Empowering Our Youth with Quality Programs [NIAAA]

By: David Tikker, CAA (WSSAAA Executive Director) – Spokane, Washington

Our new executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), Mick Hoffman, has an interesting little saying right before his email signature. It says, "Walking our talk without making excuses." I love that saying. It's empowering when you lay a strong foundation for what you believe in that sends a positive message to all stakeholders. "We believe in what we are doing."

When we quit believing in what we are doing then we just become a management tool and our jobs become irrelevant. That can never be the case with education-based activities. Regardless of all the obstacles that interfere with our programs, it is imperative that we all affirm the value of what we do daily. Furthermore, that value should not be reflected in the win and loss column.

My 7th grade basketball team, the first team I coached in junior high, was 0-10. We were horrible and got beat our first game 64-4. I had to come to grips very quickly about how to find victories in a losing season. Our motto after that first game was "Get up, dress up, show up and never ever, ever, give up." We lost every game but the victories we had going through that season were life changing. Never had I experienced the closeness of a group of guys. They fed off of my positive attitude and I fed off of their determination. And as an aside, my current family doctor was on that team.

Celebrate the victories beyond wins and losses. Find ways in your programs to promote the value of what your coaches are teaching our youth. Here are some examples:

1. Identify for each team a player of the week that reflects their respective character and how they are contributing to making their schools better through their participation.
2. Have athletes write articles for their school newspaper, whether printed or digital, about what they are learning in their respective sport that carries over into their daily lives.
3. Have a community service day during your season where your team volunteers in the community. Examples might be a food bank, local senior citizen center, litter pick up.
4. Have your team captains present to the school board the value of what they're learning.
5. Have coaches honor players who are not the stars with a weekly award for their role on team.
6. Have a team breakfast with the moms and coach every week. Get the moms on board and suddenly dads are a little more manageable.
7. Invite a sports reporter to practice one day so they can watch what you are teaching your kids.
8. Have varsity athletes work with elementary kids with clinics.
9. Have your team go support another sport as one group at a game. Show the volleyball team you care, for instance.
10. Have pregame meals at a different parent's home every week.
11. Start your season with a positive parent meeting and include your athletes in the presentation.
12. End your season on a positive note, identifying the value of everyone's role and what you all learned as a team.

The best possible outcome of your season is parents, athletes, and your communities seeing the value in what you are doing. It can be pretty amazing how that can become a community builder.