Jackson Academy is in the pilot season of a new intramural athletic program. The program started with soccer this semester. Other sports will follow.
Student response to the opportunity has been significant. The Intramural Soccer Program, led by faculty member and Coach Brandon Richardson, serves JA students in grades first through sixth. “We have just over 140 students participating in the program and around 30 junior varsity and varsity soccer players coaching in the program,” said Coach Richardson. The JV and varsity players assist JA Coaches Keelan Pajak and Richardson.
The five-week program began in February and will end the first week of April. Students practice one day per week and play a scrimmage game one day per week. All practices and scrimmage games occur on the practice field behind the main gymnasium.
Coaches and athletic administrators are enthusiastic about the benefits of an intramural program for students and its impact on school culture and spirit. Intramural programs focus on the fundamentals of each sport while building a solid foundation of understanding the game. Teamwork and sportsmanship receive emphasis. Coaches incorporate the pride of being a Raider at each practice and each scrimmage game.
“In our community that places such a high regard for our valued family atmosphere, it drives a culture of togetherness when our athletic teams and coaches reach every age of our student population,” said Director of Athletic Enrichment Aubrey Blackwell. “For our coaches, it gives them the ability to know every age of students interested in their sport and allows them the ability to begin relationships and their belief systems. For our high school athletes, it gives them a chance to give back and help build a legacy throughout our program and school. For the student-athletes, an intramural program allows them to wear the school colors, start building a team, and start working on their individual skills.”
“This is my twelfth year running a youth athletics program similar to this. Some of my fondest memories over the years have been watching students’ joy when they realize their teacher has come to watch them play a game, cheer, dance, etc.”
– Coach Brandon Richardson
This is Coach Richardson’s third school to start a youth development program and twelfth year running one. “I have seen many benefits of the program, including building an athletic family from the Upper to the Lower School, strengthening of the program, and getting fans out to games. An intramural program allows those students who may not be able to participate outside of school to try a sport. It builds relationships among our younger and older Raiders, allowing JV and varsity athletes to be mentors and role models to more youthful Raiders.”
Coach Blackwell sees a strong tie between the new intramural programs and JA’s mission. “We will work hard to help our athletes find their purpose and to grow their God-given talents,” he said. “The importance of being a Raider is something that we all cherish, and we want to continue to find ways to raise the importance of our All For One creed. Beginning this program and the others moving forward will help start teaching our youth, allowing our coaches and athletes to invest in the lives of young Raiders and ensuring those Raiders get a chance to wear the Navy and Gray! We want our families to know and trust that as an athletic department we want to set the bar high and have an active role in the overall growth of our students to be the best version God intended them to be.”
Richardson also sees the current pilot program from a broad perspective. “My vision for the JA Intramural Soccer program is to allow every young Raider to play a sport with their friends representing the Raiders on the field, court, gym, etc. Student participation in extracurricular activities helps build a well-rounded student-athlete who will find success as an adult,” he said. “This program is about soccer development, of course, but more importantly, it is about the relationships being formed and the togetherness you create as a Raider family.”
- Intramural soccer scrimmage games each week through April 6
- Grade 1 and 2 group plays at 3:30 on Wednesdays
- Grade 5 and 6 group starts at about 4:10 on Wednesdays.
- Grade 3 and 4 group starts at 3:30 on Thursdays.
