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Post by epcoach99 on Apr 6, 2007 11:20:47 GMT -6
OK, here I go again! Being an off campus coach has a lot of downfalls as we all know. Well this week it actually shed light on something one of our in school coaches never really thought of. Every week I check on the eligibility of our students whether or not they are in season or out, I like to know how they are doing and try to motivate if need be. While looking over this weeks local newspaper I noticed the school choir was going to Carnegie Hall in NYC to perform. While looking over the picture I noticed one of my very academically problem-ed kids standing right in the middle of a photo taken in Times Square! My first thought was what the heck is he doing there? He passed only one class last semester I believe, and is currently only passing one class this semester (choir). I asked the in school coach about it and he said that it was a class so it didn't matter. What?  ? I'm sorry but I think this is total BULL! Why should I hold my student athlete to a certain standard just to have another teacher say its OK not to be passing your classes. In fact let me send you on a field trip and reward your behavior! Myself and other Coaches have had so many meetings with this kid and his parents to try and help it is sick. He is failing so badly there is no hope of him recovering. I feel bad but I just can't justify wasting any more time on him. It's just sad because he is really a smart kid with a ton of athletic potential. Thanks for listening and let me know if this double standard is widespread or just here. It would be interesting to see how other states/communities deal with this. |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Apr 6, 2007 11:38:50 GMT -6
At our school if a student is ineligible (failing any class beyond the 1 week warning period) s/he may not participate in athletic contests (or music, speech, etc.), may not attend school activities (may not be a spectator at games, may not attend dances, may not attend school organization activities) and may not go on field trips.
This policy is fairly new (within the last 4 years).
This is in rural Nebraska.
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Post by epcoach99 on Apr 6, 2007 12:55:05 GMT -6
That's how I think it should be.
The schools are taking away so much from athletics around here to concentrate on academics I don't see why all organizations in the school should not be held to the same standards.
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Post by coachd5085 on Apr 6, 2007 13:03:38 GMT -6
Did the kid play for you in the fall?
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Post by sls on Apr 6, 2007 14:51:01 GMT -6
I coach at a school with a really good band. Every year they go somewhere over spring break, Hawaii, Disney, a cruise this year. Their grades are lower than any team in the building and about 1/3 fall under the eligibilty standards, but because this is an academic class, they do not have to be eligible. You are right, this is BULL!
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Post by jjkuenzel on Apr 6, 2007 16:37:27 GMT -6
I feel as though any activities outside of the school day should be subject to the same academic standards. Field trips I am not so sure. I think the kids can gain so much from the experience and kids who would miss out on it due to academic standards are probably the ones who can gain the most.
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coachf
Freshmen Member
Posts: 15
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Post by coachf on Apr 6, 2007 21:13:02 GMT -6
I think there should be academic requirements for school activities. We have them at our Middle School, but it changes once they get to High School. I have never figured out the logic in it.
BTW, I wouldn't feel bad about cutting ties with the kid. You have given him a ton of shots and it is his fault. If he still plays next fall, he will never learn a lesson. It may be a tough one for everyone involved, but the kid needs something like that.
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Post by epcoach99 on Apr 10, 2007 7:12:20 GMT -6
Update:
I found out this weekend that the student mentioned in my thred will be attending military school in Texas next year. I am actually happy about this. I think it may be the best thing for him.
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Post by playfast on Apr 10, 2007 7:57:39 GMT -6
I just don't get why the football coach has to moniter grades outside the season and be responsible for kids behaivor in school. What's the role of the teacher, guidance, vice principal??? Everytime there is a problem they come to me!! I teach where I am the head coach. I just finished my sixth season and I am getting tired of chasing kids around about grades and behaivor. No other teachers or coaches are responsible and why is that? What about the guidance. What are they doing? It is common to hear oh it's a football player let the coach take care of him. My contract is for one season and it clearly states August 1st to December 1st. I'm getting worn out and I told the kids at our last meeting your grades and your behaivor is on you!!! I now longer want to be involved in meetings that involve just me and the parents. Heck, I teach six classes and have a duty and I'm also expected to keep track of 75 student athletes. It's gettting old and everyone is passing the buck on to me in dealing with the kids. |
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Post by lsrood on Apr 10, 2007 9:19:46 GMT -6
I teach 7 classes, am on a 1 year contract and keep close tabs on my players grades and conduct in school & out, because I feel that it is my responsibility to do so. I encourage other teachers to come to me if one of my players is having problems so I can help straighten them out if it is disciplinary or get them extra help (tutoring) if it is academic. I stress to our players that they are responsible for their grades and behavior and that if there is a problem, I will deal with it, so don't let it get to be a problem. They also know they can come to me if they have a problem and need guidance. In our district if they don't keep their grades up, or their attendance in line, they will not be allowed to play (yes that means from the semester prior to our season). I look at it as part of my job description to keep an eye on my players year round. I don't know about anybody else, but we take a month off at the end of the season then are back in the weightroom and going strong until the next season with weight training, speed & conditioning training and our summer conditioning program (at no extra stipend). We are already being contacted by colleges about our underclassmen and are continuing to help our seniors with their college choices. I'm sorry, but I just don't see it as a "season" job. It is something you have to be involved with all the time.
No its not fair that athletics are held to a higher standard than the other activities, but those are the cards we have been dealt. By monitoring your players you can often avoid difficult situations before they reach the "hard to handle" point. Just my own opinion, others might agree or disagree.
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Post by epcoach99 on Apr 10, 2007 11:00:03 GMT -6
I monitor because I care. Not only in season but out. Like Isrood stated the semester before football affects you. On top of that I really encourage good grades and studying because I had, and still do have, trouble in school with grades. I came to realize later in life how important those early years are in developing good habits. I struggle to this day getting my studies organized (returning to finish school) and regret it all the time. I never had the problems to the extent of these kids, but I understand and want better for them.
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Post by playfast on Apr 10, 2007 12:45:16 GMT -6
I understand all points but if I am the sole person who is dealing with these kids than I should have a reduced schedule. We have been very successful but I'm getting to the point where administration does not care and expects the football coaches to deal with the academics and behiavor. Where are the other resources in the school?
A kid who is failing can go on a school trip like stated above? Where is the standard of the teacher or administrator that is rewarding this student? I very rarely hear about the basketball or baseball coach having to be so involved.
I do tapes for schools and go to clinics and work all off season in bettering myself and the program in ways people do not see and that is fine. It's just getting to the point that when problenms arise pass it on to the football coach and he will deal with it. If the parents, administrators, and support staff do not get involve how could you possibly say the football coach is the one that is responsible.
Hey if you want me to deal with all these issues than I need a reduced schedule. Just interviewed for a job where I would only teach 2 periods which would give me more than enough time to deal with the student athletes and moniter their progress. But for these guys who are breaking their back and trying to help these kids it's a tough road with a lot of people working against you.
Why should I be the bad guy???
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Post by lsrood on Apr 10, 2007 13:01:03 GMT -6
I'm not saying your the badguy, only pointing out that others are in the same situation. I would also love a reduced schedule, but I know it's never going to happen. So if I want to continue coaching I have to play by their setup, or choose to leave. Since I am at the school I teach in and graduated from and played for, I will continue to do my best. Every individual has to make their own choices and do what is best for them. As I said, it was only my opinion, and everyone is free to agree or disagree accordingly.
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Post by bobdoc78 on Apr 10, 2007 14:54:09 GMT -6
Who is the Head Coach for academics in a school?The principal?The Guidance counseler? The teacher?If your player is making mistakes on field and costing you games who does something about that. Do you go to the principal and expect him to straighten out your corner who loses focus in games?I am not questioning you coachs who do go an extra mile to help out young people. I say why isnt the school run like a football team?
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Post by touchdowng on Apr 10, 2007 21:39:09 GMT -6
Let me start by saying that the 2nd most important title I hold is "Coach." The first is "Dad."
Because we are all coaches and care passionately about our kids and developing them to be the best people they can be, we often let our passions get in the way of our rationale.
Everybody who has added to this thread is 100% dead on as far as I'm concerned.................but
I took a law class recently (working on my administrative credentials - so that on day I can support coaches) and found out that the difference between an interscholastic competition and an enriching field trip that supports an academic is that there is no nexus (connection) between the athletic field and the classroom in terms of academic enrichment. But there is a connection between a field trip to sing at Disneyland and a choir class.
All of us who participate in this message board could sit around for weeks and affirm that there is a very direct connection (between sports and the classroom) but in the eyes of the court system there is not.
School is a right and sports are a privilege.
It is tough to take a school opportunity away from a student unless there has been a behavior/discipline problem. If the student is failing a math class and a tutor can show up at the local shopping mall to help him with his math skills, nobody would ever get in the way of him seeking this type of help.
The fact that the field trip has been decorated with the Magical Kingdom does not dismiss the fact that there is a nexus.
Clear as mud?
As far as monitoring grades and being the heavy on my players around our school? It's goes with our territory. We are seen on a higher level (not better but maybe more visible) than other staff members. We aren't compensated for our hours that we put in but we all knew this going into our careers.
I tell me players that football is ALL ABOUT delayed gratification. Coaching is the same way. We rant and rave and piss and moan at our kids about being good citizens and we take the brunt when they act out. When they come back and visit 10 years later, you will see that your extra duties have paid off. I had a "kid" approach me at a football clinic recently. I coached him 23 years ago. A problem kid. I used to jump all over his stuff when he acted out. He has done two tours in Iraq and had raised 2 boys. He said that most of the the things his FB coaches shared with him during his formidable years got him through his life experiences. He now coaches because he wants to give back the same way.
We are a very privileged group. Don't lose sight of this!
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kdcoach
Sophomore Member
Posts: 194
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Post by kdcoach on Apr 12, 2007 6:37:03 GMT -6
I believe Coaching is a year round proposition. Most of us want our kids working towards being a better football player year around (i.e. weight room, conditioning...) To me, working to help make them better students and people is also year around.
I do not teach, I work a 40 hour work week in the private sector, spend 2 hours 4 nites a week in the weight room with our kids, do off season 7 on 7 and inside run drill events. I also go to the school for meetings with parents, teacher, and sometimes administrators if one of my kids has a problem. In most cases the teachers and administrators say that having me in the meeting or the mention of me coming in has as much or more of an impact on my kids as having the parents there. I don't say any of this to blow my own horn, it's just that because of who we are the kids, parents, and administrators look at us differently than they do most other coaches in other sports. Most of us demand and command a modicom of respect and sacrifice (my opinion is that we are the last that do) that others don't. I encourage the teachers and others in the school to involve me if there is a problem with one of my kids. I just don't view it as a burden, I view it as a privelege that they would want to involve me.
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Post by lsrood on Apr 12, 2007 7:58:11 GMT -6
kdcoach,
I too have found that the teachers and administrators welcome the "coach" saying something to the player or intervening when necessary. To me it's a matter of trust and mutual respect with my fellow teachers and administrators, because they give me the heads up on potential problems before they become problems. This gives me the opportunity to address a situation before it gets out of hand. It also reinforces the idea that we want our players to be disciplined on and off the field and that their conduct in and out of the classroom does matter. IMHO we are here not just to coach football but to help develop character and help prepare our players for life. A couple of other threads running right now touch on this as well and as one coach stated, it's not just about the wins and losses, but the players that keep coming back year after year to thank you for the impact you had on them. kdcoach & touchdowng, I agree it is a great privilidge to be able to coach and have hopefully a positive influence on our players.
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Post by wingman on Apr 12, 2007 13:40:48 GMT -6
I don't know about you guys but the biggest reason we monitor guys is to be sure they're eligible. We have greade checks on all players on probation but the guys that are "players" we really keep tabs on. We don't have to but it's in our team interest to do so. How much time we'll spemnd on you beypnd th egrade check is directly proportional to how good you are. I'll help any of our guys when I can but you can only babysit so many.
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? I'm sorry but I think this is total BULL!
