How do you handle these topics in your program?

Coach,

I've just recently finished my interview portfolio and could discuss the different ways I would handle these topics.

1. Grades: I plan to make position coaches responsible for doing 2-3 week grade checks. This obviously depends on the number of coaches in the building as well. Otherwise, I could just divide up players to the coaches who are in the building. We as a staff will discuss any grade issues that arrive. Also, I want to incorporate a mandatory 45 minutes study hall before practice. This way I can get those students who need extra attention that help b/c they probably would not go get it on their own.

2. Discipline: In the respective positions, a leader is chosen. This would be someone who the players thought was responsible and respected. (This allows for those players who may not be on the field all the time.) Periodically, I would meet with these position leaders to discuss issues as they arise. I want them to provide feedback to the coaches as to the possible reasons for the issues as well as possible disciplinary actions to take with these issues. Also, they will be responsible for spreading the word of the faithful (coaches) as sort of a warning...1st step: leaders meeting, 2nd step: leaders warning to players, 3rd step: coaches reaction if problem continues. Also though, it should be noted that I have no team rules other than those given the students have while they are in school. I feel that they should not have a separate set of rules for every aspect of their lives. The school rules can be applied to the teams rules. I would say that if there were anything different, it would be team expectations. ie: max effort at all times; something like that.

3. Boosters: Well, this is a tough one, I have an idea that I'm not sure how the school is going to respond to it. I think that due to the size of the football program and the large requirements of money and support needed to have a suffecient football program, that there needs to be a separate football boosters from the school boosters. They could possibly work in conjunction with the school boosters and the football boosters would be willing to work side by side on a number of projects. But that we should be able to have our own treasurer, president, and vice president. And with this, we would have our own year round agenda and fundraisers. This would allow us to make the subsequent money needed for us to reach the upper echelon of our district. With this, the budget given to us by the county and school would be handled (along side the HC) by the booster treasurer. I think this would alleviate a number of headaches for the other programs as well as the football program. My only concern is Title IX and if that would become an issue.

These are some of my ideas. Hope they help.
JU

I will briefly go though each of the topics.

Grades: We reward the guys who make the honor roll. WE do this for each quarter. The guys who make the HR (3.0 or higher) get a pizza party at lunch. They also 10 CLEAT points per quarter so they could earn up to 40 points for doing something they should be doing anyway.

Discipline: I have a handbook I pass out at the PAC (parent/athlete/coach) meeting before the season starts. I pretty much spell things out in black and white...but always leave myself a little wiggle room.

Boosters & Budget: We do not have an active booster club. Like govertical when we need stuff I go to parents. As for the budget I submit what I need, and what I want and hopefully they in a good mood that day! Honestly I usually get what I ask for. I also have a football account which all our fundraising goes into. I can spend that on anything related to the program.

Our wrestling and track programs are co-opted with another school. Our admin and school boards are always arguing about who pays for which coach, and uniforms, etc.