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Post by jerbyrd72 on Apr 29, 2009 19:48:28 GMT -6
I have a coaching spot....I also have several kids that are not eligble to play football this spring. Some will take care of their business and will get eligble for the Fall. One of my best freshmen from last year made 5 F's and one A (in PE) the first semester. He doesn't have a chance. I have identified a very good teacher at our school and am thinking about making her the "Academic counselor/counselor/paper person" for our program and paying her a coaching stipend.
I feel like if I had her in place this year that I would be going out to practice right now with some kids that can help us win ball games.
I have a buddy in Texas that tells me that they have an "academic guy" that updates them almost daily on how their at-risk kids are doing in class. However, this is something that I haven't seen done in my area (Northwest Louisiana) and wondering if I could get some feed back from some that have an academic coach and how it has worked for you.
OR....should I just continue to wait and hope that a good coach falls into my lap before next season.
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Post by coachgeiser on May 1, 2009 20:45:44 GMT -6
Play It Smart is a program which puts an academic coach at the local high school level. It is part of the College Football Hall of Fame. We have had an academic advisor for the past 8 years. Play it Smart is a national program which has generated financial support from local NFL teams, as well as entire school districts. Play it Smart stresses academic success as well as community service as its guiding principles. If you are interested in a contact person, I will be back at school on Tuesday 5/5.
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Post by airraider on May 1, 2009 21:52:00 GMT -6
Play It Smart is a program which puts an academic coach at the local high school level. It is part of the College Football Hall of Fame. We have had an academic advisor for the past 8 years. Play it Smart is a national program which has generated financial support from local NFL teams, as well as entire school districts. Play it Smart stresses academic success as well as community service as its guiding principles. If you are interested in a contact person, I will be back at school on Tuesday 5/5. I dont believe his school will qualify for Play It Smart.. school has to show need based on poverty and other items.. and his school isnt all that bad off.. Bastrop used to have a full time academic coach.. call Bradshaw if you dont mind a little cussing.. lol.. "hell-f'ing-o? |
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Post by hsrose on May 2, 2009 9:55:53 GMT -6
I just took over a program and am off-campus. Only 1 of my coaches is on-campus and he teaches history.
Part of my application package was the position of Academic Advocate, a teacher that would act as the liaison between the program and the academic staff. This position would work with the school to get the players into summer school, collect and monitor the monthly progress reports, work with the kids on their grades, etc. Basically do the academic stuff that I would do (and what the previous previous hc did).
While this may not be exactly what you are asking about, it is what I'm doing for the same function.
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Post by kylem56 on May 2, 2009 10:16:30 GMT -6
I think you got a great idea. I wouldnt use a coaching stipend on it because solid coaches are hard to come by but like dcohio said, I think if you could compensate her through fundraising money that would be a good deal. Maybe talk to the boosters as well about chipping in "if they care about the kids".
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Post by seagull73 on May 2, 2009 12:22:13 GMT -6
Why is it the coaches responsibility for kids to get the pathetic minimum standards for academic eligibility? Where I coach you need a 2.0 and can fail one class. You are brain dead if you can't do that!
I don't know about everyone else but all the non-football stuff that comes along with coaching football is wearing me out. We have close to 2,500 kids in our school and the large majority get decent grades without someone following them around telling them to hand in homework.
I'm to the point where I believe if you care about yourself and your teammates you will get it done academically. If you don't I don't want you anyway. We can teach life skills through football and I believe strongly in developing character through athletics but it isn't my job to make sure you don't sleep in class. The players parents should be their academic coaches!!!!
Sorry for the rant. Just caught me on a bad day.
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Post by schultbear74 on May 2, 2009 12:55:47 GMT -6
If you came to my school you would see that athletics and academics are tied together. We have a manditory study hall for kids that aren't making the grade. The basketball team started doing it as well. We test the kids to see what they need the most help with.
We are among the lowest achieving schools in the state on our testing and we live in a culture where ignorance is valued. We have to find a way to keep our kids playing until they learn to value what education can do for you. The longer we keep them around the more likely that they will make it.
I used to wonder about whether we we doing to much or not enough. I think both are true. Sometimes we are the only males of any good consequence that these kids will be around and it is an awesome responsibility.
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Post by phantom on May 2, 2009 13:19:41 GMT -6
Why is it the coaches responsibility for kids to get the pathetic minimum standards for academic eligibility? Where I coach you need a 2.0 and can fail one class. You are brain dead if you can't do that! I don't know about everyone else but all the non-football stuff that comes along with coaching football is wearing me out. We have close to 2,500 kids in our school and the large majority get decent grades without someone following them around telling them to hand in homework. I'm to the point where I believe if you care about yourself and your teammates you will get it done academically. If you don't I don't want you anyway. We can teach life skills through football and I believe strongly in developing character through athletics but it isn't my job to make sure you don't sleep in class. The players parents should be their academic coaches!!!! Sorry for the rant. Just caught me on a bad day. Do you have a conditioning program or do you just trust the kids to work out on their own? Like it or not part of the job today is acting as a surrogate parent. You say that football can teach life skills. Wouldn't that include staying awake in class? |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2009 20:15:43 GMT -6
Seems like a great idea. Would take some of the pressure off of you and give you a liaison inside the building.
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Post by jerbyrd72 on May 2, 2009 21:58:38 GMT -6
Airraider...talking to Bradshaw....that would be an interesting conversation....especially about this topic. I had an assistant who worked with him before working for me.
Thank you for the other comments....good points.
I am familiar with Play it Smart and airraider is right. I have applied for it in the past and was denied. I would be denied again....I think.
Parents should be the academic coaches....But my parents are my age and work at IHOP or getting laid off from GM. Their son sleeping in class is low on their list of priorities.
My parents gave me a kick in the butt when I needed it in school. Your parents probably did the same thing. These kids - for the most part - are missing that.
They (and I) need someone in their life that is going to challenge them academically the same way that I am going to challenge them when they are on the football field.
As the head coach I'm going to be judged on wins and losses...I will have to go to work every day for year and see these kids on campus and wonder what if. They are good kids.....but me telling them to take care of their grades at the end of practice last year was not enough.
The silver lining is that two of the main kids are freshmen. So they will miss their sophomore year. Better to have it happen now than when they are junior or senior.
Thanks again for the comments.
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Post by seagull73 on May 3, 2009 8:00:57 GMT -6
We provide an opportunity to train for the season but I don't chase kids down who don't attend. They need to suffer the consequences of lack of dedication which is not making the team the same way they need to suffer the consequences of not getting the work done in class.
Don't get me wrong. I want all my players to do well socially, academically, & athletically but their has to be personal responsibility at some point. You can't keep rescuing people who are the victim of their own actions.
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Post by coachd5085 on May 3, 2009 9:19:29 GMT -6
Ever consider having your staff be responsible for the academics of their players? Allows you to keep the stipend for an on field asset, have your staff develop closer ties to the players, and integrate the staff further into the fabric of the school community.
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Post by eghscoach on May 3, 2009 10:56:25 GMT -6
Would agree with that, biut what about those of us who have NO assistants in the building?
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Post by coachd5085 on May 3, 2009 11:03:57 GMT -6
I would say that having NO assistants in the building has nothing to do with being responsible for the academics of the players. How does not being in the building from 8-3 prevent you from:
1) obtaining student's school schedule/syllabi if available
2) checking player's performance periodically (be it daily, weekly, monthly etc.)
3) charting grades on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (recording grades to see performance)
4) establishing and maintaining contact with student's teachers
5) establish and enforcing time management and study skills
If you have 12 players in your position group, you can hold a brief academic meeting with 3 of them 4 days a week. Or 2, 6 days a week. Maybe 2 on three days and 3 on two days...
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