DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SUPPORT EDUCATION-BASED ATHLETICS TO ENCOURAGE MULTI-SPORT ATHLETES

Melody Modell, CMAA Specialist, Student Activities and Athletics Program Fairfax County Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools is the 10th largest school division in the United States. We have just fewer than 190,000 students with almost 60,000 in high school.   FCPS currently has 25 full program high schools with student populations at our high schools ranging from 1,750 to 2,750. Our high schools provided nearly 28,000 high school student athletic opportunities last year (approx. 3,000 of those being in football). During the last five years, FCPS high schools have won 61 state team titles, and we began this school year with six fall state championships!

Participation and Success: FCPS

What is education-based athletics? “Common outcomes for participants in athletics/activity programs are that they should: Learn sportsmanship to win humbly and graciously and to lose with dignity. Model integrity through playing by the rules. Use teamwork in order to contribute to a greater goal in which the athlete places the team’s success or recognition before that of an individual.” – Dr. David Hoch, CMAA

What is education-based athletics? “Common outcomes for participants in athletics/activity programs are that they should: Reach out to assist teammates, which translates into helping others around them in life and contributing to the community. Develop perseverance and the ability to bounce back from defeats. Incorporate goal-setting learned through athletics into their approach to life. Develop a solid work ethic that emphasizes preparation and effort.” – Dr. David Hoch, CMAA

In short, education-based athletics is an athletic program where winning is not the only or the ultimate goal. The program has an educational component that extends learning from the classroom to the field of play.    All public high schools in Virginia are part of the Virginia High School League (VHSL). The mission and vision of the VHSL are built around the ideas of education-based athletics!  “… promotes education, leadership, sportsmanship, character and citizenship for students ....”

Encourage/celebrate education-based athletics Sportsmanship summits State level Between rival schools Within districts At local school

Encourage/celebrate education-based athletics Recognition of academic success Honor rolls By team By individuals Awards night Certificates Website Social media

Encourage/celebrate education-based athletics Recognition of other successes/endeavors Sportsmanship awards No ejection awards Team awards Community service recognition

Why multi-sport athletes? In the VHSL, there are 30 recognized sports. In Fairfax County Public Schools, we offer 28 of those sports and a total of 46 teams when the various levels of the sports are included.  The first and most obvious challenge is numbers. Smaller schools struggle to have enough athletes to fill out each team. The number of multi-sport athletes at our smaller high schools is definitely higher than at our larger schools.

Why multi-sport athletes? Next comes the pros and cons of multi-sport athletes vs. single-sport athletes. 30 of the 32 first-round picks in the 2017 NFL draft were multi-sport athletes in high school! High profile college coaches and players have gone on record discussing why they believe in multi-sport athletes. Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt

Why multi-sport athletes? Next comes the pros and cons of multi-sport athletes vs. single-sport athletes. Research that identifies the pluses and minuses of multi-sport vs. single-sport athletic participation. Pros of Multi-Sport Athletes Pros of Specializing in One Sport Developing different skills Perfecting skills Smarter, more creative players Confidence in sport Minimal burnout Age-group success Exposure to different kids Earlier peak performance Exposure to different roles Not putting all your eggs in one basket

Encourage/celebrate education-based athletics Recognition of student-athletes Educate/inform student-athletes and families Send messages to athletic administrators (central office) Send messages to coaches (local school)

Recognition of student-athletes Awards for multi-sport student-athletes Awards night Certificates Website Social media Athletic administrator/coach praise and cooperation

Educate/inform student-athletes and parents Offer resources Speakers Articles Websites Communicate Meetings Emails Newsletters Be consistent with messages and actions

Send messages to athletic administrators and coaches (central office) Obtain governing body support/school system buy-in Embed in coaches’ education Acknowledgement of schools (athletic directors) with high rates of multi-sport athletes

Send messages to coaches (local school) Obtain principal support Embed in coach communication Public acknowledgement of teams/coaches with high rates of multi-sport athletes Put policies/recommendations in place Live what you preach

Contact: Melody Modell, CMAA mrmodell@fcps.edu 571-423-1265

Resources: Duffek, Jaimie (March 28, 2017) Resources:   Duffek, Jaimie (March 28, 2017). A few surprises in the data behind single-sport and multisport athletes. USA Today, Retrieved from http://usatodayhss.com/2017/a-few-surprises-in-the-data-behind-single-sport-and-multisport-athletes   Eytel, Chelsea (June 17, 2017). Multi-sport athletes vs single-sport athletes – the pros and cons. National Scouting Report, Retrieved from https://www.nsr-inc.com/scouting-news/author/chelsea-eytel/   Gardner, Bob (September 23, 2015). Defining Education-Based Athletics, Retrieved from https://www.nfhs.org/articles/defining-education-based-activity-programs/   Monette, Rich (November 25, 2016). Rich Monette in Conversation with John O’Sullivan. Active for Life, Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcG6eCjiZME   O’Sullivan, John (January 25, 2015). The perils of single-sport participation. Changing the Game Project, Retrieved from http://changingthegameproject.com/?s=january+25+2015   Smith, Michelle (October 19, 2016). 5 reasons you want your kid to be a multi-sport athlete. ESPN.com, Retrieved from http://www.espn.com/espnw/voices/article/17831948/5-reasons-want-your-kid-multi-sport-athlete