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Plugged In: Libba Galloway, Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists

The field of athlete development is becoming a more important service for organizations in sports, as teams, leagues and others look to help athletes navigate the challenges they may face both on and off the field. As executive director of the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists, Libba Galloway leads the nonprofit organization in its work in these regards. PAADS counts the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA and U.S. Olympic Committee among its partners. Through mentoring, educational and training programs, PAADS works to help leagues and organizations assist their athletes. Galloway, who prior to joining PAADS in 2011 was deputy commissioner and chief legal officer for the LPGA, will lead PAADS’ annual Athlete Development Summit April 30-May 1 in New York.

Sports organizations do care about their athletes. They want them to be successful and well-prepared to face the challenges that life presents off the field.


Photo by: PAADS
About athlete development efforts: Athlete development is important for sports organizations because of the amount of money and resources that organizations invest in their athletes. The more prepared your athlete is in every facet of life, the better return for the organization.

Challenges that exist: With athletes, there is more awareness, but the most important thing for them is playing their sport. There is a lot of demand on the time for athletes. Most want to spend time practicing or playing instead of doing things that they perceive as ancillary. Some of the leagues, like the NFL, are using peer-to-peer methods. Messages delivered by fellow athletes have more resonance.

About the scrutiny placed on today’s athletes: Social media didn’t exist 10 years ago. It is not just sports anymore; it is sports and entertainment. They are under more pressure not just as athletes, but also in the sports and entertainment area.

About the issues facing athletes: Relationship violence issues in professional sports have been very public. There is commonality with mental issues. There is more of a light shined on these things, but the sports and entertainment marketplace is more and more complicated, and other issues will arise.

How PAADS measures its success: As a membership organization, we are supported by our global partners and we measure success by getting new partners. The USOC just joined us as a global partner, and we continue to get new sports organizations. We measure success by our growth and we are growing.

— John Lombardo

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