Jack Pine Conference


To those of you parents that are happy with our current TEAM Sports Programs, I must apologize for being persistent with my effort.

It has been pointed out to me that our wrestling program has been very successful and that these parents are very proud of their kids. So am I. Anytime I can talk to a proud parent and see the excitement and the tear in the eye, that's what it's all about.

I have twin 12-year-old grandsons. They live in Petoskey but they play for the St. Ignace Travel Hockey Team. St. Patrick's weekend they were in a tournament in Mt. Pleasant. Teams included Livonia, Big Rapids, St. Ignace and Kalamazoo. They played Friday, Saturday and Sunday AM. They qualified for the final. Sunday afternoon they played Livonia in the championship game. One of my grandsons is the goalie. St. Ignace won the championship game 4-0. My grandson had the shut-out.

A tear in the eye comes easy, and as you know, you can't keep it from happening. So, I know the feeling.

Although the administration is promoting our wresting success as our most successful Varsity program (so far this year), we did finish in fifth place in our conference, out of eight teams.

Again, in all fairness, we need to look at where we are and face this reality before we will ever have a majority agree that a major change is needed to help our kids put a tear in our eyes.

Farwell is one of eight schools in the Jackpine Conference, and these are the teams we play each year that show us the success of our programs.

Our school sports begin in the fall with football being the first major team sport.


Football Facts:

 Farwell has lost every game in the last 3 years.
0 Wins – 27 Losses.
   
The average score –
The other team 40 points, Farwell 7 points.
   
In the last two years, there have been about 12 assistants hired with all of them "released" for poor performance.


The Administration and those currently in charge are obviously satisfied. No change or addition in personnel needed but they do have a new idea for this fall.

Part of this new idea was to move our "best five" freshmen up to the Varsity next year. This is where I first came into the picture. These kids – with our last years Jr. Varsity, haven't won either. Believe me, it's not the kids.

My suggestion was, let's bring in a very successful coach to work with next years Jr. Varsity, keep these promising kids together and start building a program that is designed for success.

That was the beginning of my disapproval by those in charge and the accusation that my negativity was the problem of our lack of success and not part of the solution.

They feel they already have all they need to make things better even without making any changes. Their denial will never create a successful program. It will take a minor addition in personnel, an attitude adjustment, some kind of change in responsibility, expectations and accountability in all of our coaching staffs, and someone who has the thought and truly believes that our high school athletic programs should be ALL ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE KIDS.

Other examples that will definitely show that our coach selecting process is drastically flawed is as follows: (Again you can go online to verify the facts, Michigan High School Sports Jackpine Conference).


GIRLS BASKETBALL:
 The last 4 years
2 Wins - 54 Losses

BOYS BASKETBALL:
 The last 4 years
7 Wins – 49 Losses
The last 2 years
1 Win – 27 Losses

** 5-6 years ago we needed 1 more loss to set an all-time losing record for the State.


GIRLS VOLLYBALL:
2007 – Last place finish
2008 – Last place finish


I do realize that there has been an occasional win in non-conference competition, but our standard needs to be based on what we do in our conference.

You must do the hard work to have a winning team. But if you don't make the "smart decisions" before the hard work starts, you will finish far below your potential.

My hat is already full of feathers, I'm not looking for nor do I need any more. I have a different opinion on our current football coach than most of you do.

I think his desire and potential is good enough to work with and that with a good teacher for a couple years, getting out of our slump, and our training of a few helpers, he should be able to carry on a good football program for several years.

If we don't do something, or make our changes this year (NOW) I have no doubt that we go 0-9 and the fall of 2009 we will start with someone new. But the worst injustice will be on our next years' sophomores in that they will have wasted another year of learning and will move up to the Varsity unprepared and this great bunch of kids will just be a super group of athletes with a losing record. What they lose now can never be made up. Remember our competition has beaten us on an average of 40-7, and they will improve and be better next year. Can you see how far we have to go? Wishing to be better isn't the answer.


Reasons why this project (selecting our coaches) should happen


There are high school sports programs nationwide in every school district. They help to teach discipline, fairness, to follow the rules, accept penalties, the desire to do better, teamwork, satisfaction realized from hard work, and that winning is more fun than losing.

Winning develops individual pride, team pride, student body pride, parental pride, community pride, and raises the morale of all of the above.

Losing – I need help with this category.

To fill all of the coaching positions at our school we need approximately 25 coaches. Farwell doesn't hire coaches, they just hire teachers. These teachers that are hired then request the coaching positions, so we get what we get. (Refer to past performance.) I have personal knowledge of this fact.

I have intentionally avoided naming names during this project, because I'm a firm believer that someone in a coaching position where they are directly responsible for the lives of our kids, parents, student body, community, and their own reputation are doing the best they are capable of and should not be condemned or their lack of ability to teach or their lack of acceptance of failure. The acceptance of failure by the administration (school board and superintendent) is disgusting. The results and performance of our sports programs are there for everyone to see. They are documented in the paper and on the internet and are physically available for us all to watch. This brings up another question – if other responsibilities of the board and administration are being handled with the same lack of interest or concern then how can we expect to improve and keep up academically in other areas of education?

We have a lot of talented kids. We have a lot of cooperative parents. We have a very active sports boosters organization. We have a patient community. We own a lot of good equipment. We have a great athletic field. We have a beautiful gym and other gyms. We all deserve something much better and without a drastic change we will have to accept the same old excuses.

Our organized effort must change the current policy that places the – destiny – of our athletic programs in the hands of temporary people and get it into our desired long-term consistency group.


If some guidelines were used for the selection of our coaches, everything would dramatically improve.

The following is a suggestion:

        Quick Self Analysis (for the coaches or coaches to be considered)

Know yourself.
Why are you coaching?
What is your goal?
What do you have to offer?
Do you know all parts (aspects) of the sport?
Will you be good for the kids?
Will you be good for the team?
Will you be a good influence?
Will you set a good example?
Will the kids be better kids after the season?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Do you feel that you are qualified to put the lives of these kids under your guidance?
Can you work alone or do you need some help?

Remember, it is an honor, and you are lucky to get to coach these kids!

Kids are all different.
        Some need a good swift kick.
        Some need to be ignored.
        Some need fatherly advice.
        Some need motherly babying (nurturing).
Kids usually have hidden talent – look for it and help develop it.
The rule that works best is:
        1.   Tell them how to do it.
        2.   Show them how to do it.
        3.   Let them try.
        4.   Provide constructive criticism.
Start them young and make it fun.
You have to learn real quick where each kid fits in.
It’s good to listen to parents to understand a kid better.
Have a 5 minute session each day to listen to the team/kids complaints/concerns. (Don’t make them hold it in. let them know they are welcome to get it out in the open so it can be resolved.) It needs to be a learning process for everyone. Ask for advice or help as soon as you see a problem and don’t feel less of yourself for needing help. It’s better for everyone.

We are so far behind in our own programs that we have to move forward and that means expressing your weakness so someone can help pick you up so you can continue to move ahead. Remember – no one knows everything and you can learn best with your mouth closed.

By the time they are freshmen they should be ready to mold into a team and by then they should know the responsibility of their positions. (Some will develop to another position, watch for it, don’t keep your fastest kid running the mile.)

What makes a coach?
        1.     Understanding and knowing the game
        2.     Experience in playing the game.
        3.     Knowing basic safety.
        4.     Knowing the responsibility of each position.
        5.     Teaching each position.
        6.     Recognizing kid’s abilities and limits.
        7.     Recognizing their weakness and how to improve it.
        8.     Recognizing their talent to determine their position.
        9.     Remember the need to keep it fun.
        10.   Keep the discipline to help them improve as a person.
        11.   Keep their attitude such that they are humble winners.
        12.   Have them understand that if they do their best, it’s ok to lose.
        13.   Make is possible for them to realize it’s more fun to win than lose (a lifetime lesson).
        14.   Make them understand they are part of a team.
        15.   Remember you are a big influence on the student so lead by example and make them proud to have you as their leader.
        16.   The need to recognize talent and be able to place the player where they fit best is most important.
        17.   Make them realize that every position is important for a winning team.

The above guidelines are just a suggestion; additional suggestions are welcome, but a point of beginning is necessary.


To the Varsity Football Coach:

Whatever the reason might be doesn't matter. Changing your mind to keep the sophomores on the JV for next year was the right decision. Keeping that bunch of tremendously talented boys together was a must and I compliment you for that. Get yourself some good help. Think about it, move slow and ask for a little assistance in your selections. It won't be painful.

I would rather talk to you in person, but as you know, I'm not allowed. But, what I can do is write it down with the hope that you might take a look at what I have to say.

My desire to design and build a program for each of our school sports obviously wasn't accepted by the community. I have to accept the fact that they are satisfied to continue to just go through the motions with our high school sports.

And, as far as our basketball situation: Because of the potential talent in our freshman class I would think in all fairness to these kids, the school, and the community, we should do something unusual for next year (their sophomore year).

The rumor is that some of these boys will be moved up to the Varsity for next year.

WHEN YOU ARE WORKING HARD YOU ALSO HAVE TO WORK SMART.

In My Opinion:

First, the boys aren't ready for Varsity Competition yet so there would be little improvement in the Varsity. But, by splitting these boys up it would be a great injustice to the Jr. Varsity teams and would be a step backwards in developing a program.

My suggestion, I'm sure will bring out the fairness issue. That's fairness to the coaches. As anyone who has been paying attention, my only concern is "What's best for the kids and the parents."

The best thing for our basketball for the next three years, would be to have our varsity coach coach the JV team next year and build a "powerhouse" JV team so their junior and senior years will be a lot of fun for everyone to watch.

I know you've thought about it, Coach. Just think of what's best for everyone and do the right thing. Anyone who gives it some thought will be very proud of you.

LET'S QUIT WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN – LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN!



Now, I have said what I need to say so I'll never have to say, "I wish I would have."

Dean Luce