The Saint Martin Center of Excellence and Education through Sport (CEES) welcomed Jacob Brown for two days of discussions and a conference on supporting and promoting the well-being of young student-athletes.
Author, speaker, and former National Football League (NFL) player Jacob Brown shared his keys to motivation with the young people at CEES. Known for his speeches to the business world, the former elite athlete accepted the invitation from the Saint-Martin organization. "We needed someone from outside [ ..] to bring a different perspective,"said director Charles-Henri Palvair. The speaker, who came on a voluntary basis, spent a long time talking to the students, with the help of a translator, as well as to parents and supervisors."Adopting the right mindset, the importance of rest and recovery, the quality of academic and social work, understanding what high-level competition is all about...," lists the director.
On Monday morning, Jacob Brown deployed some of his methods to engage the fifteen or so young people present at Soualiga College. Discussions, mini-games, and activities were on the agenda for this morning session, co-hosted with the Soualiga Slangs association. It was followed by a conference that evening at a hotel in Grand Case, "to discuss the responsibility of parents of young athletes,"explains Charles-Henri Palvair. The speaker's message reinforced that of the daily newspaper. "They hear this every time we meet, but it's important to provide a secure family environment and avoid breakdowns. This isn't just lip service, it's reality. Their role is crucial," concludes the director.
Other seminars in preparation
Jacob Brown's visit was a successful first "experiment." While Brown agreed to come at a reduced cost, the CEES has confirmed that it will allocate funds for the organization of similar conferences and seminars in the future, starting in the fall of 2026, then during the All Saints' Day and Carnival holidays in 2027. The topics to be addressed include governance, roles, and responsibilities surrounding young student-athletes; performance trajectories and life plans; health, training loads, and family environments. "Like everyone else, we have a lot of concerns about phones, sleep, nutrition, mental health, etc.," explains the director on the latter point.
Source: Le Pélican
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