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MSU to Host Inagurual Coaches School

May 27, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Michigan State University Department of Kinesiology and the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports are inviting coaches and sport leaders to their inaugural MSU Summer Coaches’ School, to be conducted June 18-20.

Coaches and sport leaders will gain knowledge, build networks, and learn experientially through hands-on lessons outside the classroom. Subjects include:

  • Program-Building
  • Culture Change
  • Team Chemistry
  • Nutrition
  • Concussions
  • Training
  • Parental Relations
  • Performing Under Pressure

Sessions begin at 9 a.m. June 18, 8:30 on June 19 and run 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on June 20. Packages are available for single days, conferences-only or all-inclusive with meals and lodging for those traveling from abroad.

For details or to register, click summercoach.msu.edu or contact Dr. Andy Driska (event coordinator) at [email protected] or (517) 432-8399.

The MSU Department of Kinesiology and the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports share a long history of scientifically studying the benefits and detriments of sport participation for young people, along with outreach to help coaches and sport leaders use scientific information in their day-to-day practice. The Institute is a major contributor to MHSAA leadership and student services efforts including Captains Clinics and Sportsmanship Summits.

Permission to Disagree

February 17, 2015

An organization leader who is doing a good job works hard to provide the organization’s board of directors all the history and detail necessary to make good decisions. Questions and concerns are anticipated, and addressed in advance.

As a result of this good leadership, meetings usually run with efficiency, decisions are made without long discussions, and debate is infrequent and never contentious. Votes usually reflect unanimous agreement.

While these are traits of good organizational leadership, a tradition of great organizational dynamics is disagreement.

If the board is always in total agreement, then management is not bringing the board tough enough topics. The subjects are not serious enough. They are operational more than strategic; they are transactional, not transformational.

Among the current topics of school sports in Michigan are two upon which there is certain to be disagreement: (1) the role of 6th-graders in school sports and the MHSAA; and (2) out-of-season coaching rules. We see the lack of consensus at the local level and the league level and between different coaches associations. And we expect the Representative Council will lack unanimity if these topics ever arrive for the Council’s action.

These are large topics, worthy of our time because of the disagreement, not in spite of it.