Congratulations to Briscoe Elementary’s i play! afterschool team who won the 2019-20 H-E-B Tournament of Champions President’s Cup. Briscoe won the cup based on i play! afterschool tournament success, tournament participation and attendance, and demonstrated sportsmanship.
Briscoe is the only school who placed in the top three of every tournament hosted this year, placing first in soccer, second in volleyball and third in basketball.
“H-E-B Tournament of Champions is proud to sponsor San Antonio Sports i play! afterschool program and touch the lives of children who are learning first-hand the power of sport,” said Julie Bedingfield, H-E-B Public Affairs Manager. “We give our heartfelt congratulations to Briscoe Elementary on their outstanding achievement.”
R
enaii Ortiz has coached San Antonio Sports i play! afterschool team at Briscoe Elementary since the program was introduced at the campus seven years ago. She’s had great success, with school teams winning tournaments or placing in the top three 13 times since 2014. This is the second time the team has won the President’s Cup since the award’s inception in 2017.
What’s the secret to her success? “Being consistent and developing basic skills in each sport; getting lots of practice in; and preparing for competition,” she explains. “Stick with the basics.” As both a teacher and a coach Ortiz, enjoys seeing her kids grow as individual learners and grow into leaders. It’s not just playing a game, but “developing lifelong learning in both the classroom and in sports.” She has seen success with students growing as athletes and into leaders around the school whom younger kids look up to.
Ortiz is a fan of San Antonio Sports i play! afterschool program. “It gives kids opportunities that are really great for developing team skills early on. It teaches discipline and integrity, helping a child become well-rounded. This program also helps kids in the classroom because it motivates them to keep their grades up and helps with behavior problems by teaching behavior modification through sports,” she explains.
Ortiz expressed how much the kids appreciate the opportunity to be a part of a sports team when they may not have access to sports because of the cost. “It keeps the kids involved and out of trouble.”
i play! afterschool is San Antonio Sports’ innovative afterschool program that ignites a love of sport in 3rd through 5th graders, while teaching them life lessons about active living, good nutrition and strong personal character.
During the 2019-20 school year, i play! afterschool served 1,450 children in 58 elementary schools in Harlandale, North East, Northside, San Antonio and Southwest school districts. They participated in five, 5-week sports development sessions (soccer, track, volleyball, basketball and tennis*). Each sport unit culminated in a fun tournament where the kids demonstrated their new skills and parents, family and friends cheered them on.
*The tennis unit was not completed this year due to school closures because of the coronavirus.