By Morgan Macklin
1616: the start of a brighter future for youth athletes
The 1616 Program is a new positive youth development (PYD) program for youth hockey players across North America. This project was created by the Ladd Foundation and brought together a team of experts including Impact Society, specialists from Queen’s University, and professional hockey players to deliver an evidence-based, strength-focused program. 1616 uses the stories of elite hockey players and experiential learning to engage participants through 16 chapters. Through a Proof-of-Concept evaluation, the program demonstrated positive outcomes and high engagement among participants, paving the way for the development and implementation of the full-scale 1616 Program. The holistic approach of including athletes, parents/caregivers, and coaches helps promote healthy sports experiences and support positive youth development.
This article will highlight what the 1616 program is, findings from a peer-reviewed article, and Impact Society’s involvement!
what is sixteen sixteen?
the rationale
It has been proven that youth sporting programs are successful in promoting positive youth development. However, there has been a clear gap in the crucial role that positive mental well-being plays in this development. Brandy and Andrew Ladd, founders of the Ladd Foundation, recognized this gap and wanted to use their resources to make a difference in the world of youth hockey. Their goal was to create a paradigm shift in the minor hockey community, one that values the mental health and well-being of youth at an important developmental age (10-12). With this in mind, Brandy and Andrew started their journey by curating a team of experts to achieve their vision.
Flash forward and 1616 was born, with the creative name deriving from 3 elements:
16 was andrew ladd’s number in the nhl
the program spans 16 chapters
1616 was the year that the word buffalo was first used to describe the american bison
program overview
The program is broken down into 4 C’s: Connection, Character, Confidence, and Competence. It centers on the notion of having a ‘buffalo mindset,’ meaning athletes must work as a herd to overcome and develop through adversity. This notion is backed by the finding that buffalo’s are among the only animals that move into a storm, rather than away. The ‘buffalo mindset’ encourages youth to band together to take on the inevitable ‘storms’ in life to help develop the crucial skills of courage and resilience.
1616 is delivered using a multi-faceted approach that involves not only athletes but their parents/caregivers and coaches as well. It includes storytelling from some of the best hockey players in the world, individual and team challenges, self-reflection opportunities, on-ice drills, and discussion prompts for parents/caregivers and coaches. This approach adopts numerous delivery methods to help establish an environment where youth can flourish both physically and mentally.
impact society’s involvement
Since 1994, Impact Society has been establishing itself as a leader in the world of social-emotional learning. The years of experience in creating evidence-based programs, proven to build resilient youth and communities through the delivery of Heroes Programs proved to be an asset in the establishment of 1616. Therefore, Impact Society’s program development specialists provided guidance and support to help create the 1616 program. This partnership was fueled by a shared desire to develop positive mental health in youth leading to the output of an incredible program that combines physical activity with mental well-being.
proof of concept - evaluation of 1616
A Proof-of-Concept Evaluation of the 1616 Story-Based Positive Youth Development Program
Jean Côté, Jennifer Coletti, Cailie S. McGuire, Karl Erickson, Kelsey Saizew, Alex Maw, Chris Primeau, Meredith Wolff, Brandy Ladd, Luc J. Martin
To validate the effectiveness of 1616, program stakeholders and researchers underwent a study that has since been published in Children Journal. The objective of the study was to determine if 1616 successfully enhanced positive youth development and how engaging the content was for the athletes and their support systems. To gain further insight, a 5-week proof-of-concept evaluation took place which encompassed 11 hockey teams (160 players aged 10-12, 93 parents, and 11 coaches). Results indicated that the program was well received by all and met desired PYD outcomes. This generated support for the development of a full-scale 1616 program and further evaluation.
Check out the 1616 website for more insights on their pilot including testimonies, data, and how the program generates resilient athletes who are grounded in their mental well-being!
closing
The partnership between Impact Society and the Ladd Foundation has yielded a remarkable achievement in the establishment of the 1616 Program—a positive youth development initiative for youth hockey players. The collaborative work in the Journal, Children, shows leaps and bounds in both research and support for positive youth development programs that will foster resilient generations to come. By incorporating evidence-based practices, storytelling, and experiential learning, the program effectively engages participants and promotes their holistic growth in the areas of Connection, Character, Confidence, and Competence. The ongoing pilot phase promises to reveal more inspiring testimonies, valuable data, and further insights into how this program cultivates resilient athletes who prioritize their mental well-being.
Stay up-to-date on the future of 1616 by checking out their website below!