Can I Play? Club Wide Program

Every player reads the same story. The book gives coaches and players a shared starting point for conversations about confidence, communication, roles, coachability, leadership, pressure, and adversity.

Three challenges use that shared story at three levels: the whole club, each team, and each player. Points connect individual effort to team standings, so a player’s contribution helps the larger club community.

• Connects age groups that usually compete on separate teams.
• Gives coaches a positive way to open conversations about the parts of development that practice does not always reach.
• Includes parents in the club’s season-long reading challenge.

The book is the shared story. The program gives your club a practical way to keep the conversations going.

Once a week, the program director posts a question and quote on the club Facebook page. Every team reads toward the same chapter, answers the same question, and sees the club standings.

• The first correct answer earns 2 points. Each other correct answer earns 1 point.
• Players include their team name. Their points count for them and for their team.
• Answers close at the end of the day. The answer, weekly leaders, team standings, and next chapter are posted the following day.
• Parents can join in and earn points for their team.

Coaches can help keep it visible by mentioning the weekly question at practice. The program director handles the post, scoring, and standings.

By season’s end, the club can recognize its Can I Play MVP, All-Stars, and Champions.

At the beginning of the season, captains divide the team into two even sides. During a water break, the coach asks one prepared question from the book. The first side with the right answer takes the point.

• Captains keep their sides reading, participating, and included.
• Players keep their own score. Coaches do not need to track it.
• Questions and answers are ready in the guide and can be opened on a phone.
• The questions can lead into short, useful conversations about situations players recognize.

It gives captains a real group to lead and coaches a simple tool for building team connection during practice.

A player can choose Can I Play? for a real school book report during the season and submit it to the club. Once the club publishes the report on its Facebook page, the player earns 5 points and her team earns 5 points.

• The school assignment must be real and turned in to the teacher first.
• The club reviews the report before publishing it.
• The player gives permission to publish. A parent or guardian must also give permission if she is under 18.
• These points count toward the same player, team, MVP, All-Stars, and Champions standings.

The challenge is optional and player-led. It gives a young athlete a chance to share her thinking with her club.