WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William & Mary juniors Reeves Trott (men's soccer) and Sophie Caplan (women's track and field) represented the Colonial Athletic Association at the annual NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, April 11-14, in Orlando, Fla.
 
The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum included student-athletes, coaches, faculty and administrators from the Divisions I, II and III levels. Student-athletes selected to attend the forum gain invaluable leadership skills, the experience of exploring the relationship between personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and a thorough understanding of the NCAA as a whole, the different divisional perspectives and the valuable role of Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC). The Tribe pair joined a total of 220 student-athletes representing a broad array of NCAA-sponsored athletics.
 
"The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum was certainly a once in a lifetime experience, and I walk away from it with a great deal of personal growth, invaluable leadership skills and a close-knit network of student-athlete leaders from other schools across the country," Caplan said. "From our lessons and workshops dealing with core values, crucial conversations, and strength-based leadership, I gained a deeper understanding of who I am, what I stand for, and how to embody this as a leader. Overall, this experience ignited the spark for me to develop the confidence, skills, and values to make a positive impact on my campus."
 
During the forum, participants were separated into small teams for in-depth discussions on relevant leadership topics that can be applied on campus. Student-athletes also learned about NCAA governance structures, how committees function, the role and structure of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and how impactful these organizations can be at the national, campus and conference levels.
 
"One thing that stuck out to me was how engaged and how willing all the athletes and administrators were at the forum," Trott said. "There were about 200 student athletes, and 100 administrators at the event ready to learn and ready to be engaged, which made the forum fun and active. Everything I gained from this experience, I am able to take back to W&M and try to make a difference as a leader. Whether it be for Men's Soccer or SAAC, the forum provided me with conflict resolution skills, relationship building skills, and community outreach skills. All of which I will try to bring back to W&M."
 
The forum also included a number of keynote speakers. Chris Norton, a motivational speaker and former Division III football player at Luther, discussed his story of resilience after suffering a traumatic injury during a game and being told he would never be able to walk again. His story, which was the subject of the documentary "Seven Yards," demonstrated the perseverance allowed him to prove the doctors wrong by walking across the stage at his graduation. Daron K. Roberts also spoke at the event. A speaker, author and transition coach, Roberts' story of transition from his time at Harvard Law School to an NFL coaching position served was the foundation for "Call an Audible," which received critical acclaim from Sports Illustrated as one of 2017's best sports business books.

"The guest speakers definitely stood out as a highlight of the forum," Caplan said. "We were fortunate enough to hear from Daron K. Roberts, a Harvard Law grad turned NFL coach, and Chris Norton, a former Division III football player who was paralyzed and told he would never walk again.  Both of the speakers were incredible to listen to; their stories were truly inspiring."

The 2019 forum also included a refined focus on mental health and its connection to intercollegiate athletics. Jessica Mohler, clinical sports psychologist and assistant director of the Midshipmen Development Center at Navy, spoke with visiting athletics administrators and coaches about important tips on navigating the mental health space in athletics. The NCAA Sport Science Institute was also featured at the forum, highlighting the resources available to athletes and exploring common trends with student-athlete mental health.
 
"My experience at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum was amazing," Trott said. "I met some incredible people and learned a lot about leadership. We were split into groups of about 35 and in those groups, we dove into our core values, leadership qualities, and how to build relationships. The Forum also had some really inspirational guest speakers like Chris Norton and Darren Roberts who taught us about commitment and intentionality, as well as providing us with some motivational experiences."
 
Additionally, the student-athletes participated in a community service project to benefit the One Love Foundation, a prominent nonprofit organization aiming to educate young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships and developing leaders of change in the area. Participants assembled care packages to be distributed at domestic violence shelters in Orlando and Jacksonville, Fla.