American Sports Education Program: Training for the West Bay Athletic League Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Professional Development Grant Proposal

Summary The West Bay Athletic League The West Bay Athletic League (WBAL), established in 2002, is a member of the Central Coast Section (CCS) in . It was originally composed of seven schools, most of which were all girl schools. The two co-ed schools participated in our league with a promise that during the next realignment period we would expand to include several more co-ed schools to compete against.

In 2008, the WBAL grew to include the following private schools: • Castilleja • Mercy Burlingame • Crystal Springs Uplands • Mercy • Eastside Prep • Notre Dame - San Jose • Harker • Pinewood • Immaculate Conception Academy • Priory • The King’ Academy • Sacred Heart Prep • Menlo

In the WBAL, cross country is a popular sport for those athletes that enjoy distance run, as well as those that train for sports that occur later in the season. Track and field is one of the fasting growing sports in our league. During the 2010 season, over 425 young men and women participated in the sport. It is the hope of the coaches in our league to continue to provide opportunities for athletes to compete in a positive, fostering environment while pursuing victory with honor.

The California Interscholastic Federation The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) created the CIF Coaching Education Program to enhance “the experience of student-athletes by assuring that their coaches meet a minimum level of professional training. The program provides strong, pragmatic and comprehensive instruction for coaches of interscholastic athletics in California that is consistent with the highest national standards as set by the legislature, state Department of Education, California Interscholastic Federation and National Federation of State High School Associations.” (1)

There are two approved programs for the minimum required trainings: • “The Fundamentals of Coaching” • “American Sport Education Program”

The CIF Bylaw 22.B.(9) requires that anyone who is required to be fingerprinted and/or is approved by their local school board/directors to have contact with students to pass the Coaching Education class.

Needs Assessment Collectively, the league currently employs 35 cross country and track and field coaches with various experiences and training in the sport and in coaching. It is our hope to provide the opportunity to all of our coaches to receive the minimum training required by the state. Currently only 9 of our 35 coaches have the certification required by the CIF. This is mainly due to a high turnover in coaching staff from one season to the next. Although some of the changes in staffing are due to life events, many move on from a lack of motivation or desire to continue. From self-evaluations, athlete evaluations, and one-on-one conversation common trends for departure include: coach-athlete communication coach-parent communication athlete motivation and dedication organizational skills

Project Description Project Leaders (Resumes available upon request.) Meave Fallon-Ward Michael Garcia [email protected] [email protected] Mercy High School Burlingame Mercy High School Burlingame Athletic Director Cross Country/Track & Field Head WBAL- league secretary Coach ASEP certified instructor WBAL Track & Field League Representative

Project The WBAL is fortunate that one of our athletic directors is a certified instructor in the ASEP certification. For this reason, we have selected the ASEP course to certify the cross country and track and field coaches. The league will host the ASEP course at (50 Valparaiso Ave, Atherton, CA) which is a central location to all of the schools. The ASEP course is an 8 hour workshop that provides coaches with the following topics of discussion: • Principles of Coaching • Principles of Behavior • Principles of Teaching • Principles of Physical Training • Principles of Management • Coaching for Character • Coaching Diverse Athletes • Performance Enhancing Drugs

As a result of taking this course coaches will: • develop a coaching philosophy • determine coaching objectives • recognize and respond to the diversity of their athletes • practice effective communication and motivation skills • learn basic health and safety concerns for athletes

Successful Implementation By implementing this program for our coaches the following goals hope to be achieved: • improved relationships between coaches and athletes • greater retention of coaches and athletes from year to year • higher success for more athletes by advancing to sectional and state meets

Budget Narratives The total amount requested to implement the program is $2000.00 as described below:

Item Number Cost CIF Coaching Principles 26 @ $59.00 $1534.00 Classroom Course (includes each textbooks) Supplies (Pencils, pens, paper, N/A $200.00 etc.) Refreshments (Food, drinks, 26 @ $10.00 $250.00 paper goods etc.) per meal Total $1984.00

Conclusion As the West Bay Athletic League continues to grow and become more competitive, it is our hope with proper training that coaches will create an atmosphere that fosters the development of the athletes. At the same time, we hope that coaches will have a more positive experience to lengthen their stay in these important positions. In the future, we would like to expand and offer this training to additional sports in the league.