Today we’d like to introduce you to Jarrod Clark.
Hi Jarrod, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Fundamentals First Sports was simply birthed out of a passion for the love of sports. I grew up playing multiple sports as a kid and had some great coaches to teach me along the way. I’m originally from Jacksonville, Florida. I moved to Georgia to attend college. I attended Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia, where I was a member of the Men’s Basketball team. I also graduated from Southern Poly with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. After graduating I decided not to further my career in basketball, quite frankly I was burned out. I accepted a position in education which wasn’t my field of study in 2011. Starting a career in education wasn’t the plan at all, but it all worked out. I was able to learn a new career and I met some amazing people in the process. In the same year of 2011, I was offered a Head Middle School Boys Basketball coaching position. I never thought that I would become a basketball coach. I didn’t feel like I had enough patience to coach, however, what being in education taught me was how to relate to kids and develop the patience to teach. I always tell people I didn’t choose coaching, coaching chose me. The very next year in 2012, I accepted a Head Varsity Boys Basketball coaching position. I found the passion I had as a basketball player, in coaching and teaching the game of basketball. This was the beginning of my journey as a coach, teacher, mentor, and leader.
Over the course of several years, I volunteered and worked for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. This also furthered my passion for youth. It prepared and equipped me along the way to make an impact on the next generation. During this journey, I came to realize understanding the fundamentals of the game of basketball was a major missing component in some of the players I developed so when God gave me the idea to write about the foundation of the sport, the FUNdamentally Fun! Sports book series was created. In order to give aspiring athletes a solid foundation in their sport this book series has become a starting point and platform to build on as players move up to seek advanced skill development through Fundamentals First Sports.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road wasn’t smooth at all. There were plenty of challenges I had to overcome. One of the struggles that I faced was in trying to teach the game of basketball to young men who might not have been as talented as most others their age. The game of basketball came easy to me, but it was a challenge for others. It became my mission to pour out all of the knowledge I acquired as a player and educator into my players. As a result of that, I started training, mentoring, and developing young men who were able to improve their skills in order to advance to the next level. I’ve been blessed with the ability and opportunity to coach and develop basketball players ever since.
We all have those moments when we may feel discouraged by the obstacles and difficulties we face. We have to understand that it’s never just about us. Facing our challenges will not only affect our lives but the lives of those we will encounter. Our trials and hardships give us a testimony that will always impact the lives of the next person who may be struggling with the same challenges we’ve faced. We are way more equipped to help others through their struggles as an overcomer versus someone who has never experienced having to overcome something. It’s not always just about the journey, but it’s about who you become along the way. This is what FFS is about. Empowering, equipping, and educating the next generation through sports!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Fundamentals First Sports offers beginner to advanced basketball training and skill development. FFS also offers high school athletes the opportunity to play on the Youth Academy Basketball Team, our Independent Varsity Boys Basketball Program. The mission of the basketball program is to provide an alternative option for high school basketball players to compete on a varsity level outside of their respective schools. One of the goals of the basketball program is to expose members to colleges, scholarships, and recruitment opportunities, as well as to teach them life skills through the game of basketball and service to others. Ultimately, we want to instill characteristics of integrity, resilience, discipline, and responsibility into our players so they will be well prepared to become productive citizens within their prospective communities no matter where their life’s journey takes them.
Fundamentals First Sports’ objective is to educate, encourage, and empower athletes on all levels. We want to maximize our athlete’s full potential to obtain valuable skills, tools, and resources to accomplish their goals and overcome obstacles within their athletic and life journey. We’re about developing the complete basketball player, on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. The FUNdamentally Fun! sports-specific instructional books and workshops give Fundamentals First Sports a great foundation from which to build athletes. My desire is to make an impact on the next generation of athletes. I specialize in building young men and women in the game of basketball as well as in life. The principles and problem-solving strategies we teach can be applied to any aspect of life. There will be challenges on our journey, but how do we use the right strategies and knowledge to overcome those challenges? I believe in building our community and relationships around education and that’s what sets FFS apart. We care about equipping every player that steps into our program. I’m grateful for being able to become a beacon of light to someone else even if it’s just interim.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is having the opportunity to make an impact on the next generation and generations to come. That matters to me the most! If we build those who are coming up behind us, they will in return do the same for those after them. Across our nation, young men and women are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and addiction. These cycles can be redirected positively starting at a young age. Our youth need platforms like ours to be easily accessible to them. Parents, organizations, and leaders can join in efforts to improve the lives of our youth and communities. When we impact the youth, that is literally how we impact the future of the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fundamentalsfirstsports.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fundamentalsfirstsports
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fundamentalsfirstsports
- Other: https://youthacademywarriors.org
