Balancing with Grace: Sara Hokin Rubin, Co-Owner of Game On! Sports 4 Girls

This week’s Chicago North Shore Moms’ Meet a Mom spotlight is on Chicago mom of three, and co-owner and director of operations for Game On! Sports 4 Girls, Sara Hokin Rubin.

Sara has been part of Game On! Sports 4 Girls since its very first summer camp began in 2007. Today, she energetically juggles raising three little ones under five with running a fast-growing business that’s making an incredible impact on girls locally and beyond. The cherry on top? Sara’s own daughter attended Game On! Sports Camp for the first time this past summer and experienced firsthand the confidence, teamwork, and joy that Game On! inspires.

Outside of camp and motherhood, Sara is a former Division II collegiate softball player, an avid baker, and someone who still loves (and can’t enough) adventure… she’s even been skydiving three times! We can’t wait to share more of her inspiring story, her challenging journey to motherhood, and the critically important mission behind Game On! Welcome, Sara!

 

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Hi Sara. Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?

Hi, My name is Sara Hokin Rubin and I have had the privilege of being involved in Game On! Sports 4 Girls since our inaugural summer camp in 2007. While my family started off in Highland Park, we moved all the way to Deerfield (haha) when I started kindergarten. My husband was born and raised a city boy, so we currently live in Lakeview with our 3 kids.

My husband and I both grew up in the Chicagoland area and still have family here. We are fortunate to get together often. Prior to having kids (and still today), I always enjoyed teaching my nieces and nephews how to throw a ball, pass a volleyball, walk on their hands and challenge them with different fun activities.

 

 

Tell us about your children and the difficult and personal journey you went through to start a family.

Having kids did not come easy for us. Finding out that IVF was our best option for conceiving our own child was a turning point in my life. The struggles, the desire to have a healthy baby was something we wanted more than anything.

I can now say that I am a proud Mom to 1 girl and 2 boys. My daughter is 4 1/2, my oldest son just turned 3, and my youngest son is 8 months old. We always have our hands full with 3 under 5 yrs old! My home life can definitely be compared to a zoo – wild, cuddly kiddos who love to make a mess, play, cry, laugh and have fun, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Does your daughter attend Game On! Sports 4 Girls Camp with you?

Yes, my oldest came to Game On! this summer for the first time as a camper. I expected challenges as she was one of the youngest, not to mention the constant draw of having mom around. However, after just a few days, she thrived! By the end of the summer she was recognized for being a leader on her team. I’m proud of our camp’s impact as she grew so confident both on the sports fields and off, learned the true meaning of team spirit, scored points for her team in sports she had never played before and was the first to start team cheers and offer help to other teammates.

 

 

I bet she picked it up right away. So, is she a coach yet?

When you see your own daughter transforming and things clicking, it’s pretty awesome! When she got home after a day at camp she would even pretend to be a coach and teach her brother how to pass a volleyball. She would say, “pancake, pancake, sausage, sausage” and finish off saying, “GREAT JOB!!” Then she would continue to mimic her coaches saying, “You earned this award because you are such a great teammate.” It was adorable and impressive!

Prior to Game On! she had almost no exposure to organized sports other than gymnastics and swimming. She sings the Game On! Song all the time and recites the Game On! Pledge constantly. She grew confident and knowledgeable. She bonded and really felt the impact of being there week after week. I even offered her a break from camp the week before school started as it had been a long summer, but she said NO WAY! She opted to attend our Extra Innings Week in Glencoe. It would be a long commute I told her but she didn’t care. I am happy to report that she has taught my 3 year old the Game On! song, reminded him to be strong and constantly encourages him with her words all the time. It’s been heartwarming to see. Needless to say I am a very proud Mom.

 

 

What are one or two fun or interesting things to know about you?

I have loved sports since I was very young. Growing up on the north shore, and with my parents’ support, I had opportunities to try many sports and activities. I ultimately decided to focus on volleyball, gymnastics and softball during my years at Deerfield High School. I then had the privilege of competing all 4 years on the DII softball team at the University of Tampa.

I love to bake (especially Challah, cookies & brownies), travel, go to concerts, play sports, workout, scuba dive and have been skydiving three times now.

 

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What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent with family, date night, hang out, etc.?

Mizrahi Grill in Highland Park is always a family favorite for food. Still searching for our fav pizza place. Barnaby’s is up there! We like Jimmy Thai and Taco Vida as well.

We really like to take advantage of Kohl Children’s Museum, the Chicago Botanic Gardens and our gorgeous parks and playgrounds. We often walk from my parents home to my grammar school, South Park, which has one of our favorite playgrounds, with the added benefit of showing my kids where I went to school.

 

Any good reads or tv shows you’ve binged lately?

I wish I had the time. Between being a full time mom and business owner and trying to keep myself healthy and strong with my workouts, I don’t have much time to read or watch shows. The exception of course is that you might find me watching Bluey with my kids from time to time. 🙂

 

Your mantra?

Work Hard, Play Hard

It’s all about the work life balance which is not always easy when it comes to tackling the responsibilities of a business owner and mom at the same time. But it’s so important for me as a role model to my children to show them that we need to work hard to achieve our goals. Sure they might not understand it all quite yet, but modeling behavior is so important given that they are like little sponges who soak in so much.

 

 

It’s time to get down to business. Please introduce Game On! Sports 4 Girls. 

Founded in 2007, Game On! Sports 4 Girls offers award-winning* multi-sport programming with the goal of harnessing the power of sports to shape girls that are strong in body, mind and team.

We are celebrating our 19th year, which means we can say our impact is real. And it’s about time that girls have a year-round multi-sport program to call their own. It’s about time that girls can stand proud to play. All girls, regardless of race, religion, socio-economic status, size or physical challenges, deserve the confidence to “go after the ball,” both on the sports fields and off!

 

 

How long have you worked at Game On! and what is your role?

I have had the honor of being a part of the Game On! Family since our first summer in 2007. I began as an assistant camp director and the softball sports director at our first location at Lake Forest College. In the fall of 2007, I was hired full time to be the director of operations. Little did I know that I would spend every summer since empowering girls through sports and training our wonderful coaches to lead the way. In 2019, I became part owner with the incredible co-founder, and owner, and now my business partner, Barb Lazarus.

 

We love that you have given so many girls a chance to learn and grow with the sports. Tell us about the programs at Game On! Sports 4 Girls.

We currently offer summer camps and programming throughout the north suburbs and Chicago. We are also proud to say we have programming in Colorado & Utah. Our motto is: All girls deserve the chance to grow, play multiple sports in a warm, safe and of course FUN environment.

Specifically with regard to our summer camp experience, Game On! offers girls K-8th daily and weekly exposure to a wide range of sports. It’s one of the things I think my daughter enjoyed most this past summer. Every day was different and every week was different. Not to mention the dress up days, special theme days, guest speakers, and spirited fun on top of all the sports action. She also really bonded with the coaches which makes everything more fun.

 

 

The sports the girls may play at camp include lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, pickleball, field hockey, flag football, handball, yoga, karate, touch rugby, dodgeball, dance and more. My daughter’s favorite was well, “all of them,” she says, but she especially enjoyed martial arts, flag football and volleyball.

 

 

As I mentioned previously, we also work to impact each camper’s growth on and off the field, integrating lessons focusing on self esteem, respect, nutrition, teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, & more. There is no doubt that Game On! is more than your average summer camp for many reasons! And of course, the mission continues to be near and dear to me.

 

 

But our programming goes well beyond our summer camps. We continue to help girls of all skill levels to grow as an athlete and a person with our school-year programming. Attention to teamwork, sportsmanship, self-esteem, respect, goal setting and a whole lot of GirlStrong are also an integral part of these unique classes & events which can include:

• Multi-sport classes
• Single-sport classes
• Preschool classes
• Fitness classes
• Day off school events
• Proud to Throw Like A Girl clinics
• Sport-specific clinics

Our Game On! Pledge sums up our spirit and environment: I strive to be GirlStrong – strong in body, strong in mind, and strong in team. Game On!

 

Game On! is the recipient of a few impressive awards. Brag away!

Yes! We are so proud of our accomplishments:

• 2018 Rings of Gold Program Award from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee honored Game On! for “nurturing and developing the Olympic and Paralympic dreams and goals of children, teaching America’s youth valuable life skills and making a positive impact” in the communities served.
• 2013 Recipient of the espnW/Toyota Inaugural Everyday Hero Award
• 2019 Recipient of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Community Leadership Award

 

From L to R: Game On! Boulder’s Maria Anderson, Olympian ice dancer Alex Shibutani, Game On! Founder & co-owner Barb Lazarus, Olympic ice dancer Maia Shibutani, Game On! co-owner Sara Rubin

How has Game On! grown over the last 5 years?

Game On! Sports 4 Girls has grown quite a bit over the last 5 years. Not only have our numbers increased year after year at our Glencoe summer camp location, but we have expanded our geographic reach as well. Also important, our school year programming is thriving. In addition to running camps in Colorado and Utah, we have further developed and refined our Sports Leadership (middle school grades), Bright Stars (2nd – 4th grades) and Ponytail (Pre-K thru 1st grades) curriculums. Finally we have expanded to sports specific programming for volleyball as well as flag football.

 

What inspired Barb to start Game On! back in the day?

Game On! was born out of personal passion and understanding.

Our founder Barb Lazarus would say, the value of sports in her life was nothing short of a gift that keeps on giving and deserves to be passed on to EVERY GIRL. That became her passion and her mission.

 

Founder and co-owner, Barb Lazarus accepting the Rings of Gold Award from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Back in the 1970s, while competing in tennis, basketball, volleyball and softball at Highland Park High School, Game On!, and the notion of passing on this gift, was but a distant dream.

While prosecuting cases as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois early on in her career, and pursuing other business interests thereafter, opening a sports camp for girls in conjunction with other community-oriented sports programming became a real vision.

She had always talked about how much her involvement in sports had positively shaped her life. Barb had been an early beneficiary of Title IX and never stopped appreciating the doors of opportunity that opened as a result. Moreover, Barb credited sports with building self-image, confidence, leadership skills, values and character, in addition to the lasting friendships and memories that have laid the groundwork for a very fulfilling business and personal life.

 

Barb Lazarus

In 2006, Barb decided it was time, so Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls was born. The first camp opened in 2007 at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois. Barb, myself and our team were proud to launch school year programming a few years later and a second camp in downtown Chicago in 2011, along with other camps and programs located in states across the country. Learn more about Barb here.

 

We’ve heard a lot about flag football over the last year or so. What’s changed that’s putting this girls’ sport on the map? And do you offer flag football programs?

We often say that part of our mission at Game On! is to change attitudes and that is exactly what’s happening within the landscape of sports. Led by strong and courageous female athletes who have risked everything, the sports marketplace and arena have finally realized the “value,” of women’s sports both as a thrilling source of entertainment and business revenue.

Yes, we offer flag football both as a school year program and camp focus. Flag football, like lacrosse, pickleball and volleyball for girls, is hot hot hot. Because it was sanctioned by many High School Associations across the country, including here in Illinois, within the past couple of years, AND has been added as an Olympic sport, Game On! has been quick to add it to our list of “core” sports. It is a fantastic sport for girls for so many reasons and, along with volleyball, we have decided to include it as a sports specific offering, partnering with quality, experienced coaches that can excite girls through fun, confidence-building curriculums.

 

 

You have already spoken about your incredible summer camp that’s unlike any other local sports camp. Anything else you’d like us to know?

We are extremely proud of the multi-sport and sports specific curriculums we have developed over the past 19 years. And year-after-year we have focused on refining, rebuilding and adding based on feedback as well as the growth we are tracking in our campers.

In particular though, our focus on empowerment and confidence-building, incentive programs, Healthier4Me agenda, teaching techniques, and environment separate us from ALL other sports camps and general camps nationwide. Our impact on girls who go through our program is real. When we say Game On! is for EVERY GIRL we mean it.

We understand that parents are entrusting us with their most precious and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. So important we know how to listen!

 

 

Tell us about any upcoming pop ups or workshops you have planned for 2025.

We have a full lineup of events coming up, so be sure to check them all out & lock in your spots early:

• Flag football clinics, Sunday, Sept. 28 – Nov. 16, Highwood, Girls 4th-6th (Can sign up for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or all 7!)
• Northwestern vs. Minnesota women’s volleyball game, Sunday, Oct. 5
• Power4Girls Day Off Event – Monday, Oct. 13, Wilmette, Girls K-4th
• Power4Girls Day Off Event – Monday, Nov. 24, Wilmette, Girls K-4th
• Power4Girls Day Off Event – Monday, Jan. 19, Wilmette, Girls K-4th

We are also open to specific requests for day off school events, sport-specific private or small group lessons, Girl Scout clinics, and birthday parties.

 

What are the best ways our readers can reach out?

You can reach us through our website at www.gameonsports4girls.com, email at [email protected], call us at 847-229-9959, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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