of Duke's are doing the right things and making appropriate progress. You will need to document the dates of practices/games attended and communicate them with me so that I can check you off as you take care of the different steps of the mentoring program.

By May 10, 2010, all sophomore should have submitted their final report to Coach Jason Christmas.

Sincerely,
Coach Jason Christmas (Coach Christmas)