Post by brophy on Oct 13, 2005 12:59:59 GMT -6
After searching the board, I could not find a topic that addressed this specifically in discussion, though I know many alliterate to it.
This is a 'essay' from someone who obviously follows the conference I coach in (not sure who it is though) but certainly knows whats going on...it may sound familiar to some of your coaching situations now;
So the discussion is:
1) What is the background of your school?
successful, winning, contender, building up, etc?
2) What is the socio-economic issues that you typically face?
** With all that our conference is dealing with, and the fact that the only 'feeder program' we have is from 5th & 6th grader youth leagues and a half dozen Middle Schools (whom we divide the talent amongst 5 City High Schools) .....NEXT year, they (boosters) are seriously approving a plan to take football OUT of the middle school and make it a seperate 7th & 8th grade City League (not affiliated with Middle Schools) ala a Dad's Club - of course, the kids would have to PAY to play.
This is a 'essay' from someone who obviously follows the conference I coach in (not sure who it is though) but certainly knows whats going on...it may sound familiar to some of your coaching situations now;
It amazes me how the Davenport community (parents, students, coaches, teachers, and Administrators) continue to blame schools like Assumption and Bettendorf for the deficits they have on the athletic field. Oh, then there is the infamous crutch that is always used saying that when Davenport North came into existence, it split the talent pools.
When are people going to wake up and realize that it is the students themselves and the parents of those students that are to blame. Forget the crutch that it’s because of bad coaches also. The Davenport Schools have had their share of very good coaches blamed for the many losing seasons. The truth of the matter, in my opinion, is that many of the potentially good male athletes in the Davenport Schools would rather be smoking marijuana, doing gang activity, or just flat out avoid being held accountable for anything that they do in their lives. Too many of them use the excuse of their parents that it’s his fault or her fault or their fault, instead of taking responsibility in fulfilling their role as a member of the team.
The Davenport Schools have some of the best talent in the state roaming their hallways. In addition, they regularly field teams with some of the best talent also. However, talent doesn’t produce results, discipline and the desire to prepare to win does.
I’m not picking on the Davenport schools, I’m merely pointing out what should be the obvious reason for their lack of athletic performance. The foundation of a child’s success, whether it be in athletics or academics, is the support system that child receives at home. Granted, there are many wonderful and supportive parents of student athletes in the D-port schools. However, it is my opinion that the number of those parents and athletes are far outnumbered by the number of students with parents not interested in their daily activities.
Teenagers are going to make poor decisions. That is why it is so crucial to have parents that hold their child accountable and that support the intentions and goals of the program. It’s time that the athletes, parents and various community members that continue to point the finger at other people, blame the person standing in the mirror.
People continue to question how programs such as WDM Valley, ICH, ICW, and Bettendorf, to name of few, continue to compete at such high levels. Unfortunately, instead of investigating these schools and learning from them, they point a finger and yell, “Cheater!”
I know the ingredients needed to maximize one’s potential. In fact, to every one of these schools the answer is obvious. (you may want to write this down) (1) Parents work with the child, coach, teachers, and school. (2) Administrators support the coaches and athletic programs. (3) Student athletes are held accountable for their actions by all parties and are willing to accept consequences for the times when they don’t fulfill their obligation to the team. Those three ingredients are crucial to a successful program. Without one of those, the program will fall.
It’s unfortunate that people continue to blame schools like Assumption and Bettendorf for the shortcomings they have with sports in their schools. If the parents would hold their child accountable for the commitment he has to the team and support their child in the activities he is in, the results would be night and day. Until that happens, expect the trend of Davenport schools to continue to fill the bottom standings in the MAC.
When are people going to wake up and realize that it is the students themselves and the parents of those students that are to blame. Forget the crutch that it’s because of bad coaches also. The Davenport Schools have had their share of very good coaches blamed for the many losing seasons. The truth of the matter, in my opinion, is that many of the potentially good male athletes in the Davenport Schools would rather be smoking marijuana, doing gang activity, or just flat out avoid being held accountable for anything that they do in their lives. Too many of them use the excuse of their parents that it’s his fault or her fault or their fault, instead of taking responsibility in fulfilling their role as a member of the team.
The Davenport Schools have some of the best talent in the state roaming their hallways. In addition, they regularly field teams with some of the best talent also. However, talent doesn’t produce results, discipline and the desire to prepare to win does.
I’m not picking on the Davenport schools, I’m merely pointing out what should be the obvious reason for their lack of athletic performance. The foundation of a child’s success, whether it be in athletics or academics, is the support system that child receives at home. Granted, there are many wonderful and supportive parents of student athletes in the D-port schools. However, it is my opinion that the number of those parents and athletes are far outnumbered by the number of students with parents not interested in their daily activities.
Teenagers are going to make poor decisions. That is why it is so crucial to have parents that hold their child accountable and that support the intentions and goals of the program. It’s time that the athletes, parents and various community members that continue to point the finger at other people, blame the person standing in the mirror.
People continue to question how programs such as WDM Valley, ICH, ICW, and Bettendorf, to name of few, continue to compete at such high levels. Unfortunately, instead of investigating these schools and learning from them, they point a finger and yell, “Cheater!”
I know the ingredients needed to maximize one’s potential. In fact, to every one of these schools the answer is obvious. (you may want to write this down) (1) Parents work with the child, coach, teachers, and school. (2) Administrators support the coaches and athletic programs. (3) Student athletes are held accountable for their actions by all parties and are willing to accept consequences for the times when they don’t fulfill their obligation to the team. Those three ingredients are crucial to a successful program. Without one of those, the program will fall.
It’s unfortunate that people continue to blame schools like Assumption and Bettendorf for the shortcomings they have with sports in their schools. If the parents would hold their child accountable for the commitment he has to the team and support their child in the activities he is in, the results would be night and day. Until that happens, expect the trend of Davenport schools to continue to fill the bottom standings in the MAC.
So the discussion is:
1) What is the background of your school?
successful, winning, contender, building up, etc?
2) What is the socio-economic issues that you typically face?
** With all that our conference is dealing with, and the fact that the only 'feeder program' we have is from 5th & 6th grader youth leagues and a half dozen Middle Schools (whom we divide the talent amongst 5 City High Schools) .....NEXT year, they (boosters) are seriously approving a plan to take football OUT of the middle school and make it a seperate 7th & 8th grade City League (not affiliated with Middle Schools) ala a Dad's Club - of course, the kids would have to PAY to play.