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   - More Solutions to Problem #7

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Continued from:
32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You'll Face this Season

Problem 7: Dealing with academic and disciplinary issues like cutting classes or grades...what can be done to solve this issue?

We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to these issues with both affecting playing time, depth chart, playing level, and even the ability to be part of the team. We use our leadership council and player teams to reinforce what is acceptable and to lend support to each other before something should happen.

Keith Wheeler, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach
Holbrook Roadrunners (AZ)


My solution to this problem was to install the 5th quarter. This is a study hall" involving after school before practice. This involves all players and coaches in which participation is mandatory. It is regulated and to benefit all student-athletes regardless of grades or disciplinary issues. As coaches provide the enviroment of a study library, all players are montiored daily with progress reports and academic progress per subject/class. We also provide tutoring and counseling in building a strong 5th quarter. Having everybody involved creates a trust and strong bond enabling a confidence and belief in this!

Ron Price, Assistant Coach
Santa Rosa High School (CA)


The computer age has helped with this problem. From my desk I can check academic progress and daily attendance. Every teacher in the school has a roster of all football players and are asked to inform us of any problems. Players and parents are told that when they sign up for football they are a football player representing our school and our staff 365 days a year and 24/7. No player should engage in any activity that could cause harm to himself his family or the team. Team punishments begin with verbal reprimands and progress through extra conditioning at the end of practice. We expect our freshmen to make a few mistakes. As a sophomore, the problems should be few and far between. A junior that is still making mistakes and getting in trouble is like that dog you can't house break so you have got to put him out. If we do put a player out of the program he is welcome to rejoin in January but he must be perfect from that point on.We have a zero tolerance policy.

Randy Pinkowski, Head Football Coach
C.B. Aycock H.S. (NC)


I have a grade book printed up locally. It contains the same number of pages that are in the school year. There are columns on each page where the player lists his classes, a place where the teacher can check homework completed, behavior problems, tardy, and put their grade in once a week. The players have to get their book signed by the teacher daily. Failure to do so and they will get a reminder (up-downs). I thought the teachers may not like signing every players’ book at the end of class all day long, but as it turned out, they really liked it. It helped them out just as much as it has our players. When the players reported to practice each day they had to show me their book as they entered the field house. It's a pain checking all of them everyday, but it sure solved a lot of problems before they develop. In the off-season, I check them before weight lifting each day.

Sam Harp, Head Football Coach
Danville High School (KY)


As a high school head coach you cannot allow for this type of behavior such as cutting classes and poor grades to continue. You must stop these problems quickly because if you show weakness to these minor infractions they will explode into major infractions and your ability to show discipline will be compromised. As a high school head coach you must be a positive role model for the youth of today and stress good behavior and academic standing. Most of your players will never have the opprotunity to play football again after their four years are up in high school and you must set them up for success by keeping a watchful eye on their academics. I have an academic tracker that I have the kids take to each of their teachers every three weeks that gives me information on their grade, classroom behavior, homework assignments, tests, etc. If I get a bad report the player will be disciplined. Discipline isn't punishment... it's preparation! I also have a 30 minute study hall session right after school before we go out to practice to help kids academically and confirms that academics come BEFORE football. These study hall sessions allow for kids to get homework done, get help from teachers and make-up tests/quiz/homework. I have seen a HUGE difference in their grades and overall attitude on academics!

Jared Van Acker, Head Varsity Football Coach
Galax High School (VA)


I don't like punishing the whole team for individuals making mistakes, but there is a limit to how long you can punish someone.

Bob DeLong, Offensive coordinator
Xenia High School (OH)


Taking time each year to meet with your team and seek their input into what the standards are is really important. You want them to help establish, from the beginning, what is acceptable and what is not. When all have had their opportunity for input, they know what you expect. Sharing these expectations with parents gets everyone on the same page. I tell players that, if they can't behave in the classroom and also meet the behavior standards of society, I can't see how they would be any different on the football field. Nowadays, most school districts have eligibility criteria that athletes must meet. These are minimal standards. You may need to have your leadership team set up tutoring times or study hall. Grandma's rule applies: first you work, then you play.

Larry Payne, Assistant Coach (retired)
North Bend H.S. (OR)


Like I said earlier, playing time is a big motivator. I would explain the rules at the begininng of the season and follow them to a “T." I will do everything I can to get a kid help with whatever the subject and hopefully get him back on track. For the cutting class issue, if you can't make it to class then you don't deserve to be on the field.

Zak Bessac, Head Coach/OC
Warner Park, Madison (WI)


Generally, we have a zero tolerance policy for misconduct. That said, as members of an athletic team, we are often held to a higher standard re: our conduct and effort in school and community. As regards academics, we realize that each of our players have different skills and, perhaps, learning levels. Some read better than others, etc. We do expect our players to be student-athletes who try their very best in school. That demands consistent attendance, and seeking help and guidance from teachers and coaches when classwork becomes too difficult or confusing. We do not believe in 'running kids off' or removing them from the team unless abuses are very extreme. We do believe in addressing their needs, counseling them, and working with them to see the value of attendance and effort in school and community.

Ron Stolski, Head Football Coach
Brainerd High School (MN)


Our school district has a no pass, no play (for two weeks) policy beginning after 4 weeks of school, so we are under the gun at a key moment of the season. Therefore, by the third Tuesday of school we offer a study table on Tuesday night from 6:30-7:30 which is at first targeted toward our at risk players and then is required if a player's grades fall below passing. In the past, some teachers of Math or Science have assisted with tutoring and some of our National Honor Society members (both other players and non-players) have also tutored our athletes at that time. This has helped greatly since we began doing it in 2004. Our other discipline problems (in class misbehaviors) are handled extremely fairly by our administration with a graduated punishment. The final action prior to out of school suspension is a four hour after school detention which, if assigned to a student, will make them ineligible for competition for a week. Our players have done an excellent job of avoiding going down that path in order to play.

Steve Hopkins, Head Football Coach
Basehor-Linwood H.S. (KS)


We imploy a group system that helps our players hold each other accountable. We also provide very consistant guidelines for our players. Academics are stressed the entire school year for each of our players. They know we check weekly on grades and daily on discipline. We also let our faculty know that we are available as a resource to help with these issues all year long. We use playing time as a major deterent for all academic and disciplinary issues. We also provide options for first time offenders, updowns or playing time. The second offense is automatic loss of playing time (usually two quarters of the game the athlete would play most in whether varsity or JV).

Joe Pearson, Head Coach
Solanco High School (PA)


True and tested method: no pass, no play. Class behavior problems usually translates over to the field eventually. Players are students first. Lack of discipline and grade problems cannot and will not be tolerated by any player. Better to dismiss the player at the onset then to have constent interruptions because of these same issues. It takes too much time and energy on everyone's part to deal with recurring issues such as these.

Gerald Aubrey, Assistant Coach

Academic concerns can be a problem only if they are permitted to reach the level of a player's ineligibility. If a player is having enough truly academic difficulty to suggest impending ineligibility, he is assigned to our “Coach's Study Hall" daily for 30 minutes before school. If I am unable to correct difficulties I find a faculty member who can/will. Discipinary issues, whether inattentiveness or disruptiveness are usually solvable through a quick conference with the head coach. Cutting class is not acceptable and referred to the Unity Council. We send a note to all faculty each fall listing our prospects and requesting an opportunity to be involved should any conduct or academic issues arise. Most times faculty is willing to let us help.

J. Gawen Stoker, former HFC
Indian Valley HS (PA)


Academics are taken seriously at Hartford Public. There is manatory study hall four days a week and bi-monthly grade checks. Athletes are allowed to get extra help from their teachers during study hall time. Skipping classes will lead to sitting the first half or game suspensions and chronic cutting of classes will lead to dismissal from the team. We use the mantra “student first" in our "Hartford Public Football Core Values" and it’s something we take quite seriously.

Harry G Bellucci, Head Football Coach
Hartford Public High School (CT)


I sit the player down in a private meeting and ask them why? Many times it isn't the academics; rather, personality problems with the teacher, who he’s sitting near during class, problems at home or the group that he is "hanging with.” The leverage of playing time or being part of the team will depend on how passionate your player is for the sport. However, they can be used to correct the problem. The next step if the problem persists is to have a meeting with the player and the parents or the teacher or counselor.

R. Scott Thompson, Head Football Coach
Montgomery Lonsdale JHS (AL)


For my situation, this is pretty simple. I am VERY fourtunate that we are a Governors Award school for academic excellence and our parents are on board with this and making their kids stick to rules. Removal from playing time or even the team (if the case warrants) is always an option. The best way to handle this is to establish excellent communication with parents to be sure they understand the ground rules going into the season

Allan Amrein, Head Coach
Kennedy Middle School, Hays (KS)


The basic issue here is: “Don't Let Your Teammates Down”; that is, in the classroom, in the hall ways, in the community--be responsible. The bottom line in our program is you lose playing time. Competitive athletes do not like to lose playing time. This usually gets the bump in the road to smooth out.

Jerry Parris, Retired Head coach
North Kitsap High School (WA)


WE start with extra physical stuff like running and hills. If hat doesn't work we start taking away playing time. Weekly teacher reports help with kids that show they are a problem. You have to show the kids that this is important to you. If you make an issue out of it early and consistantly, you won't have to deal with it too often.

Thomas Taylor, Teacher/Football Coach
Weir High School (WV)


Grade checks. Attendance checks. Reduction of playing time. Removal from the team.

Bob Reeves, Offensive Line Coach
New Hope High School


We have strict guidelines on this-two unexcused misses and you are off the team. Generally, those infractions will cause detentions, which are at the same time as practices. We always have a coach and a list of players that can serve as tutors in each subject too for those that have academic problems.

Barton W. Miller, Offensive Coordinator
Trinity High School, Camp Hill (PA)


Weekly grade sheets for all, extra running and such for repeated grade and discipline problems, bringing parents up and discussing the problem, suspension/removal from team if needed.

Ron Moore, Defensive Coordinator
Azle High School (TX)


Presumably if an athlete is having discipline problems the administration will act. He then will probably miss practice time. Therefore, the athlete must miss playing time. We stress all the time of how our kids should act in school and that they are role models. The first people teachers go to are the coaches, not the admistration.

Anthony, Defensive Coordinator
Lawrence High School


We have a grade check with any athletes who are borderline. They have to carry around a grade check sheet to each of their classes and turn it in to their area coach. He meets with them at lunch time and they make up homework or when we have film meetings, they are at study table. Grades first, opponents’ second.

Louis Farrar, Head Coach
Charter Oak High School (CA)


Cutting classes and grades are two totally different issues. If a player is cutting classes then they need to be hammered with as much severity as possible. Cutting classes is unacceptable. As a coach you have to be ready to hammer Johnny Superstar as well as Average Joe. An issue with grades needs to be intercepted by a coach on the staff. The player must work with the coach until their grade increases. The coach should be aware of this situation before it gets out of hand.

Andrew Cotter, Head Football Coach
Moreau Catholic High School (CA)


Checking attendance. Manditory study hall.

Jim Glover, Assistant Coach
Jackson Central-Merry High School (TN)


Our school has an athletic handbook which spells out to all our athletes what is expected of them and how we, as coaches, will handle disciplinary problems. Both the athlete and parents sign off that they have read the book and return it to the Athletic Director's office where it is kept on file. Major discipline problems are handled by administration, not coaches.

Ed Sadloch, Head Football Coach
Cedar Grove High School (NJ)


Limit, reduce, or eliminate playing time. Nothing gets the attention of a wayward player like reduction in playing time.

Thomas A. McDaniels, Head Football Coach
Massillon Jackson H.S. (OH)


Our way of making sure that this never becomes a problem is to make sure they we are seen every day in the halls talking to other teachers about grades of our players. If a player does really well on something it will be mentioned after practice. When a player is slipping we will let them know right away we are aware he grade might have dropped some. When that doesn't work we will placed them in after school study hall for an hour each day until their work improves. In the rare cases that doesn't work we will take away playing time. The staff are all teacher or administrators here at school so we make sure they stay on top of their work year round.

Danny Gouin, Head Football Coach
King


Again, playing time is the best motivator. While we do not suspend players for poor grades, we do have policies that don't permit players to practice or play in games if they don't meet all their academic commitments. In our school academics come first, and while I don't make a regular practice of it, I have allowed some players take a day off of practice to get caught up academically. With regard to disciplinary issues we have team rules that can prohibit playing time.

John R. Mackay, Director of Athletics/HFC
St. George's School (RI)


This is generally handled by an AD and parent at our level but I always ask the parent if there is anything they want me to do.

Robert J. Sayfie, Coach
IHM (7 - 8 grade)







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