HCHY List: Asset building and athletics

[Empowering Youth]

Colleen - it is so nice to hear from you.  Funny how life "happens" when our
kids are in their busiest years, isn't it?  You have so many reasons to be
proud of your son.

I appreciate your question and hope you get many responses (Listserv -
please reply to the rest of us too -  I would like to read your ideas as
well.)

In our community, I see many asset rich volunteers helping in the athletic
programming, so have witnessed many positives.  But my son is only in 4th
grade, and I don't know much about what happens here in the middle school
and high school years.

I do know the power held by athletics, particularly in small communities. My
husband was a high school principal for several years and he was amazed by
how quickly positive and appropriate parent support dwindles when it comes
to athletics. Doing the "right thing" as an administrator may mean moving to
a new community.

>From my husband's experience, I can tell you that the power lies with the
school board.  If the school board adopts and understands the Asset Approach
(including Boundaries and Expectations!), especially with respect to
athletics, then all other efforts toward this end in the district will gain
focus toward a common goal.  These efforts will also then have support.

Whether we agree or not, about whether sports should have such a strong
impact on a community, we can certainly see athletics as an avenue to
integrate and teach the Asset Approach.

I think some of our sports teams do participate in service projects and
serve as mentors for younger kids.  Both of these highly visible actions are
appreciated and send a message to the community.  I know the new athletic
director in our district (he was my high school psychology teacher.)  It
makes me think I should start a conversation with him as well...

Colleen - are you coming to the conference this year?  I'd love to see you!
-- =

Kelly Curtis, M.S.

Author, Empowering Youth: How to Encourage Young Leaders to Do Great Things.
Want to win a copy? Join me on my Blog Book Tour!
http://2passthetorch.com/2008/08/28/empowering-youth-blog-book-tour/

My research-based educational games and curricula:
http://www.empowering-youth.com .

Want to share good news about youth and the adults who empower them? Let me
know and I'll tell the story on my blog --
http://2passthetorch.com/category/kids/torch-tuesdays/ .

Connect with me on Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/47b/a51 .

On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 7:42 PM, Colleen Mahoney <mahoneyc at cox.net> wrote:

>    Hi Everyone!
>
> I haven't written anything for a long time.  Life happens.  :)  Often what
> brings me back to this listserv is both professional and personal...it
> usually has to do with frustrations I face...and things I do not think we
> are doing a very good job at...and that I want to impact.
>
> I have a 16 year old son...he is an AP/honors student, a junior in High
> School.  He is also a very gifted 3-sport athlete.  I often say I could n=
ot
> have ordered a better son...he is amazing!  He is the way he is because of
> multiple variables--his own nature and efforts, his parents, and the
> wonderful people surrounding him -- other family, teachers, friends,
> coaches, and on and on.  He is one of those young people that seems to be
> resilient-gifted (new word).
>
> My biggest frustrations throughout the years as his Mother and as a
> professional working with schools/communities is athletics.  In my eyes, =
the
> athletic programs of schools (and communities) reflect the "true" nature =
of
> the school (community).  There are many schools/communities that view
> themselves as "asset rich", yet their athletic programs provide a much
> different picture.  And often they do not want "to go there."
>
> There are the issues related to coaches: developing athletes and
> individuals, dealing with the athletes that represent top of the line
> student athletes (often these are the ones being brought down these
> days) and those that are *at risk*, getting beyond the politics (daddies
> and biases, including -- unfortunately -- racism) and communication (most
> really lack here even those that are "teachers/educators.").   I can't he=
lp
> but imagine how many opportunities and dreams have (unfairly) been
> shattered, etc. There is the parent end...parents often overstep their
> boundaries today.  Because of that though when we need parents to step up
> they often don't...out of fear of being viewed as "problems" and out of
> concerns for how their child/teen will be treated.  And,
> administrators...most prefer to not have to deal with it.
>
> I know Search Institute (and others) have attempted to address this issue
> through publications and so on, but I haven't found a lot of *substance*i=
n truly dealing with the issues.  I recently read an article about what had
> been done at Vanderbilt under President Gordon Gee to change the culture =
of
> athletics.  Kudos!  Maybe there are implications here for high schools (e=
ven
> communities)!?!?
>
> Colleen Mahoney, Ph.D.
> Health Education/Positive Youth Development Specialist
> Gainesville FL
>
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