University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Launches Spider Performance And Development Program
10/26/2021 | General, Spider Athletic Fund, Spider Leadership
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond Athletics Department is excited to announce the launch of the Spider Performance and Development Program (SPD), a comprehensive program that ensures the Spider student-athlete experience is second to none while focusing on building champions for life.
"Spider Athletics is focused on providing the top student-athlete experience in the nation," Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt said. "The Spider Performance and Development Program takes a holistic approach in our efforts to prepare Spider student-athletes to succeed on the field of competition, in the classroom, and in their future endeavors. Our efforts in this regard are both never-ending and always changing."
The Spider Performance and Development Program is comprised of Richmond's efforts in these eight key areas: leadership development, academic excellence, sport performance & analytics, career preparation & alumni engagement, diversity & inclusion, mental health & sport psychology, nutrition and sport medicine & well-being. The SPD Program brings all eight of these areas under one umbrella and allows for total collaboration among the entities under the direction of Senior Associate Athletic Director for Leadership and Student-Athlete Development Lauren Wicklund.
"The Spider Performance and Development program is a transformative experience for our student-athletes that will build champions for life," Wicklund said. "Our student-athletes work hard to excel personally, athletically, and academically and SPD will provide resources, integrated support, and a personalized experience that will allow our student-athletes to maximize every opportunity available at UR and set them up for success post-graduation."
The Spider Leadership program is a comprehensive model that emphasizes holistic development of Spider student-athletes to prepare them for success on their teams, in their community and around the world. Programs include the Rising and Champion Leaders track, alumni mentoring programs, immersion opportunities and the launching of the first-ever Spider Women Leadership program for female student-athletes.
The Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support and Student Services under the direction of Associate Athletic Director Bruce Matthews administers to the academic and developmental needs for over 400 Spider student-athletes. The academic services supports, advises and encourages student-athletes to develop into active agents that lead both productive and purposeful lives. Academic services is housed in the newly renovated Millhiser Student-Athlete Development Center, providing a designated space for Spider student-athletes and an environment dedicated to learning.
"Being admitted to a prestigious university, academic excellence is expected," graduate women's lacrosse student-athlete Brittney Wright said. "Our experience is shaped by our academic support system. Without performing and competing to our best ability in the classroom, our performance on the field means very little."
Sport Performance and Analytics under the direction of Assistant Athletic Director Scott Brincks focuses on the body and mind working together in harmony. The goal is to train Spider student-athletes to become better athletes within their sports using a science-based approach which focuses on athleticism, strength, power, explosiveness, flexibility, speed, agility, footwork, endurance, body composition and mental focus.
Career and Alumni Engagement is under the guidance of Associate Athletic Director Chris Schaefer and Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development and Engagement Jaide Hinds-Clarke. The program helps prepare Spider student-athletes for life after graduation while fostering a network for former student-athletes to connect with. Programs include the Student-Athlete Etiquette and Networking Event, resume workshops, mentoring opportunities and the Senior Transition Workshops.
Diversity and Inclusion under the direction of Deputy Director of Athletics LaRee Sugg and Jaide Hinds-Clarke creates and implements programming that supports student-athletes' sense of belonging and connectivity with the Department of Athletics, University of Richmond and among peers on campus. The programming provides education leadership opportunities surrounding social justice for student-athletes through domestic and international travel and engagement. It also creates programing that builds skills surrounding cultural competencies and prepares student-athletes to live and work in a multicultural world.
"Diversity & inclusion is a pillar of the student-athlete experience," Wright said. "College for some is the most diverse environment they have experienced. College becomes an educational process that gives student-athletes a chance to embrace differences in their educational and athletic careers to foster an understanding of acceptance and empathy in a diverse society."
Mental health and sport psychology is under the guidance of staff psychologist Dr. Rachel Turk. Student-athlete's mental health is at the forefront of the student-athlete experience. Mental well-being impacts all areas of life for student-athletes and the SPD provides accessible and visible resources on both a team and individual level. The program is focused on decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health while increasing the amount of support in this critical area.
Nutrition is under the guidance of Associate Athletic Director Chris Jones, Registered Dietician Karen Hensley and Scott Brincks. Spider Sports Nutrition utilizes two full-time registered dieticians employed by UR to provide team and individual student-athlete education and consultation. The main focus is educating student-athletes on how to employ a periodized nutrition plan to properly fuel for each segment of their training cycle. The Spider Sports Nutrition program operates three fueling stations for student-athletes in the Robins Center, Queally Athletics Center and the Millhiser Student-Athlete Development Center.
Sports Medicine and Well-Being is under the direction of Chris Jones. The Spider Sports Medicine Department provides comprehensive health care services to all student-athletes through an athlete-centered multi-disciplinary model. The department is comprised of 12 certified athletic trainers who work under the direction of UR Team Physicians. The mission is to develop, maintain and provide a health care delivery system that utilizes evidence-based medicine to serve our student-athletes.
Beginning October 27th and running through November 5th, the Spider Performance and Development Program will be conducting a week of giving to support this new initiative and provide the best support services possible for our student-athletes. Those interested in impacting Spider student-athletes in these student-athlete centered areas can donate directly by clicking HERE.
"Spider Athletics is focused on providing the top student-athlete experience in the nation," Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt said. "The Spider Performance and Development Program takes a holistic approach in our efforts to prepare Spider student-athletes to succeed on the field of competition, in the classroom, and in their future endeavors. Our efforts in this regard are both never-ending and always changing."
The Spider Performance and Development Program is comprised of Richmond's efforts in these eight key areas: leadership development, academic excellence, sport performance & analytics, career preparation & alumni engagement, diversity & inclusion, mental health & sport psychology, nutrition and sport medicine & well-being. The SPD Program brings all eight of these areas under one umbrella and allows for total collaboration among the entities under the direction of Senior Associate Athletic Director for Leadership and Student-Athlete Development Lauren Wicklund.
"The Spider Performance and Development program is a transformative experience for our student-athletes that will build champions for life," Wicklund said. "Our student-athletes work hard to excel personally, athletically, and academically and SPD will provide resources, integrated support, and a personalized experience that will allow our student-athletes to maximize every opportunity available at UR and set them up for success post-graduation."
The Spider Leadership program is a comprehensive model that emphasizes holistic development of Spider student-athletes to prepare them for success on their teams, in their community and around the world. Programs include the Rising and Champion Leaders track, alumni mentoring programs, immersion opportunities and the launching of the first-ever Spider Women Leadership program for female student-athletes.
The Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support and Student Services under the direction of Associate Athletic Director Bruce Matthews administers to the academic and developmental needs for over 400 Spider student-athletes. The academic services supports, advises and encourages student-athletes to develop into active agents that lead both productive and purposeful lives. Academic services is housed in the newly renovated Millhiser Student-Athlete Development Center, providing a designated space for Spider student-athletes and an environment dedicated to learning.
"Being admitted to a prestigious university, academic excellence is expected," graduate women's lacrosse student-athlete Brittney Wright said. "Our experience is shaped by our academic support system. Without performing and competing to our best ability in the classroom, our performance on the field means very little."
Sport Performance and Analytics under the direction of Assistant Athletic Director Scott Brincks focuses on the body and mind working together in harmony. The goal is to train Spider student-athletes to become better athletes within their sports using a science-based approach which focuses on athleticism, strength, power, explosiveness, flexibility, speed, agility, footwork, endurance, body composition and mental focus.
Career and Alumni Engagement is under the guidance of Associate Athletic Director Chris Schaefer and Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development and Engagement Jaide Hinds-Clarke. The program helps prepare Spider student-athletes for life after graduation while fostering a network for former student-athletes to connect with. Programs include the Student-Athlete Etiquette and Networking Event, resume workshops, mentoring opportunities and the Senior Transition Workshops.
Diversity and Inclusion under the direction of Deputy Director of Athletics LaRee Sugg and Jaide Hinds-Clarke creates and implements programming that supports student-athletes' sense of belonging and connectivity with the Department of Athletics, University of Richmond and among peers on campus. The programming provides education leadership opportunities surrounding social justice for student-athletes through domestic and international travel and engagement. It also creates programing that builds skills surrounding cultural competencies and prepares student-athletes to live and work in a multicultural world.
"Diversity & inclusion is a pillar of the student-athlete experience," Wright said. "College for some is the most diverse environment they have experienced. College becomes an educational process that gives student-athletes a chance to embrace differences in their educational and athletic careers to foster an understanding of acceptance and empathy in a diverse society."
Mental health and sport psychology is under the guidance of staff psychologist Dr. Rachel Turk. Student-athlete's mental health is at the forefront of the student-athlete experience. Mental well-being impacts all areas of life for student-athletes and the SPD provides accessible and visible resources on both a team and individual level. The program is focused on decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health while increasing the amount of support in this critical area.
Nutrition is under the guidance of Associate Athletic Director Chris Jones, Registered Dietician Karen Hensley and Scott Brincks. Spider Sports Nutrition utilizes two full-time registered dieticians employed by UR to provide team and individual student-athlete education and consultation. The main focus is educating student-athletes on how to employ a periodized nutrition plan to properly fuel for each segment of their training cycle. The Spider Sports Nutrition program operates three fueling stations for student-athletes in the Robins Center, Queally Athletics Center and the Millhiser Student-Athlete Development Center.
Sports Medicine and Well-Being is under the direction of Chris Jones. The Spider Sports Medicine Department provides comprehensive health care services to all student-athletes through an athlete-centered multi-disciplinary model. The department is comprised of 12 certified athletic trainers who work under the direction of UR Team Physicians. The mission is to develop, maintain and provide a health care delivery system that utilizes evidence-based medicine to serve our student-athletes.
Beginning October 27th and running through November 5th, the Spider Performance and Development Program will be conducting a week of giving to support this new initiative and provide the best support services possible for our student-athletes. Those interested in impacting Spider student-athletes in these student-athlete centered areas can donate directly by clicking HERE.
Players Mentioned
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