COACHING & SPORT

PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR

Each year the section editors are assigned specific topics and months of responsibility for publishing articles. The section editors have a great deal of freedom in selecting these topics. As one of the section editors for Sport & Coaching I want to tell you it is a rewarding experience to write about topics that I am passionate about and have a lifetime of experience that may contribute to perspective. I would like to encourage you, the reader, to contact myself or any of the section editors with topics you would like featured or researched. Although we enjoy writing, it is so much more rewarding when we know the audience is interested in reading the articles published. We welcome your feedback. djcat@clemson.edu

STATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PROVIDES EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR COACHES/AD'S: MHSAA PROVIDES ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER STATES

By Deborah Cadorette, Clemson University Athletic Leadership

What does it mean when a state athletic association is committed to educate athletic administrators and coaches in their school districts? It means the principal can be assured that a very large percentage of their coaches are trained and qualified to coach athletes in their schools. It means the coaches learn how to be effective instructors and communicators. It results in coaches being certified to deal with medical emergencies competently. It arms coaches with knowledge about legal duties and responsibilities as coaches so they can be proactive and provide quality experiences for their academic athletes. It sends parents a message the school administration and state athletic association care about providing a positive athletic experience for their child.

A number of state high school athletic associations are realizing that it takes more to coach athletics than being a certified teacher who may have played a sport in the past. Kudos to these state organizations and/or school districts that require and/or provide coaching education and leadership training.

Some state athletic associations have little or no requirements for their coaches. This comment is not intended to target those associations; rather it is intended to develop an awareness of what a state athletic association is doing to provide quality athletic programs for their state association member schools. There are currently coaches in head coaching positions throughout the country who lack training to deal with emergency situations that can arise while coaching. We read about incidents of this nature every season of every year. These coaches are hired to supervise and instruct student-athletes where physical injuries are common and education about hydration essential.

Teacher certification does not prepare an individual to coach athletics, although it may provide a base for teaching and communication. I was always curious what kind of insurance premiums are paid to protect coaches who have not been trained in the field of coaching or certified in emergency care. All it takes is one major catastrophe resulting in negligence and a school district will understand the importance of training coaches properly. We are talking about the pain and suffering that could have been avoided with appropriate training. I've often wondered why an insurance company would want to provide insurance to protect athletes who are being coached by untrained coaches.

Another thought we might consider is why a parent wants their child to participate in an athletic program coached by untrained, unqualified coaches. Perhaps they are unaware of the lack of coaching requirements and simply "trust" the school district to provide quality coaches for their student athletes. We are talking about basic preparation and helpful knowledge that can make a positive difference in an educational athletic program experience for student athletes and the athletic program staff.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has an incredible collaborative coaching education program with their state athletic association and state universities working together. They work with individual school district principals and athletic directors to provide athletic coaches with quality educational experiences that certify coaches to do their job effectively. They discuss current situations that have occurred in athletics in their very own state, and what coaches believe can be done to change the circumstances. Each CAP completed provides a more certified coach. The coaches get a taste for quality coaching and what others throughout the state are doing to make the athletic experience positive and beneficial for all involved.

The following information is from the MHSAA presentation at the National Coaching Educators Conference in Colorado Springs, CO in June 2011. It is valuable information that every athletic administrator should share with their administration and school board. The MHSAA does not mandate coaches to participate in the program, but many principals do. It is very unlikely for a principal in Michigan to hire a coach who is not certified or not willing to participate in the MHSAA CAP program to become certified.

It doesn't take much time, provides credit toward recertification, and the coaches network throughout the state to provide consistency for their state high school athletic programs. Generally, the training takes place in one session per course, or a longer session that can cover an entire CAP level. Both are successful experiences where the coaches leave with training and knowledge that can be applied to their athletic program staff, athletes or parents. Positive relationships are powerful and essential for successful experiences.

MHSAA Coaching Education Program:

Michigan High School Athletic Association has developed a Coaches Advancement Program (CAP), an educational program geared to assist coaches in their growth and development as they advance in the field of educational athletics. Value added benefits of the program include:

INSURANCE: Liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1 million per occurrence. This protection extends to coaches' performance of duties for the school team during the interscholastic season. The coverage is good for the year that the coach successfully completes the program and the following year.

NEWSLETTER: GamePlans is an electronic newsletter that is sent six times a year to coaches who have successfully completed six hours of the Coaches Advancement Program. The GamePlans newsletter contains pertinent articles that will assist coaches in their daily planning. GamePlans also publishes a record of all coaches who have been certified through the MHSAA Coaches Advancement Program.

STATE BOARD – CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS: State Board-Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs) are available to coaches, and can be used for the renewal of selected certificates issued by the Michigan Department of Education. Coaches who complete a six-hour session are eligible to receive a .6 SB-CEU.

CAP1
6 Hours
2.5 hours Coaches Make the Difference: MHSAA Philosophy and Regulations
1.5 hours Effective Instruction: The Coach as Teacher
2 hours Sports Medicine and First Aid

CAP2
6 Hours
2 hours Effective Communication: Characteristics of Coaches who are Great Communicators
2 hours Legal Issues in School Sports: A Game Plan to Meet Legal Needs
2 hours Psychology of Coaching

CAP3
6 Hours
2.5 hours Additional Coaching Responsibilities: Becoming Aware of your Many Resources
2 hours Effectively Working with Parents
1.5 hours The Coach as Performer: Managing Your Time and Energy Level

CAP4
6 Hours
2 hours Understanding Athlete Development
1.5 hours Preparing for Success
2.5 hours Strength and Conditioning: Designing Your Program

CAP5
6 Hours
2 hours Healthy Living
2 hours Controlling Emotions in Pressure Situations
2 hours Resolving Conflicts in Athletics

CAP6
6 Hours: 6 hours Champions of Character: Current Issues and Topics in Educational Athletics

More details and information can be found at their website: www.mhsaa.com.

CAPTAIN SELECTION FOR EDUCATIONAL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

One of the topics discussed in the newsletter received by Michigan coaches in the CAP program targeted Team Captain Selection. The article was written by Dana Voelker from the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, Michigan State University. In the article Dana writes that coaches who are known for developing effective captains describe a number of characteristics that are related to effective and ineffective captaincy. They are:

COACH & ATHLETE IN EDUCATION MAGAZINE: FALL 2011

Coach & Athlete in Education Magazine is the new read on the web. It will have a positive influence on your coaches and athletes because it's all about the educational athletic program. Coaches and athletes will be featured who have positive work ethic and successful program experiences they are willing to share.

If you have an athlete or program to feature send an email to this magazine! Tell them about it. Coach & Athlete in Education wants to hear about your experiences and programs to share with our readers! Are your coaches outstanding? What makes them so? Do you have an athlete with outstanding character? Have you been successful in tracking, supporting and motivating academics among your athletes? Tell Coach & Athlete in Education editors about it! See your school in print!

Questions: Contact Coach & Athlete in Education at editors@coachnathlete.com with your questions or concerns you would like researched. All topics about educational athletics are welcomed! The research editors will research your concerns for publication. You may even be featured in one of the magazine issues (with your permission). Premier issue is scheduled for release fall, 2011 and the public will have access to the premier issue. See why you will want to subscribe. Email editors@coachnathlete.com to be placed on the email list to receive complimentary access to Coach & Athlete in Education online magazine this fall!

POSITIVE PARENT RELATIONSHIPS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS

How does your athletic program communicate what you stand for? How do your parents and athletes understand what is expected of the athletic participants and community?

Parents need to understand the athletic program philosophy and their role in the program. Often left undefined, communicating the philosophy of your athletic program will help parents and athletes understand what is expected of them. Nothing is more important than communicating with parents about appropriate actions and expectations for the athletic program of your school. This can be accomplished in numerous ways today.

Parent Newsletters, Athletic Web Pages, email communication, Parent Meetings, including an essential Parent Orientation the beginning of the season for all parents and athletes. One thing that may encourage parent attendance is to have an Educational Athletics Orientation and require that all athletes attend. Also require that at least one parent or guardian accompany the athlete. If an athlete participates in multiple sports they need attend only one for the very first sport season the athlete participates in.

Make the program exciting with videos of the sport and athletes. Interview athletes from the program,and ask them questions that will serve the current athletes and parents at the orientation. It could be a very exciting and helpful meeting if planned in advance. Local restaurants may provide snacks and beverage, as well as door prizes. Make one of the door prizes several season passes for the sport.

There are so many ideas that will bring athletes and parents together for an enjoyable afternoon. Have the orientation prior to the first practice/try-out. Video record the orientation in the event a parent/athlete cannot attend. Then require them to watch the video prior to the athlete being able to participate in try-outs.

Key to positive relationships is to respect one another. You don't have to agree with another person to respect their individuality. In a school environment disrespectful actions or behaviors are unacceptable and have to be dealt with accordingly. We are creating environments for our children to learn life lessons. Yes, they will encounter inappropriate behaviors from people in their life time. The parents should not be the ones providing that for them. Parents need to be the role model for what a parent will one day expect the student-athlete's behavior to be as a parent.

Enjoy watching the team play regardless of the role your child has on the team. Support the student-athletes positively. Learn when to communicate with the coaching staff, and how each wishes to be contacted. When there is a problem, approach the appropriate person in authority with respect. Have a productive conversation, and be certain your point of view is expressed respectfully. Be certain you listen to the point of view of others. Take time to consider these views. Think about your own as well. Remove your child from the picture. What would your view be if the situation was occurring to someone else, rather than you or your child?

The bottom line is for the student-athletes to have a positive experience in the sport arena and to have parental support. The athlete made the decision to participate in a program where an adult (coach) other than the parent may be making decisions regarding the child’s participation in that sport arena. When in doubt about whether to intervene, talk to your child about the situation (not during a game or practice). One of the most difficult tasks to perform, especially if you are an athletic coach, is to learn how to be a parent spectator and support your child-athlete when they are being coached by someone else.

Great web site for more information about parenting positively: www.positivecoach.org

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