So What Is
Play Beyond
the Game
Play Beyond the Game” is the heart of everything we do.
At Beyond Sticks, Play Beyond the Game is our philosophy of using sport as a vehicle for personal growth. While many sports programs focus solely on technical skills, we believe that sports offer a unique opportunity to intentionally empower young athletes to build confidence, resilience and leadership skills that they can take into every aspect of their lives.
What Does Playing Beyond the Game Mean?
When we talk about playing beyond the game, we mean teaching lessons that go beyond drills and scores. Our athletes learn how to stay positive, embrace challenges, communicate effectively, and grow as both teammates and individuals by equipping them with skills for the rest of their lives, like:
Building Confidence: Helping athletes recognize their strengths and embrace challenges with resilience.
Leading with Character: Teaching athletes to be supportive, authentic, and responsible leaders.
Being a Great Teammate: Creating inclusive, respectful environments where everyone feels valued.
By introducing these lessons early—starting in elementary and middle school—we help young athletes develop the same life skills that high school students, college athletes, and working professionals rely on every day.
Beyond sticks was founded by Coach Chrissy in 2011 with the belief that we can teach and play youth sports with character and leadership embedded in all we do. New Director, Heidi Lewis continues the Beyond Sticks philosophy through intentional coaching allowing athletes to lead discussions.
Why does it Matter:
At Beyond Sticks, we strive to create strong, empowered individuals by fostering a growth mindset, confidence, and leadership from a young age.
The value of sports extends beyond competition, teaching lessons in teamwork, perseverance, and resilience that make a lasting impact.
Confidence Over Perfection: Teaching athletes to trust themselves and embrace imperfection as part of growth.
Leadership Through Sport: Empowering athletes to lead by example, both on and off the field.
Resilience in Challenges: Helping players learn to bounce back stronger, whether from a missed pass or a tough day at school.
Teamwork and Empathy: Showing athletes how to support others and foster unity.
Through Play Beyond the Game, we’re not just shaping athletes—we’re shaping strong, compassionate, and capable individuals.
How Do We Teach These Lessons?
Our PBG lessons are seamlessly integrated into every practice and competition. Rather than separating “life skills” from hockey skills, we bring them together in a way that feels natural and meaningful for our athletes. Here’s how:
Themes That Resonate: Each lesson centers on a key concept like teamwork, leadership, or resilience, tied to the values we want to instill.
Engaging Introductions: We introduce each lesson in organic ways and make it relatable like—stories or a discussion of something actively happening on the field relating it to life, school or friendships.
Action and Application: Athletes practice the concepts during play. Coaches guide them to apply these lessons to real situations on the field.
Reinforcement Through Reflection: Whether it’s a team huddle or a question for the car ride home, we end each session with a reflection to connect the dots between hockey and life.
Ready to see Play Beyond the Game in action?
Learn more about our Play Beyond the Game lessons: PBG in Practice
Check out how we recognize athletes who embody these values through our Play Beyond the Game Award.
