Work Program “Played Big Role in My Success” – Patrick Leonard’s Internship with Play9 Sports

Features

Patrick Leonard on the Blackburn campus.
By Office of Marketing & Public Relations
On October 23, 2024

Patrick Leonard III, a senior from Marrero, Louisiana at Blackburn College, spent his summer taking on an exciting internship with Play9 Sports, an organization that hosts high-level baseball and softball prospect tournaments for young athletes. Play9’s tournaments feature athletes ranging from 8 to 18 years old, with each event bringing together as many as 96 teams spread across 12-15 venues. For Leonard, the internship offered a chance to dive into sports management while working with coaches and players in a leadership role.

Throughout the summer, Leonard served primarily as a site director, overseeing tournament logistics across multiple venues. His responsibilities included setting up the fields and scoring games to updating Play9’s social media platforms with player stats and game highlights. “I enjoyed being able to help players, families, and coaches while managing the action on the field,” Patrick shared.

His experiences in the Work Program played a critical role in his success. “My first job on campus was with Marketing & PR, which taught me to capture the right moments and tell a story through images and posts. That experience helped me develop social media content that wasn’t just about the games—it was about showcasing the players and their talents in real-time. This is why I was often allowed to be a site director.” He also credited the skills he developed as a Resident Assistant (RA). “Sometimes I had to manage multiple games simultaneously, and my communication skills and ability to manage a group of people I’ve developed as an RA played a big role in my success.”

Leonard’s classes in the Sport Management program also played a role in preparing him for this experience. “Professionalism was one of the most important things I learned in my classes,” Leonard said. Whether it was communicating with coaches and umpires or handling in-game issues, he credited his coursework for helping him navigate the internship successfully. 

The most important takeaway from the internship, according to Leonard, was gaining a new perspective on how much work goes into running sports events. “As an athlete, I never thought about the preparation needed for a tournament,” he said. “Being a site director gave me first-hand experience in what it takes to make these events happen.”

Leonard advises other students to embrace every opportunity and give it their all. “The more you put in, the more you get out,” he said. His advice to current and future Blackburn students is simple: internships are a time to learn, make mistakes, and grow. “Don’t be afraid to put in your best effort. You’ll learn so much more that way, not just in internships but in every experience you take on.”