"I had a wonderful experience at the 2023 conference and want to personally thank the Play Like a Champion team for your efforts to offer an informative, efficient, and fun-filled experience. This being my first conference, I wasn't sure what to expect, and have to say that my expectations were surpassed with regard to the structure of the event itself, the content of the presentations, and the hospitality shown by all."
~ Nate Brill, High School Athletic Director
Annual Leadership Conference FAQ
When is the conference?
Our annual in-person conference is scheduled to return June 19-20, 2025! A pre-conference retreat will take place in conjunction with the official conference. Please note that the conference location at the University of Notre Dame is on Eastern Daylight Time, which is the same as New York City, is one hour ahead of Chicago and three hours ahead of Los Angeles. Conference check-in begins at 8 am on Thursday, the first day of the conference.
Where is the conference?
The conference will be held at the University of Notre Dame, located in Notre Dame, IN. For a map of the location, click here. For an interactive map of campus, click here.
What is the conference about exactly, and who else will be there?
The Leadership Conference educates coaches, sport administrators and sport parents to provide a developmentally appropriate environment for all young athletes to help them become future leaders. The conference features many prestigious and inspirational speakers from a variety of fields. Conference sessions this year will focus on how together we can provide "Sport for All" that is accessible and tailored for everyone and conducting in an environment that is wholly developmental in nature.
How much does the conference cost? What does that include?
Register early and receive a discount. Early bird registration is $499 and expires in early March. Regular Conference Registration cost is $600. The registration includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Thursday and Friday, as well as all conference materials. The registration fee does not include lodging. In case of cancellations, please note that $200 of the registration fee per person is non-refundable.
Where should I stay for the conference?
Hotels
Each year Play Like a Champion partners with local hotels to provide a block of rooms with a special rate for those attending the Leadership Conference. When calling to book request the Play Like a Champion Room Block. Room Blocks expire one month before the conference begins, so book early!!
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The Clover Hotel, 52890 Indiana State Rd 933, 574-272-5220. Online Booking Link: Coming Soon.
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Doubletree by Hilton, 123 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 574-234-2000. Online Booking Link: Coming Soon.
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Embassy Suites by Hilton, 1140 East Angela Boulevard, 574-347-6312. Online Booking Link: Coming Soon.
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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, 1220 East Angela Boulevard, 574-234-5510. Online Booking Link: Coming Soon.
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Ivy Court Inn & Suites, 1404 Ivy Court, 574-277-6500. Online Booking Link: Coming Soon.
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Residence Hall Housing On-Campus
Lodging is available on Notre Dame’s campus in a Residence Hall. The cost for a single occupancy room in 2024 was $70.00 per night, though this rate is subject to change based on university pricing. You can reserve a dormitory-style room on the campus during the registration process or you can contact the Play Like a Champion Today office at information@playlikeachampion.org or 574-250-6424. You can also request a double occupancy room through our office for a less expensive rate per person.
Conference attendees residing on campus in a residence hall should be aware that the dorms have communal bathrooms. Restrooms and showers are available on each floor and designated “Male” or “Female.” Residence hall guests will be provided sheets, blanket, towel and soap. Guests should bring a bathrobe, shower shoes, alarm clock, toiletries and extra towels. All conference attendees staying in a residence hall may check in after 4:00 on their arrival date. If arriving on the morning of the conference or the morning of the retreat, luggage will be held at the conference (or retreat) registration desk. For attendees residing on campus, parking will be designated by the hall manager in the assigned residence hall.
How should I get to the conference?
The University of Notre Dame is conveniently located in Notre Dame, Indiana which is a part of the South Bend, IN community and is accessible by air, car, or train. South Bend, IN is 100 miles east from Chicago and 150 miles north of Indianapolis. If you are flying into the South Bend Regional Airport and need transportation to your hotel or to campus, we recommend scheduling a taxi in advance (Uber is an option, but can be difficult to find in the summer months). The South Bend Regional Airport suggests Modern Cab – (574) 287-6666 or United Cab – (574) 233-9599 as options for local taxis.
To get from Chicago airports to South Bend, you will need to take two trains: The “L” (Chicago’s elevated subway system) and the South Shore Train (which originates at Millenium Station in Downtown Chicago and ends at the South Bend Airport).
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O’Hare: If you are flying into Chicago’s O’Hare airport, proceed to public transportation (CTA – Chicago Transit Authority) where you can get on the “L” – Chicago’s elevated subway system: https://www.transitchicago.com/airports/#ord Take the Blue Line to Downtown Chicago: https://www.transitchicago.com/blueline/. There are a number of stations you can get off at downtown, but the closest Blue Line station to Millennium Station is the Washington station. You will have a 0.2 mile walk from Washington Station to Millennium Station where you can board the South Shore Line. Here is a weekday schedule for the South Shore from Chicago to the South Bend Airport: https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/tickets/train-schedules/eastbound/m-f.
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Midway: If you are flying into Chicago’s Midway airport, proceed to public transportation (CTA – Chicago Transit Authority) where you can get on the “L” – Chicago’s elevated subway system: https://www.transitchicago.com/airports/#mdw. Take the Orange Line to Downtown Chicago. The closest Orange Line station to Millennium Station is the Washington/Wabash station. You will have a 0.2 mile walk from Washington/Wabash Station to Millennium Station where you can board the South Shore Line. Here is a weekday schedule for the South Shore from Chicago to the South Bend Airport: https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/tickets/train-schedules/eastbound/m-f.
When you arrive at the South Bend airport, follow the directions above to take a taxi or Uber to your hotel or campus. The airport is only a 10-minute drive to Notre Dame.
Where do I park when I arrive?
During regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 7a.m. - 4p.m.), visitors must purchase a permit at a pay station (credit cards only). The permit must be displayed face up on the driver's side of the vehicle's dashboard, so it is visible to parking enforcement staff.
The primary Visitor Lot is located on the east side of the Walsh Family Hall of Architecture (currently under construction). The only entrance to the Visitor Lot is off of Holy Cross Drive. Just inside the lot, there is a parking pay station to the right (the NW corner of the lot). Additional visitor parking areas are located in the Joyce, Compton and Baseball Lots. Pay stations to accommodate these areas are located in the Compton Lot (near the bus shelter off of Holy Cross Drive) and in the Joyce Lot (just south of the entrance to Purcell Pavilion). Please click here to see a map showing the location of the pay stations. The current rate schedule is:
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1hr - Free (must obtain permit and display on dash)
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2hrs - $1
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3hrs - $2
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4hrs - $3
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4+hrs - $8
No permit is required outside of regular business hours. So on Saturday for the conference please park in the Visitor lot, but a permit is not required.
What is the dress code for the conference?
The conference is black-tie optional. We're kidding! Attire throughout the weekend is casual, in fact, we encourage you to be prepared to MOVE physically throughout the day, so wear your athletic gear and sneakers! Please keep in mind that all of the venues and residence halls are air conditioned, so bring a sweatshirt. Also, Notre Dame is a pedestrian campus. This means that there is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the conference venue, residence hall lodging and dining facilities. We recommend that you bring comfortable walking shoes.
Will there be other activities during the conference?
Of course! For interested attendees, we often host a tour of the beautiful Notre Dame campus and facilities offered during the conference. The tour includes campus highlights as the "Golden Dome" of the Main Building, "Touchdown Jesus" on the Hesburgh Library, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Please dress appropriately for the walking tour which covers approximately 2 miles. Participants may also choose to attend the Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart during their stay. Past conferences have also included opportunities for recreation and sport.
Attendees may be interested in visiting the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore on campus. Bookstore hours are Monday through Saturday, 8am - 9pm and Sunday, 10am - 7pm. The Notre Dame Bookstore at Eddy Street Commons is open from 10am - 7pm Monday through Saturday and 11am - 5pm on Sunday.
Do I need to bring my computer? Will I have internet access?
We strongly encourage participants to bring a tablet or laptop. All session materials will be available electronically. Wireless internet is available while you are a guest at Notre Dame.
Can you tell me more about the pre-conference retreat?
The pre-conference retreat will be on the Wednesday afternoon preceding the conference at the conference location. It will be a great afternoon of reflection on spirituality and sport, and will provide participants with an opportunity for reflection, community building, and prayer.
Is there an Online viewing option?
We're so glad you asked. Are you interested in the Conference but simply can't make the trip out to Northern Indiana? We understand, and while we are sad that you'll miss the networking and community of the Conference, we have offered an online streaming option for select sessions in years past. Not all sessions are included and more information about the schedule and pricing will be available in May ahead of the conference.
