NewsLanc conducted an hour long interview with Jon Mitchell, former wrestling coach and now Director of Athletics for the School District of Lancaster (SDoL). The discussion was frank, spirited and free ranging and, for all practical purposes, on the record. We were impressed.
At one point Mitchell challenged NewsLanc’s contentions that coaching skills was pivotal by asking “If two programs have the same coaching staff and one is experiencing success and the other is not, then there must be more at play than purely coaching.”
At another point NewsLanc urged Mitchell to stop blaming team failure on the kids. Mitchell said he had pointed out multiple factors but they were not mentioned in published articles. (A short lesson on dealing with reporters followed.)
Taking on the huge task of turning around what NewsLanc has described as a dysfunctional program, Mitchell says that, among other things, he has made coaching development a priority. He has a three phase plan that admittedly may take three to five years to fully implement:
- Six full days will be provided this summer, devoted to the training of all SDoL coaches in CPR and First Aid (Each coach must attend one day to receive certification). Mitchell indicated that safety is his highest priority.
- Mitchell has also set the goal for all SDoL coaches to become nationally certified. This will be done either under the auspice of the National Federation of High Schools or American Sports Education Program. As with other professional trainings, these programs require coaches to attend classes and complete assignments. These classes will be offered within the SDoL to cohorts of coaches. The coaches will learn “broad coaching concepts applicable to all sports.”According to Mitchell, “By having received the same training in coaching principles, it enables our entire staff to share a similar understanding of their role and for me to fairly and adequately evaluate coaching performances.”
- Mitchell has also submitted for approval a 2009-2010 budget that includes funding for sport-specific training. Head coaches will be able to use funds to determine appropriate trainings for their staff. Through professional development provided by other successful coaches and trainers in their sport, SDoL coaches will grow in the areas of sport-specific skills and tactics.
“I am going to expect each coach to participate in sport-specific training. This should be led by the head coach. I expect head coaches to be able to sit down with me and evaluate their program….To say these are the areas where we are struggling and this is what I have planned to address these areas.”
The first scheduled training session will be provided by Todd Hoffard, of One On One Soccer, on May 16th . (Todd Hoffard, National Director of Lancaster based One On One, had earlier told NewsLanc that having coaches participate in anticipated drills for their athletes is the best approach to coaches’ development rather than having coaches standing around and watching players put through drills.)
Mitchell said that most coaches are acceptant of sports specific training. He knows that McCaskey coaches are competitors and want to be successful. He also noted that coaches work on one year contracts and receive extra compensation above their faculty salaries.
Mitchell indicated that coaches must foster passion in kids so that students independently seek to pursue their skills off season. “If we are unable to provide out of season opportunities coached by our district staff [to play on teams], then we must at last provide information to athletes about other avenues and facilitate off season opportunities for them.”
He cited as an example the Tornado Wrestling club which he established for kids during off seasons. McCaskey would host Monday’s practice and Conestoga Valley hosted Mat Town USA on Wednesday nights. Both clubs were open to anyone.
With Mitchell’s new responsibilities, he is unable to run a club at McCaskey and has now partnered with the newly formed Marauder Wrestling Club, coached by Millersville Assistant Steve Borja (a former PIAA state champion for Garden Spot High School). He explained that such clubs are common in various sports and operate as separate entities from the school district, often in accordance with a national governing body.
“Our handbook says every coach is responsible to promote out of season activities for the youngsters. We also need to take a look at how we are going to strengthen our youth programs.” Mitchell reiterated that there are club opportunities in various sports, for all ages.
According to Mitchell, “Coaches need to understand that they are not just head coach for the high school but they set the tone for the entire school district and they need to have their hands involved in each of the program levels, from elementary on up. If there isn’t a feeder program at the elementary and middle school levels, then coaches need to evaluate with whom they can work and what they can do to help create something.”
Mitchell said when he started as McCaskey wrestling coach: “There was no wrestling program for kids in elementary schools. We worked with the LRC to help start our elementary program, which has most recently operated under the USA Wrestling Charter of the Tornado Wrestling Club.” (Previous to accepting his current assignment, Mitchell was Dean at the Lafayette Elementary School.)
Mitchell said that low turnout has been a problem in many sports. He said that the varsity swimming coach has had to teach student athletes enrolled in swimming who have not yet learned to swim! While this is good for the student learning to swim, it does make it difficult to compete with teams whose athletes often train with a club from early ages.
NewsLanc had the good fortune of encountering one of the region’s most respected coaches a couple of days after the Mitchell interview.
The coach, speaking not for attribution, indicated that the number of youngsters turning out is important but this is part of a loop effect, because if teams are not successful, youngsters aren’t interested in joining.
He went on to say that the SDoL should only use qualified head coaches who are thoroughly knowledgeable about the sport and qualified to teach it.
Lastly, he questioned that one person is sufficient to turn around the SDoL athletic program. He indicated that there was a need for a full time assistant to work with the elementary and middle schools. He added that he knew of one outstanding candidate that had declined the position because he was not assured of having a full time assistant.
SDoL owes it to the youngsters and to the community to provide support to Mitchell to enable him to resurrect the physical education and athletic programs that were so neglected over recent years.
