New Athletic Advisory Council elects its first leader and seeks your input

The new Albemarle County Public Schools Athletic Council held its first meeting last night and I already have a homework assignment.  First, here is the statement of purpose and the list of founding members of this advisory group formed by Superintendent Pam Moran:

Purpose: To advance, discuss, and communicate ideas for the continuous improvement of the student athlete's experience.

• Christine Fortner, President
  (Student rep-Junior at WAHS)
• Scott Hendrix, President-Elect (Parent rep-AHS)
• Brud Bicknell (Coaches rep-MHS)
• Fitz Barnes, Steve Heon, and Deb Tyson
  (HS Athletic Directors)
• Matt Haas (ACPS Director of Secondary Education)
• Brian Wheeler (School Board observer)

As you can see, we have representation from each of the comprehensive high schools and have included students, parents, coaches, athletic directors, central office staff, and the school board.  In 2010-2011, the council will expand to have two students, two parents, and two coaches.  A rotation system is also in place (e.g. next year the new student addition will be from Monticello HS).

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MY HOMEWORK - YOUR INPUT!

Our next meeting is December 7, 2009.  The council members have decided to begin our work by collecting feedback within our community networks in response to the following question:

What can we do to improve the experience of our student athletes?

If you have ideas you would like to have the new Athletic Council consider, please do any of the following: 1) send them to me by e-mail (please let me know if you wish to remain anonymous); 2) leave a public comment on this post below (please enter your first and last name); 3) call me at 434-984-2233; or 4) reach out to any other member of the Council and share your feedback directly with them.

Brian Wheeler

Comments

[Dan Heuchert]

1. Stop treating JV teams like second-class citizens. They are the foundations of future varsity programs. At MHS, their practices are the first canceled when poor weather moves teams indoors (could cancellations be alternated?); coaches are often underqualified (or not qualified at all); and fewer games are scheduled (MHS JV girls lacrosse played just five games last spring).

These athletes require MORE development and guidance than varsity players (who presumably have more experience under their belts), yet receive less.

2. Push harder to get Albemarle in a more travel-friendly district.

3. Offer coaches media training. With local media staffing at an all-time low, it takes some effort to get recognition for teams and athletes, but it can be done.

[Paul Bushrow]

Establish clear guidelines on the inclusion of middle school players on the high school teams, and those guidelines should restrict the "playing up" of middle school kids. If the purpose of the high school athletics program is to provide our kids the opportunity to compete and enjoy the character development that comes with hard work and team endeavors while they are in high school, then we need to ensure that the high school kids get every chance to participate. Every time we let middle school kids take playing time in any of the high school athletic programs while denying that time to a high school student, we diminish that opportunity.