This past week, we settled on the new schedule for the 2010-11 football season. As a result, the homecoming date has now been set - Friday, October 1. We will be playing Anchor Bay and the homecoming events that are already being planned should provide for another fun weekend of events. The Athletic Booster Club's "Run the Pointe" (which went very well this year), will take place on Saturday, October 2. Also to help you "get a jump" on scheduling your events for next year, we will play our cross town rivals, Grosse Pointe North, the week before homecoming. The date is Friday, September 24; the game will be played at GPN.
The future planning never ends for our athletic teams; please put these dates on your calendar and be sure to join us for all the fun!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
An Ounce of Prevention...
As the H1N1 flu virus has made headlines across the nation, it is important to remind everyone in educational athletics the importance of prevention techniques. Here are just a few as our student athletes begin to move indoors for the winter:
Focus on hygiene: More athletes are not showering at school after practice/games; we need to let them know how good personal hygiene prevents viruses such as the flu.
Remind athletes to clean practice equipment: I have often said to parents that it is important for their laundry rooms to smell every night...seriously! That way they know that their kids are bringing things home on a daily basis to get cleaned. Several parents have shared with me that they do not even allow their kids into their car unless they have their practice/game gear with them to take home in order to be cleaned. Coaches are demanding that these things be done, but parents need to help them.
Wash your hands: We need to be washing our hands frequently the good old fashioned way by using soap and warm water (hand sanitizers if necessary). In the fitness facility we have disinfecting wipes for students to wipe down equipment and keep that area as clean as possible.
The bottom line is that these things are common sense, however, it's good to be reminded of their importance.
Focus on hygiene: More athletes are not showering at school after practice/games; we need to let them know how good personal hygiene prevents viruses such as the flu.
Remind athletes to clean practice equipment: I have often said to parents that it is important for their laundry rooms to smell every night...seriously! That way they know that their kids are bringing things home on a daily basis to get cleaned. Several parents have shared with me that they do not even allow their kids into their car unless they have their practice/game gear with them to take home in order to be cleaned. Coaches are demanding that these things be done, but parents need to help them.
Wash your hands: We need to be washing our hands frequently the good old fashioned way by using soap and warm water (hand sanitizers if necessary). In the fitness facility we have disinfecting wipes for students to wipe down equipment and keep that area as clean as possible.
The bottom line is that these things are common sense, however, it's good to be reminded of their importance.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
It's Tournament Time...
It is hard to believe that the fall sports' season is almost over...but that is quickly becoming a reality.
We have teams either gearing up for the State Finals or vying just to make the playoffs. This part of the season becomes the most fun for coaches and student athletes. Sure, teams will remember the highs and lows of the regular season, but when the season becomes "one and done" in the post season, everything takes on a whole new meaning. I wish all of our teams good fortunes in their quests for championships and hopefully many of you will be there to watch them compete and support all that they do for their teams and South.
Also, don't forget that this weekend (10/17) is the Athletic Booster Club's Annual "Run the Pointe." This is an important fundraiser for them and they hope to beat last year's participation numbers. The booster's are the financial "support" arm for our athletic department and without their contributions, a lot of what you see that revolves around athletics would not be possible. This is your time to give back to them so that they might one day impact your son, daughter, or community.
In either case, I will look forward to seeing you out and about...
We have teams either gearing up for the State Finals or vying just to make the playoffs. This part of the season becomes the most fun for coaches and student athletes. Sure, teams will remember the highs and lows of the regular season, but when the season becomes "one and done" in the post season, everything takes on a whole new meaning. I wish all of our teams good fortunes in their quests for championships and hopefully many of you will be there to watch them compete and support all that they do for their teams and South.
Also, don't forget that this weekend (10/17) is the Athletic Booster Club's Annual "Run the Pointe." This is an important fundraiser for them and they hope to beat last year's participation numbers. The booster's are the financial "support" arm for our athletic department and without their contributions, a lot of what you see that revolves around athletics would not be possible. This is your time to give back to them so that they might one day impact your son, daughter, or community.
In either case, I will look forward to seeing you out and about...
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Parent-Coach Relationship
Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult vocations. By establishing an understanding of each position, we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide greater benefit to children. As parents, when your child becomes involved in our program, you have the right to understand what expectations are placed on your child. That begins with clear communication from the coach of your child's program.
I would expect coaches to share with you their philosophy, expectations of your child, locations and times of practices, team requirements, injury protocol, and any type of discipline that might result due to a violation of team rules. I would expect parents to communicate to coaches their concerns, scheduling conflicts, or specific concerns in regard to a coach's philosophy and/or expectations.
Issues that are not appropriate to discuss with coaches include playing time, team strategy, play calling, and other student athletes. It is very difficult to accept your child's not playing as much as you may hope. Coaches are professionals. They make judgement decisions based on what they believe to be best for all students involved. Please do not attempt to confront a coach before or after a contest. These can be emotional times for both the parent and coach; meetings of this nature do not promote resolution. Therefore, issues like these must be left to the discretion of the coach; so please follow and respect the "24 hour rule."
It is my hope that everyone involved in South athletics enjoy their experiences, but more importantly understand their roles within them as well.
Go South!
I would expect coaches to share with you their philosophy, expectations of your child, locations and times of practices, team requirements, injury protocol, and any type of discipline that might result due to a violation of team rules. I would expect parents to communicate to coaches their concerns, scheduling conflicts, or specific concerns in regard to a coach's philosophy and/or expectations.
Issues that are not appropriate to discuss with coaches include playing time, team strategy, play calling, and other student athletes. It is very difficult to accept your child's not playing as much as you may hope. Coaches are professionals. They make judgement decisions based on what they believe to be best for all students involved. Please do not attempt to confront a coach before or after a contest. These can be emotional times for both the parent and coach; meetings of this nature do not promote resolution. Therefore, issues like these must be left to the discretion of the coach; so please follow and respect the "24 hour rule."
It is my hope that everyone involved in South athletics enjoy their experiences, but more importantly understand their roles within them as well.
Go South!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Excitement is in the air...
The bad news for many of us is that summer and all of its fun is almost over...
The good news is we are getting geared up for another exciting fall sports' season!
If you have been by the school or have driven or walked around the community lately you have noticed an increase in student athlete traffic. You have seen the cheerleaders working out on the track, football working hard on the turf, field hockey putting in strategy during practice, girls' swimming working on technique, volleyball sweating in the hot gyms as they run through drills, both cross country teams running throughout the neighborhood, girls' golf teeing it off at Plumbrook, and boys' tennis working on their swings at Elworthy...needless to say, all of this represents the fact that school is getting closer to starting and with that brings the opening of a new sports' season.
Along with our student athletes working hard, our coaches have been putting in a ton of time as well. Long after the student athletes are gone, it is typical to still find our coaches "hanging around" going over strategy, tough personnel decisions, and the many other things that involve coaching. Our coaches have also gone through professional development this summer dealing with team dynamics and communication in an effort to become even better coaches. When I speak to them and our student athletes, I can hear the excitement in their voices as they wait for their respective seasons to begin.
Hopefully you are excited as well and I look forward to seeing you at the games this fall...
The good news is we are getting geared up for another exciting fall sports' season!
If you have been by the school or have driven or walked around the community lately you have noticed an increase in student athlete traffic. You have seen the cheerleaders working out on the track, football working hard on the turf, field hockey putting in strategy during practice, girls' swimming working on technique, volleyball sweating in the hot gyms as they run through drills, both cross country teams running throughout the neighborhood, girls' golf teeing it off at Plumbrook, and boys' tennis working on their swings at Elworthy...needless to say, all of this represents the fact that school is getting closer to starting and with that brings the opening of a new sports' season.
Along with our student athletes working hard, our coaches have been putting in a ton of time as well. Long after the student athletes are gone, it is typical to still find our coaches "hanging around" going over strategy, tough personnel decisions, and the many other things that involve coaching. Our coaches have also gone through professional development this summer dealing with team dynamics and communication in an effort to become even better coaches. When I speak to them and our student athletes, I can hear the excitement in their voices as they wait for their respective seasons to begin.
Hopefully you are excited as well and I look forward to seeing you at the games this fall...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
New Academic Requirements in 2009-10
Effective with the 2009-10 school year, the minimum academic standard for student athlete eligibility changes to "66% of credit load potential for a full time student" and the period of ineligibility following an academic deficiency at the end of a term is " 60 scheduled school days."
The prior rule for student athlete eligibility stated that student athletes must be passing a required 20 credit hours (four courses). The new minimum state standard means that student athletes who pass four of seven courses will no longer meet the new minimum state standard. Our student athletes will now need to pass five out of seven courses to maintain their athletic eligibility. In addition, the old rule stated that the period of ineligibility for student athletes displaying an academic deficiency was the following semester. As I said earlier, the new period of ineligibility will be 60 scheduled school days.
One important note: Student athletes who achieve credit for 20 credit hours but not 66% of a full course load during their last academic term of 2008-09 will remain eligible at the start of the 2009-10 school year only.
We pride ourselves at Grosse Pointe South High School by continuing to have high standards and expectations when it comes to academics. From our perspective, we expect all of our student athletes to pass 100% of their courses.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Football Changes
At last week's Macomb Area Conference Athletic Director's meeting, there were changes made to next year's football schedule that impacts other activities for South...
As a result of these changes -
The Grosse Pointe North v. Grosse Pointe South game will be played on Sept. 25; this will be a home game for the Blue Devils!
The Homecoming date has been moved to Oct. 16 when the Blue Devils take on Port Huron.
Both of these changes are positive for the community so be sure to plan ahead accordingly!
As a result of these changes -
The Grosse Pointe North v. Grosse Pointe South game will be played on Sept. 25; this will be a home game for the Blue Devils!
The Homecoming date has been moved to Oct. 16 when the Blue Devils take on Port Huron.
Both of these changes are positive for the community so be sure to plan ahead accordingly!
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