My Work in Educational Athletics and Positive Youth Development
My Educational Athletics showcase provides specific examples
of how research driven coaching and instruction is directly applied to
youth sports and Positive Youth Development.
My research and work is organized around the two broad topics of Program Planning and Parent Education and Coaching and Performance. It contains examples of my work in topics ranging from program
planning and parent education to nutritional guidelines and motivational
techniques that serve as highly useful educational resources for all youth sports stakeholders. Having acquired over 25 years of experience
in coaching and organizing youth sports has taught me many valuable lessons about the
benefits of participation in athletics and to the dangers posed to our
children by the growing proliferation of
professionalized youth sports programs in our communities. Honing my coaching skills using the latest
research available from the College of Education and the Institute for the
Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University has allowed me to better
serve my community and the families that choose to invest in the benefits found
in youth sports participation. Below you will find some specific examples of my work in Educational Athletics and Positive Youth Development...
PROGRAM PLANNING and PARENT EDUCATION:
Youth Sports Program Plan
EAD 877 Program Planning and Evaluation in Postsecondary Contexts: Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. William Arnold
With this comprehensive project I was challenged to identify, develop and plan a new educational program using the concepts and ideas covered in the course materials. My youth sports program plan was constructed in stages with initial sections being submitted for review in intervals within the semester. I was asked to include several major elements into my plan which included contextual analysis, needs assessment and evaluation, format and method planning, and a logistics plan which included considerations to scheduling, staffing, and marketing. My final plan included content reflecting an understanding of the role of the program planner in the planning process and of how the social, cultural and political contexts are accounted for. A copy of my completed project and plan can be found below...
Instructor: Dr. William Arnold
With this comprehensive project I was challenged to identify, develop and plan a new educational program using the concepts and ideas covered in the course materials. My youth sports program plan was constructed in stages with initial sections being submitted for review in intervals within the semester. I was asked to include several major elements into my plan which included contextual analysis, needs assessment and evaluation, format and method planning, and a logistics plan which included considerations to scheduling, staffing, and marketing. My final plan included content reflecting an understanding of the role of the program planner in the planning process and of how the social, cultural and political contexts are accounted for. A copy of my completed project and plan can be found below...
Youth Sports Program Plan | |
File Size: | 164 kb |
File Type: |
Educational Athletics and Youth Sports Parents
KIN 855 Psychosocial Bases of Coaching Athletes: Fall 2013
Instructor: Dr. Daniel Gould
In this final project for the class I chose to focus on synthesizing the research literature in an interesting way that aimed at curtailing the professionalization of youth sports through parent education. I illustrate the coach as a performer who must have a well mastered set of tools that are used to develop athletic talent of all ages. These include having a well developed and well communicated coaching and ethical philosophy, a deep understanding of motivation, highly proficient written and verbal communication skills, an understanding of performance enhancement, managing self confidence, and goal setting strategies, as well as a commitment to team building and team cohesion. The final paper, which can be viewed below, should be understood within an overall context that focused on educating youth sports parents and other important stakeholders...
Instructor: Dr. Daniel Gould
In this final project for the class I chose to focus on synthesizing the research literature in an interesting way that aimed at curtailing the professionalization of youth sports through parent education. I illustrate the coach as a performer who must have a well mastered set of tools that are used to develop athletic talent of all ages. These include having a well developed and well communicated coaching and ethical philosophy, a deep understanding of motivation, highly proficient written and verbal communication skills, an understanding of performance enhancement, managing self confidence, and goal setting strategies, as well as a commitment to team building and team cohesion. The final paper, which can be viewed below, should be understood within an overall context that focused on educating youth sports parents and other important stakeholders...
Educational Athletics and Youth Sports Parents | |
File Size: | 137 kb |
File Type: |
Hazing Education for Athletic Stakeholders
KIN 854 Sport Law for Administrators: Spring 2012
Instructor: Dr. Rick Atkinson
In this assignment I wrote a detailed paper that was meant to be addressed to our local School Board. This letter would describe what hazing is and what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable for athletes, athletic departments, and schools to engage in. I described what punishments to use in hazing incidents and detailed how to communicate, store, and document hazing policies. The document found below acts as very strong and valuable information for any sports organization to include in their guidelines, documentation, and communications with their participants, employees, and volunteers...
Instructor: Dr. Rick Atkinson
In this assignment I wrote a detailed paper that was meant to be addressed to our local School Board. This letter would describe what hazing is and what behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable for athletes, athletic departments, and schools to engage in. I described what punishments to use in hazing incidents and detailed how to communicate, store, and document hazing policies. The document found below acts as very strong and valuable information for any sports organization to include in their guidelines, documentation, and communications with their participants, employees, and volunteers...
Anti-Hazing Education | |
File Size: | 96 kb |
File Type: |
COACHING AND PERFORMANCE:
Critical Performance Factors in Baseball
KIN 856 Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes: Summer 2013
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
In this assignment I described the factors that one needs to excel in competitive baseball. I thought about the sport, and based on my present level of knowledge and experiences, I was able to identified what the critical performance factors are that serve as the building blocks for elite performance. I focused on the classic five tools of impact baseball players which includes speed, power, average, fielding, and throwing. My approach was to create a document that the parents of youth athletes could use to gain a better understanding of what factors professional scouts and collegiate recruiters look for in prospects. The intent was to illustrate the challenges in producing the best players. Below you can find the file for my work in this area...
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
In this assignment I described the factors that one needs to excel in competitive baseball. I thought about the sport, and based on my present level of knowledge and experiences, I was able to identified what the critical performance factors are that serve as the building blocks for elite performance. I focused on the classic five tools of impact baseball players which includes speed, power, average, fielding, and throwing. My approach was to create a document that the parents of youth athletes could use to gain a better understanding of what factors professional scouts and collegiate recruiters look for in prospects. The intent was to illustrate the challenges in producing the best players. Below you can find the file for my work in this area...
Performance Factors in Baseball | |
File Size: | 441 kb |
File Type: |
Strength and Conditioning for Throwing Arm Injury Prevention
KIN 856 Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes: Summer 2013
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
For this project I designed a professional strength and conditioning program for throwing arm injury prevention for baseball players. I described the most common types of arm injuries that players encounter, their diagnosis, the medical procedures used to correct the injury, and their recovery. This project presents a simple program that all players can use to proactively prevent these potentially career ending injuries and avoid the chronic arm problems that many players suffer from during their careers...
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
For this project I designed a professional strength and conditioning program for throwing arm injury prevention for baseball players. I described the most common types of arm injuries that players encounter, their diagnosis, the medical procedures used to correct the injury, and their recovery. This project presents a simple program that all players can use to proactively prevent these potentially career ending injuries and avoid the chronic arm problems that many players suffer from during their careers...
Strength and Conditioning for Throwing Arm Injury Prevention | |
File Size: | 1109 kb |
File Type: |
Dynamic Baseball Warm-Up
KIN 856 Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes: Summer 2013
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
For this project I developed a 10 exercise dynamic warm-up routine to use with the athletes that I coach As such it is useful for coaches and athletes to know what makes up a good dynamic warm‐up. This exercise centered on developing a dynamic warm‐up routine that can be used with the athletes as part of their overall warm‐up program. Research now shows that static stretching is not an appropriate component of a pre-competition or pre-practice warm-up protocol. Instead researchers and strength and conditioning professionals alike are suggesting athletes engage in a dynamic warm.
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
For this project I developed a 10 exercise dynamic warm-up routine to use with the athletes that I coach As such it is useful for coaches and athletes to know what makes up a good dynamic warm‐up. This exercise centered on developing a dynamic warm‐up routine that can be used with the athletes as part of their overall warm‐up program. Research now shows that static stretching is not an appropriate component of a pre-competition or pre-practice warm-up protocol. Instead researchers and strength and conditioning professionals alike are suggesting athletes engage in a dynamic warm.
Dynamic Baseball Warm-up | |
File Size: | 219 kb |
File Type: |
Nutrition Recovery Solutions for Athletes
KIN 856 Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes: Summer 2013
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
For this project I developed an educational piece that outlined the case for good recovery nutrition and hydration and the impact these can have on performance. I presented an appropriate after practice or after competition snack and meal list that meets the recommendations that are set forth in the research. The resulting document can be used as a guideline for both athletes and parents who wish to utilize proper nutritional practices to supplement and enhance athletic performance...
Instructor: Dr. Scott Riewald
For this project I developed an educational piece that outlined the case for good recovery nutrition and hydration and the impact these can have on performance. I presented an appropriate after practice or after competition snack and meal list that meets the recommendations that are set forth in the research. The resulting document can be used as a guideline for both athletes and parents who wish to utilize proper nutritional practices to supplement and enhance athletic performance...
Nutrition Recovery Solutions for Athletes | |
File Size: | 446 kb |
File Type: |
Practice and Performance
EAD 860 Concepts of a Learning Society: Summer 2012
Instructors: Dr. Steven Weiland and Graham McKeague
In his book Better Dr. Atul Gawande states that success is determined by the challenges that face an individual or system and how that person or system performs. He questions that “practice makes perfect” instead preferring to ask a different question. What if practice is not to make perfect, but instead what if practice is to simply make better? A key theme in Dr. Gawande’s teaching and thinking is the need to do away with all illusions of perfection. His idea of performance is the betterment of existing methods and technologies as well as in the creation of new methods and technologies in order for one to perform better. According to him there are specific concepts that individuals must practice in order to achieve betterment. Those concepts are diligence, doing right, and ingenuity. In this short paper I review Dr. Gawande's ideas which in my opinion can be used to instruct athletes and their parents regarding performance and practice...
Instructors: Dr. Steven Weiland and Graham McKeague
In his book Better Dr. Atul Gawande states that success is determined by the challenges that face an individual or system and how that person or system performs. He questions that “practice makes perfect” instead preferring to ask a different question. What if practice is not to make perfect, but instead what if practice is to simply make better? A key theme in Dr. Gawande’s teaching and thinking is the need to do away with all illusions of perfection. His idea of performance is the betterment of existing methods and technologies as well as in the creation of new methods and technologies in order for one to perform better. According to him there are specific concepts that individuals must practice in order to achieve betterment. Those concepts are diligence, doing right, and ingenuity. In this short paper I review Dr. Gawande's ideas which in my opinion can be used to instruct athletes and their parents regarding performance and practice...
Practice and Performance | |
File Size: | 109 kb |
File Type: |