Keeping Kids Engaged in Sports: A Systems Approach for Hawaiʻi’s Schools

Saturday, March 14, 2026

7:30 - 11:30 AM HST

At the Hanahau‘oli School Professional Development Center, located at 1922 Makiki Street, Honolulu, HI 96822

$100 per person

This 4-hour professional development workshop is designed for Hawaiʻi educators, athletic directors, coaches, and support staff who recognize the profound role sports play in a child's development. Beyond physical activity, participation in youth sports is linked to higher academic achievement, improved mental health, and the development of essential life skills like resilience, teamwork, and leadership. Your role is essential in facilitating these transformative experiences. We will provide research-backed strategies tailored to Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural and educational landscape to help you build programs that maximize these benefits. Participants will learn to design inclusive programs, communicate effectively with student-athletes and families, and align athletics with school-wide SEL and academic goals, moving beyond a win-loss record to foster lifelong well-being and a genuine love for the game. Aligned with the aims of a progressive education, this workshop emphasizes a holistic approach, integrating the playing field as a dynamic extension of the classroom for whole-child development.

Unique Highlights:

Interactive & Place-Based: Incorporates real case studies from Hawaiʻi schools and hands-on planning sessions.
Multi-Role Collaboration: Teachers, coaches, and administrators learn together to create systemic change.
No Extra Materials Needed: Just bring your team’s insights. We provide all resources.
Flexible Follow-Up: Optional learning trips to observe model programs or coaching clinics can be arranged.

This workshop goes beyond theory, it’s a call to action for educators to redefine sports as a force for positive development in Hawaiʻi’s keiki.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to:

Understand Youth Sports Disengagement
- Identify key reasons why 70% of youth quit sports by age 13 (e.g., burnout, pressure, lack of fun)
- Recognize warning signs of athlete stress or disengagement in their programs
Apply Research-Based Strategies
- Implement motivational techniques that increase long-term participation
- Design age-appropriate, inclusive programming that balances competition and development
Strengthen School & Community Partnerships
- Align sports programs with schoolwide SEL/academic goals
- Foster collaboration between educators, coaches, and parents to support athletes
Refine Coaching & Teaching Practices
- Use communication tools that build confidence (not anxiety) in young athletes
- Adapt the "Refinement Framework" for practices/games to prioritize growth and joy

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Welcome & ʻŌlelo Hoʻolauna (15 min)

Icebreaker: “Your Best/Worst Sports Memory”
Workshop Goals & Participant Hopes

Module 1: The Disengagement Crisis (45 min)

Activity: “Why Kids Quit” Data Deep Dive (Small Groups)
Local Context: Hawaiʻi-Specific Challenges
Key Takeaway: Red Flags in Your Program

Module 2: The Educator’s Playbook (60 min)

Case Study: Aligning Sports with School Values (e.g., Mālama ʻĀina)
Discussion: “How Our Schedule/Policy Helps or Hurts”

BREAK (15 min)

Networking + Resource Table (Sample Templates/Books)

Module 3: The Coach’s Toolkit (60 min)

Demo: A “Refinement Framework” Practice (Skill + Fun Balance)
Role Play: Tough Conversations (Parents/Players)
Tool: “Motivation Checklist” for Training Sessions

Module 4: Action Planning (60 min)

Team Time: Design Your Program Improvements
Share-Out: Lightning Round Pitches
Commitment: “My First Step” Pledge

Wrap-Up & Pau Hana (15 min)

Closing Circle: “One Word Takeaway”
Resources: Access to Online Toolkit
Feedback Forms

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Rob Hesia has 20+ years of educational leadership experience, ranging from classroom teacher to Vice Principal. He is a 4-time HHSAA Wrestling Championship coach with firsthand experience building winning programs that develop character, and has over 20 years of coaching experience. Rob served as the Director of Athletics & Human Performance at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, overseeing 157 teams across 40 sports. Additionally, he is the founder of Focus on Refinement Consulting, and is working to help schools balance competitiveness with athlete well-being. As a Hawai‘i parent and advocate, Rob is committed to keeping sports joyful for our keiki.

THIS WORKSHOP IS DESIGNED FOR

The target audience for this 4-hour workshop includes:

1. School-Based Professionals:

Teachers (especially PE, health, or homeroom educators integrating sports into student development)
Athletic Directors & Administrators (decision-makers shaping school sports policies)
Coaches (varsity, JV, or intramural—paid or volunteer)
Support Staff (counselors, wellness teams, or after-school program leaders)

2. Community Partners:

Youth Sports Organizations (club coaches, league organizers)
Nonprofits focused on youth development or physical wellness
Recreation Department Staff (county or state-level program coordinators)

Ideal participants include those who are frustrated by high dropout rates in youth sports, educators seeking to align athletics with school values (e.g., SEL, ʻāina-based learning), and coaches seeking research-backed strategies beyond the "just win" mentality. Teams ready to collaborate across roles (teachers + coaches + admins) will find this program particularly impactful.