We sat down with Dr Pete Paciorek, Head of Leadership & Character Development at IMG Academy, to learn more about how sports can help students build leadership skills, both on and off the field. IMG Academy’s global collaboration with Nord Anglia is designed to help students develop their sense of wellbeing, resilience, and confidence, as well as their teamwork and leadership skills.
I’m Dr Pete Paciorek, aka ‘Coach Pete’, and I’m the Head of Leadership & Character Development at IMG Academy. I’ve been a coach and teacher for the past 30 years and for close to 10 years played professional baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. I hold a doctoral degree in Servant Leadership & Character Education and am passionate about helping students flourish thanks to learning leadership skills.
This is the first sports and wellbeing collaboration of its kind for international schools, and we’re so proud that IMG Academy has become Nord Anglia’s newest collaboration for students and teachers, joining other institutions like MIT, The Juilliard School, and UNICEF, which all provide life-changing experiences for students. Our collaboration helps Nord Anglia students to develop their wellbeing, resilience, confidence, teamwork, and leadership.
Simply put, participation in sports at any level provides excellent opportunities for children to develop their character and leadership. I’ve seen first-hand how sports can be an effective vehicle to teach transferable life skills and habits that can last a lifetime, such as teamwork, collaboration, confidence, respect, and integrity. And when working with students, I always start with an emphasis on “leading oneself” before leading others. We seek to create a learning environment that develops independent critical thinkers. Whether it be through active participation in after school sports teams or during physical education classes, all students benefit holistically.
It’s my go-to answer to “how do I become a better leader?” As adults, we need to embody the leadership and character we want to see in our children. They’re watching our actions and listening to our words, even when we don't think that’s the case. Are we modeling the right way for them?
For students, they must be able to lead themselves before they can lead others. Are they open to being coachable, or do they think they have it all figured out? Do they look to lift others up, or are they only about their own stats? And do they have the courage it takes to lead? We know effective self-leadership comes from honest self-reflection and self-awareness.
The good news is that leadership can be taught. At IMG Academy, we focus on developing 12 leadership qualities—purpose, humility, integrity, joy, courage, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, empowerment, valuing diversity, foresight, and stewardship—all rooted in evidence-based research.
Parents should be intentional about why they encourage their children to participate in sports and physical activities. In the long run, is it to win a game or championship and get a scholarship, or is the true value much deeper than that? Many parents tell me they want their children to grow in character through sports. Just as we work with our student-athletes to gain clarity around their purpose for playing, it’s vital for parents to keep their priorities in check as well. One way to do so is to empower their children to take control of their own sports’ journey.
Families and parents could also find opportunities outside of school and sports to develop the "champion's spirit" of a leader, which is one of our core values at IMG Academy. One way to do so is to empower your children to find a charity or cause that they are passionate about—the key here is helping them find their own cause to support. It could be your local Special Olympics (my own children's personal favourite non-profit organisation to support), reading to or tutoring younger children, or starting their own local food drive. A key component of a purpose-driven leader is a commitment to something larger than self.
Parents should also partner with teachers and coaches, who serve a vital role as adult mentors outside of the home. It takes a village to raise a child into a strong leader of high character and positive influence. If you are a parent who was not into sports as a young child, don’t let that detract you from signing your child up for a local sports league. They don't have to be a future Major Leaguer to benefit from the fruits of sport participation, including positive mentoring from many terrific youth coaches who care deeply about your child winning in life, not just on the scoreboard.
Metacognition project ‘showcases the incredible potential of reflective learning on a global scale’.
Nord Anglia’s IB students achieved an average diploma score of 34 points, surpassing this year’s IBDP global average by almost four points.
I’m Katya, a Year 12 student at the British International School of Chicago, South Loop where I’ve attended since Year 4. Last month, I was lucky enough to participate in a week-long event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, made possible thanks to the collaboration Nord Anglia Education has.
