Fostering Christian Character Development Through the Physical Elements of the Little Warriors Program

Coach Matheus Ratke shows the 3rd through 5th grade participates of Little Warriors Basketball how to dribble the ball properly during a Monday practice session.  [by Dr. Cristina Meier]

by Rafaela Miglio

The Little Warriors Program for the 2025-2026 school year began enrollment during the second week of school and weekly practices began meeting on the third week of school with basketball, cheerleading, soccer, Jiu-Jitsu and dance.  

The Little Warriors program at PACA is designed to introduce elementary students to develop sports, focusing on skill development and Christian character. One of the key developers of this program is the Athletic director for PACA, Renato Sousa, who is also an alumni of the school. 

“The primary goal of the Little Warriors program is to foster christian character development while building a solid foundation of physical, technical and mental skills that prepare students for future competition,” said Sousa, “all within a fun and friendly environment.” 

Matheus Ratke, one of the Little Warriors coaches, participates in the Little Warriors program as the basketball coach.  The elementary students who participate are split into two groups so that the younger students can receive different training than their older classmates. 

“Little Warriors is much more introductory,” said Ratke. “We focus on basics like how to dribble, how to shoot, and how to defend. It’s about personal development and learning the principles of the game. In high school, we still correct individual skills, but the main focus is on tactics—how to move, play as a team, and use more advanced strategies.” 

PACA offers a great variety of sports for all ages, and this shows us how different techniques and ways of teaching can be used to train the athletes based on their ages.

The Little Warriors program at PACA runs all year long to ensure continuous growth and development of each student athlete. It emphasizes not only physical development but also mental and emotional well-being, highlighting the importance of respect and a Christian-like attitude. 

The Little Warriors program offers a variety of options for sports, including soccer and basketball, for the first semester, and volleyball and futsal, for the second semester. These sports follow the same calendar as the middle school and varsity teams, which helps the younger players to prepare themselves for secondary sports. This is the primary goal of the athletics department at Paca according to Mr. Sousa.

 “This program prepares kids for future competition and builds confidence for their sports journey,” said Sousa.  

By mixing fun activities with skill development, Little Warriors is shaping young athletes for the challenges ahead.