School District of Lancaster (SDL) Superintendant Pedro Rivera and Athletic Director Jon Mitchell find themselves in extremely challenging jobs, mandating that they develop knowledge and leadership skills for which their past responsibilities have not adequately prepared them. But such are the beginnings of most great leaders, and we must both be helpful and patient…to a point.
Mitchell must stop blaming the kids for what has been a severe breakdown in the athletic program under Assistant Superintendant Drew Miles. If Mitchell really believes that the problem lies with the youngsters, he should resign his post immediately and make way for someone who better understands the situation and can take effective steps to correct it.
Because of faulty administrative policies, many teams have been assigned coaches with little training in the given sport or in coaching in general. School leadership might be slow to recognize this, but the most casual observer will spot it right away after visiting a practice. The sight of players standing idly or aimlessly scrimmaging is a sure sign of undertrained instructors.
A few partial solutions come to mind: SDL should engage professionals to provide coaching seminars and offer consultation for the coaches. This alone will result in more competitive teams. NewsLanc has frequently observed the McCaskey boys and girls soccer program at all levels. The players are eager and able; they simply haven’t been taught how to mount an effective offense. Hence they compete well in the midfield but rarely exhibit enough team-coordination to actually score a goal. While other teams bring four shooters to bear, McCaskey teams have one or two. It is sad to watch.
Here’s one example: The girl’s varsity soccer coach is an able and dedicated teacher who has played semi-pro ice hockey. But his familiarity with soccer is slight. He would make a very good coach if instructed by soccer professionals. The cost of such instruction? Nothing. For over a year, McCaskey boosters have offered to pay for such services.
As for former football coach Scott Feldman, we recognize that the resources dedicated to football by some teams complicate the matter. We aren’t qualified to comment on the rights or wrongs of his assertions.
But we do see the advent of his replacement as an opportunity for Rivera and Mitchell to greatly strengthen both the sports and physical fitness efforts throughout the school system. Let’s bring in an experienced, successful coach to work with Mitchell in making these programs successful.
Kids who enjoy sports are fit to make better students.
It can’t be done in a year or even two. But if knowledgeable leadership can instruct and inspire every physical education teacher and coach throughout the district, McCaskey could be restored as a competitive regional force and improve student retention and academic advancements.
Drue Miles is the one who’s neck is always saved. Kids come and go and so do coaches, but he stays, and gets more money and less responsibility.