Sports: A Year of Overcoming Adversity

Sports Industry Update: Competitive college sports had the most challenging year in history, and there was no shortage of stressors and “unknowable” situations for businesses, administrators, coaches, players and families to continuously adapt around.

Coaches were given an opportunity to lead through this adversity, and those who reached out to collaborate with us forged bonds within their teams even through restrictions of in-person team interaction, administrative decision-making, civil unrest, completely remote teams, and their academic requirements as student athletes.

AEP Edge: Our digital workshop developed into our 4-part “Signature Series” (which is now 5+ parts), and teams learned critical skills for getting through these stressful times as well as the critical moments in games, and for doing so as a team with on-field chemistry and meaningful bonds off the field.

All of the teams who worked with us advanced to their conference playoffs, including a first-year program establishing itself in the NCAA, which made it to the Conference Championship Game (results TBD), and another team which was re-establishing itself after years of being deactivated as an NCAA program. Our college brands have a particular focus on amplifying their culture across an AEP social media platforms. To bolster recruitment and retention for our clients' programs, we provide a unique inside-look at a team so recruits, parents, donors and administrators can see a team's culture in action, and reinforced by AEP's perspective.

Below, you'll find a recap of our work with two of our client-partners in college sports:

ONU Polar Bears

"12R Culture"

Head Coach Nat St. Laurent Ohio Northern University Polar Bears: Men's Lacrosse

ONU approached the 2021 Season in the hunt for leadership and an outlier mindset willing to "draw first blood" on the field. The tone of our AEP Signature Series, for this particular program, drove that messaging home while creating a culture fully bought-into the the "12R" culture. Breathwork by Ceci Craft, CMPC and "A Warrior's Pause" are techniques this squad tapped into quite often, and their team innovation session allowed a sense of "first blood" as their message included a concept of hitting the road all season to play anyone, anytime, anywhere, and in any division.

Brand-New NCAA Program

Head Coach Jordan Williams

Penn College of Technology Wildcats: Men's Lacrosse Excerpt from the 2021 Championship Game Recap:

PCT Wildcats Men's Lacrosse Team

(Season) One for the History Books:

"In just its first season as an NCAA program, Penn College defied the odds by reaching the title contest. In that journey, they earned six NEAC player of the week honors, landed nine players on the all-conference team, including the Rookie of the Year and the Coach of the Year.

'This season exceeded all of our expectations on and off the field. We transitioned from a club program and found success at Division III level right away, which no one including myself saw coming. I am extremely grateful for the young men who took the leap of faith to be a part of year one,' Williams said. 'We look forward to building off the solid foundation we laid this year with the addition of our incoming class and are excited about the opportunity to compete for a NEAC title again next season.'"

Business Edge in Covid

Along with sports teams coping with pressure and uncertainty in 2020 and into 2021, we also saw plenty of businesses making major organizational pivots and enduring “Covid fatigue.” There were impacts from all angles, including industry partners and customers, the pace of the holiday season, frequent changes in rules and mitigating health risks, and postal services issues, among others. Mandates from various levels government were not only a moving target and mixed messages, but also required service-based businesses to shift to a fully remote environment. For businesses which could operate onsite, their operations now required ongoing new investments in equipment and personnel to make the environment safe enough to do business in, especially for employees spending the most time on-location.

AEP Edge: Our business clients were able to find the inspiration and connections on their teams to continue, and used energy management techniques to surge into 2021 with newfound energy. Our clients received our Signature Series, tailored for their company, industry, and staff, and during our team collaboration problem set, one organization began preparing their mindset for a long-term goal of supporting the 2028 Olympics in LA, and another was prepared for an obstacle we had played out that ended up becoming a reality just a few weeks later. Additionally, during the course of our workshops, one client was able to secure and execute the acquisition of a business and AEP incorporated the onboarding of that team into our sessions, which were already focused on activating the culture and empowering leaders at all levels.

Our business clients in the sports industry include:

Epoch Sports // Epoch Lacrosse and Evolution Physical Therapy. Both are challenger brands in their respective fields and approached Covid's obstacles as a time to adapt their business operations, persevere through uncertainty, make critical decisions under pressure and problem solve & innovate as a team. See below for more about both Epoch Lacrosse and Evolution Physical Therapy.

About Epoch Lacrosse is a U.S. design and technology company committed to exclusively creating the highest-performing lacrosse equipment made and manufactured in the U.S. Through its innovation lab in Minneapolis, Epoch Lacrosse incorporates high-tech practices into its production including 3D printing and utilizing carbon fiber. In addition to Epoch Lacrosse’s use of technology, the design of their shafts is leading the lacrosse industry and are growing in popularity among players.

Mission Statement: Epoch Lacrosse seeks to move the game of lacrosse forward using better technology, design, engineering and manufacturing. We strive to grow our business with the same integrity and focus on technology we use to develop products while inspiring our customers.

Vision Statement: Become a market share leader in the sport of lacrosse by introducing performance driven products that utilize forward thinking designs, technology and manufacturing techniques.

Evolution Physical Therapy is a health, wellness and fitness company based out of Los Angeles , CA, United States with 7 locations in Playa Vista, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, and Costa Mesa and 2 Locations in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States.

Our mission is to help all of our patients and clients perform at their highest potential, to completely redefine the profession of physical therapy and to provide the community with exceptional rehab services, fitness, performance training, injury prevention, wellness and recovery. Our doctors of physical therapy are highly skilled and knowledgeable, utilize modern equipment and techniques and have an unparalleled drive to help you get better.