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Post by epcoach99 on Nov 29, 2006 13:35:12 GMT -6
First of all thanks to everyone on this site! As a young coach it is sometimes hard to gain new knowledge and network with people. This site is a blessing!
Back on topic:
Who pays for your protective equipment such as hip,knee, thigh pads etc. or all gear. At my current school (first coaching job) we have had to get money from our Booster club for a few helmets and shoulder pads the last couple of years. We are now at a place where we need a number of new helmets, shoulder pads and most of all the smaller protective pads. While doing inventory after the season we threw out a lot of pads and the ones we kept have to be from the late 80's and early 90's at best. I'm not exaggerating at all. I graduated from high school in 94 and had better pads.
I guess I always thought the district should help with purchasing protective equipment. Am I wrong?
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Post by coachjd on Nov 29, 2006 14:02:32 GMT -6
district should pay for all protective equipment and uniforms IMO. The school is showing a huge neglect in liability by not making sure the equipment is up to date and reconditioned as needed. I believe all helmets are to be reconditioned every 3 years.
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Post by groundchuck on Nov 29, 2006 14:02:39 GMT -6
Some of both. Every year the school budget shrinks a little and the prices for stuff goes up. So we do a lot of fund raising and pay for quite a bit out of that.
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coachf
Freshmen Member
Posts: 15
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Post by coachf on Nov 29, 2006 14:07:03 GMT -6
We are supposed to get it from the district. It ends up being provided by the boosters more often than not.
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Post by calicoachh on Nov 29, 2006 14:54:24 GMT -6
at a private school, boosters pay for everything
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Post by fbdoc on Nov 29, 2006 15:51:08 GMT -6
The team is representing the school! Our school (we are small private) pays for all equipment for all sports. Our combined Booster Club pays for uniforms - teams generally get "new" unis about every 4-5 years. Helmets, shoulder pads, all other pads, etc. should be provided by the school!
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Post by redandwhite on Nov 29, 2006 17:26:18 GMT -6
Without a doubt, schools should provide all equipment and uniforms. It is a school-sponsored activity. That being said, in our situation, and the situation of most programs, without fundraisinfg and Booster Clubs, we would be very inadequately supplied. Not only would we have to do without "luxuries" such as video technology, but we would not have nearly enough equipment for all of our players and would have to institute player cuts. This is the situation, and I will do whatever I have to do to ensure that player cuts do not become a part of our program.
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Post by epcoach99 on Nov 29, 2006 19:42:47 GMT -6
Tanks Coaches thats about what I thought. I may copy the posts so I can show them to the admin, and say "look other schools do it why not you?"
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coachf
Freshmen Member
Posts: 15
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Post by coachf on Nov 29, 2006 20:25:39 GMT -6
Good luck with that. I hate it when the school tries to act like their hands are tied on these matters. They like to be as cheap as possible until someone gets hurt. Then they blame it on us for not making sure the equipment was safe.
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Post by epcoach99 on Nov 29, 2006 21:57:16 GMT -6
I hear you Coachf. I've been waiting for just that senario. We didn't have enough good helmets this year and some freshmen had to "make due" with some that just did not fit. It was head trauma waiting to happen.
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Post by poweriguy on Nov 29, 2006 22:05:15 GMT -6
From experience, don't ever throw out anything. Put it in a box and keep it, so then you can show your AD, Principal, Superintendent and or board members if need be, how bad your equipment situation is. Then do your best to try and get some of it replaced, because you won't get it all replaced. That's the way it is. Make a priority what you ABSOLUTELY have to have in order to be safe. Even then you still may not get what you need.
But keep that stuff, put it in a box and label and date the sucker. Label it, "not for use" or something like that. And try to have written proof that you brought this to the administrations attention. The box of rejected stuff gives you proof of a number of what you need. You can say you need 20 pairs of thigh pads, but if you have a box full of cracked or deteriorated thigh pads as proof, you have some leverage. Without it, the AD or principal will think you are asking for too much or think you are exaggerating the seriousness of the problem.
Then once you have permission from the AD or Principal to dispose of the bad equipment, then do so. If you don't, then that could get you in deep water.
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Post by midlineqb on Nov 30, 2006 0:03:50 GMT -6
I agree with poweriguy. Once I had to tell my administration that they better get the pads and helmets if they didn't want a law suit when someone gets hurt using the equipment we had. I also showed them the equipment (what the good looked like and what needed to be replaced look like). I was told to call the dealer the next day and set up an appointment to order.
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Post by epcoach99 on Nov 30, 2006 8:43:53 GMT -6
We kept a few of the real bad ones for show. A great number of the others we kept because we will most likely have to use them again. Thanks again for the support and advice.
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Post by coachcalande on Nov 30, 2006 12:57:10 GMT -6
unfortunately, some schools are going to a "pay to play" plan...a shame.
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Post by williamcrehan on Nov 30, 2006 13:33:15 GMT -6
midlineqb is exactly right. Write a letter to the board, superint., and AD. Express that you are relieving yourself of any responsibility of injury due to horrible equip. When they hear lawsuit, their ears start to burn.
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Post by coachbw on Nov 30, 2006 13:58:03 GMT -6
I agree with that mentioning liability has a good shot of getting you equipment, but I also think that this is one of those topics that has to looked at wholisitcally. I know of one coach in our conference who complains because his district won't buy equipment for the kids, but he is the same coach who has requested (and received) a video editting system and end zone camera. If your admin isn't paying for equipment, my response is what else are they buying you (if anything). Now, if you really don't have a school budget at all, and because of that you have to work through your booster club to purchase equipment I can agree with your complaint.
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Post by epcoach99 on Dec 1, 2006 11:09:57 GMT -6
We barely have a budget at all. Cut every year since I've been here.
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