Strive: How You Lead Matters

08/13/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to Neumann University Athletics & Recreation for their partnership and for welcoming us to campus last month for such a meaningful day with coaches from across the region.
The opportunity to connect with coaches who are committed to becoming better leaders, not just for their teams, but for the young people they serve, is exactly why this work matters. Character-driven leadership and intentionally built team cultures have the power to shape athletes far beyond the playing field, and we’re proud to support this work.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their experiences, and invested in their own growth as coaches and leaders. We’re excited to continue building this partnership with Neumann Athletics and creating more opportunities to help coaches lead with purpose.
The future of leadership starts with the people willing to invest in it today. We’re just getting started.

07/24/2026

High school coaches!

Join us on July 30 for a free, one-day Coaches' Institute hosted by Neumann University Athletics and Strive!

You'll leave with practical leadership and team culture building strategies you can use with your athletes right away.

Registration is free, but space is limited to 35 coaches. See comments for registration link.

07/16/2026

This week, we kicked off our leadership sessions with the student-athletes of Harlem Lacrosse Philadelphia 🥍!

Together, middle and high school athletes explored what it truly means to lead. Through interactive challenges, team-building activities, and thoughtful discussions, they discovered that leadership isn’t about having the loudest voice or the biggest title. It’s about your character, the way you communicate, the energy you bring, the grit you show, and how you motivate those around you.

From working together to solve challenges to reflecting on the leaders who inspire them, these student-athletes demonstrated that everyone has the ability to lead in their own unique way. We’re excited to continue building these skills throughout the program and can’t wait to see how they put them into action on their teams, in their schools, and within their communities.

07/10/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in your community? Join Coach Across America as an AmeriCorps Member serving with Strive: How You Lead Matters! This is a terrific opportunity to help young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, and discover the power of teamwork through sports.

As a Coach Across America AmeriCorps Member, you'll support youth in New Castle County by assisting with PE classes, leading structured recess activities, mentoring students, providing academic support, and helping deliver Strive's character-driven leadership programming.

No prior coaching experience is required, just a passion for working with young people and a desire to make a positive impact. You'll receive comprehensive training and ongoing support throughout your service term.

If you're interested in youth development, education, coaching, mentoring, leadership, or making a lasting impact in your community, we'd love to hear from you.

See details via link below to learn more and apply.
🔗 https://striveleadership.org/careers/americorps-coach-with-strive-coach-across-america/

07/07/2026

Coaches do so much more than teach skills or prepare teams to compete. They build confidence, shape character, and create the kind of team culture where young people can grow both on and off the field.

That's why we're so excited to partner with Neumann University Athletics to launch the Neumann University x Strive Coaches' Institute on July 30. This one-day professional development experience is designed to give high school coaches practical leadership skills and culture-building strategies they can use right away. This partnership is a great example of what Strive is all about. We love working alongside schools, universities, athletic departments, and organizations that share our commitment to developing leaders and creating meaningful experiences for young people.

A huge thank you to Director of Athletics and Recreation, John Krimmel and Neumann University for partnering with us and making this opportunity possible. We're looking forward to an incredible day!

If you're a high school coach who wants to strengthen your leadership skills and build an even stronger team culture, we'd love to have you join us on July 30.

Read the full announcement below to learn more and register:

ASTON, Pa. – Neumann University Athletics and Strive: How You Lead Matters have partnered to launch the Neumann University x Strive Coaches' Institute, a one-day professional development experience designed to help coaches strengthen their leadership skills, build positive team cultures, and creat...

07/02/2026

Summer is well underway, and our work to build the next generation of leaders continues.

After wrapping up another incredible Sports Challenge, we’ve transitioned into our summer programming, partnering with organizations across Delaware to provide meaningful leadership development opportunities for young people.

At Strive, we believe leadership is developed through experiences, mentorship, and the confidence to make a positive impact. Every program, partnership, and conversation helps equip youth with the skills they need to lead in their schools, workplaces, and communities.

As we continue through the summer, our commitment remains the same: to be a catalyst for positive change and a contributor to a better tomorrow. Together with our community partners, we’re helping shape a future where every young person has the opportunity to lead with purpose.

06/25/2026

This past Tuesday, Strive, alongside Win the Day Planner for Student Athletes and the Delaware Children's Department - DSCYF, hosted the inaugural Delaware Sports Leadership Conference!

Student-athletes and coaches from across Delaware came together for a day of learning, leadership development, and inspiration. Attendees heard from an outstanding lineup of speakers, including John Woods, Athletic Director at Libertyville High School in Illinois; Tabitha Myers, Nutrition Coach; Paul Norris from Impact Life Delaware; Kate Austin, Field Hockey Coach and 2023 SHAPE Delaware Health Education Teacher of the Year; and our very own Allie Perugini, who led sessions on Motivation: Understanding Your Energy and Circle of Control.

The day was filled with energy, meaningful conversations, and opportunities for growth. Student-athletes gained valuable insights from experienced leaders and mentors, while coaches explored new strategies and techniques to help develop stronger athletes, better teammates, and future leaders.

As the first year of this conference, we are incredibly excited about what lies ahead. Our goal is to continue growing this event and contribute to building a stronger sports and leadership culture across Delaware, equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the field.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this inaugural conference a success. We can't wait to see you next year!

06/23/2026

Throughout Sports Challenge, Green Shirts were awarded to middle school student-athletes who demonstrated what it means to fill their tanks and bring positive energy to Vitamins. Vitamins is our high-energy warm-up where athletes rotate through stations while coaches encourage, support, and recognize hard work. Training can drain your tank, but these athletes stood out by lifting others up, giving great effort, and bringing enthusiasm every day!

06/18/2026

A huge shoutout to our Sports Challenge coaches and admin team for everything they did to make this program such a success!

From creating engaging lessons and mentoring our student-athletes to picking up lunches and jumping in wherever help was needed, this team went above and beyond every single day. Their hard work, dedication, and care made a lasting impact on the kids, and we could not be more grateful.

Our coaches are so much more than coaches. They are mentors, role models, and trusted friends. Throughout Sports Challenge, they spent time talking with kids about everything from the World Cup to the greatest basketball player of all time, building connections that went far beyond sports.

Thank you to every coach and team member who gave their time, energy, and heart to these kids. Your impact will be felt long after Sports Challenge is over. Three claps for our amazing team! 👏👏👏

06/16/2026

to just last week at Sanford School hosting Sports Challenge!

We hope the middle school athletes are already putting the leadership, teamwork, and confidence they developed during the week into practice.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing athlete spotlights, coach features, behind-the-scenes moments, and highlights from this year’s Sports Challenge. We can’t wait to relive the memories and show why Sports Challenge is so much more than a sports camp. It’s an experience that helps student-athletes discover their potential and put leadership into action.

Stay tuned!