Finances force philosophical change in athletics

by Brad Womack

October 13, 2009

A sign that basketball, softball, baseball, golf, and other sports have started would be the traditional appearance at a board of education meeting to request the aid of another coach. The unwritten policy the board of education has tried to adhere to for many years has been when the number of participants reaches 30 or more an additional assistant coach would be warranted. The current financial situation that all Kansans, including school districts, are facing has mandated that this policy be revisited. As the person put in charge of the athletics department, I find it to be irresponsible to continue to add coaching staff at a time when all forecasts are telling us that another large cut to our district’s budget is a certainty before the end of the calendar year. To help address the concern that I and the current coaching staff has about the number of participants versus the number of coaches in those activities a committee of two coaches, two administrators, and two board of education members met to discuss many options for our district. Options such as cutting squad membership at all levels, reducing the number of competitions, intramurals, current coaching levels, and limiting travel were all discussed. The committee has decided to send the following to the board of education and to the current coaching staff:

We do not believe it is appropriate at this time to go to an absolute cut policy. Instead we will encourage the coaching staff to evaluate each athlete and communicate to the athlete his/her current position on the team as quickly as possible. The suggested method of communicating would be through various letters given to the athletes by the coaching staff. One type of letter would be a developmental letter. This particular letter will inform an athlete that his/her continued membership as part of the squad would be to continue to work on the fundamentals of the particular sport, but at the current time the coach/coaching staff sees very limited playing time in the athlete’s future. Continued membership will not, nor should anyone else’s membership, be meant to guarantee playing time. The committee understands that this approach may or may not reduce the size of a given squad to a manageable number for the coaching staff, but it does send a clear message relative to the status on the team to both the athlete and the athlete’s parents.

The primary objective of the Silver Lake athletics department will always be to provide our students with as many high quality opportunities to compete as our budget will allow. I hope for the sake of our students and for the sake of all of us that our economy turns around soon and this situation will be a distant memory. Until that time comes I believe we must all, the school included, do our best to hold the line on our expenses.

Our coaching staff, the board of education, and the administration asks for your support and understanding, as we make very tough decisions that may alter in the short run the way many of us are used to doing business.

Finances force philosophical change in athletics

Date	Subject	Posted by:
10/15/2009	Brad, I think you are doing a wonderful job in these tough economical times, keep up the good work.	Jill
10/16/2009	Brad, I'd like to know how many coaches are currently paid staff in Silver Lake for each sport. Is that public record?	Brad cwegner16@aol.com Topeka Administration
10/27/2009	What would be the point of the letters if the intention isn't to reduce the numbers of participants because they are not "skilled" enough? Hmmmmm... how about poll the students? Also gather information from participants and parents, take advantage of researching all areas not just staff, board and coaches.	Lori Silver Lake
10/29/2009	If it is an "unwritten" policy to hire more coaches when you have more than 30 players, then maybe "unwritten" communications are more appropriate when telling someone they're not good enough to stay on the team. A coach once told me, "you may never get off the bench, but you got to suit up for every game." The point - I realized, as I'm sure many kids do today, that I was going to play little if any, but I practiced and participated and was a part of something bigger than myself . . . . a team.	Joey
11/09/2009	I don't understand how a coach can evaluate an athlete "as quickly as possible" and truly know their potential. Kids, and this is what we are working with here are kids, who want to be involved and belong, do not need to be degraded by receiving a letter to tell them they are not good enough. I agree with Joey, practicing and participating make you a part of the team. What is the letter going to do to these kids self esteem?	Rod
11/12/2009	I would think Volunteer coaches would be a better option than cutting kids. Hayden has volunteers on their football staff. I'm sure there are willing volunteers for SL's programs.	Korwin Silver Lake
11/12/2009	I agree volunteer coaches would be a better option because it should be about the kids. If coaches truly love the sport and the kids it shouldn't be about the money they are getting paid. There are plenty of capable people to coach our kids. Cutting coaches salaries should be considered before thinking of cutting kids opportunities.	Brian
12/11/2009	First, kids getting a hit to their self-esteem isn't necessarily a bad thing. If they aren't good enough to play, they need to know soon so that they can exert their efforts elsewhere, possibly academics. Second, it is impossible to have 'volunteer coaches' because KSHSAA doesn't permit it. Furthermore, taking away coach salaries is going to hurt the programs. The coaches at Silver Lake put in a lot of time. Slamming them with that insult and taking away part of their salaries is bound to discourage them. Suggesting that they become 'volunteers' is an insult at best, and when you begin allowing volunteer coaches into the system, it is going to become corrupt. Volunteers to education are important in classrooms, as mentors, and as PTO members, but you never want to replace an educator with someone who is not an educator.	Shelby
12/16/2009	As an alum of SLHS, and one who didn't particularly - okay, ever - become involved in the athletic department, I have conflicted feelings about what this portends for the school, and for education as a whole. I have long held the belief that high schools place too much emphasis on athletics while being vastly unappreciative of arts programs which enrich the lives of all students, even those who aren't particularly talented or interested in athletics. (I might be a bit biased here). Therefore, I would have been a strident supporter of re-evaluating funding priorities in favor of arts programs over athletics, as well as promoting a more well-rounded educational experience in Silver Lake. However, I also realize that because of the pressures placed on students in that community, sports will always be a high priority, and (at times, unfortunately), one that is incredibly competitive. This is not to say that I do not also appreciate the benefit that sports have for many students. Yet, I cannot help but feel that this policy will greatly limit the benefit that sports will have for many students who are not able to be competitive, and I wonder what will happen to students who get urged to drop sports and 'exert their efforts elsewhere' and find there are few possible and constructive avenues available to them. I know how little my opinion matters in this community, but I feel it is one that is not often voiced. As a former student, I hope that as this school faces more budget cuts, it will consider how it can creatively (and affordably) offer students constructive outlets to experience a wide-range of enriching educational endeavors. Tha's mah lil piece, for what it's worth. Good luck to you.	Madeline Manhattan Student