Teacher As a Coach

Teachers as Coaches - TunneySide of Sports

On the TunneySide of Sports
September 12, 2022 #917
Up next…

After further review… As we begin this school year with our young people back in their seats, the question becomes can we as parents and teachers be more tolerant and understanding of their emotional needs after the long years of pandemic causing such havoc?

As a school principal, I have often reminded classroom teachers that they are coaches as well as teachers. I raised four young people in my early days as a parent – well, I should say their mother did most of the day-to-day teaching as I was all too often in the classroom or on the field raising/teaching other people’s children. I’ve had to remind myself that all children are not the same.

While the coach on the field/gym may have one or two assistants to divide up the
teaching responsibilities, the classroom teacher is often left to herself to deal with
30-40 in that classroom. How do you teach in that environment and help each
student work toward their potential?

Perhaps it is like you as a parent? Parents must decide what is best for their children. It is important to remember that each child is unique and will grow to their own potential if given the proper guidance and support. By providing a loving and nurturing environment, parents can help their children reach their full potential.

As a coach on the field or in the gym, not all players are quarterbacks or leaders. Some are linemen of supporters or followers. It was my major responsibility to learn all I could about each one’s strengths and/or deficiencies and build on their strengths as well as help them improve any deficiency they may have. That’s where my coaching experience helped me in the classroom. I felt if my team lost, what could I do to improve a player’s weaknesses for the next time i.e., the next game?

I felt if my team lost due to a failure of a player or players, it was my job to help that player or players for the next time. This is where the teacher versus coach comes in. If a student is failing a test in my class, what can I do to help that student for next time?

Question: Is it the teacher’s fault when a student fails? Will you ponder that question in light of a coach whose team loses a game?

—————

Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge. 

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.

Posted in Sports | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Schools are back and so are sports!

On the TunneySide of Sports
September 5, 2022 #916
Up next…

After further review… For more than 40 years I’ve looked forward to this time of year as schools were starting after a long — sometimes it seemed short — hot southern California summer and that meant football season and Friday night lights were back. After graduating from Occidental College and beginning a high school teaching career, I began a football officiating career as well which concluded in 1991 when I retired from the NFL. When I started, I never thought of professional football, let alone college officiating. For me, high school officiating was exciting and financially rewarding – even though it was low-paying. ($12.50 per game).

Today, every week in our local newspaper, yes – we still have those, there are high school football results as well as other high school sports scores. I am sure in your community it’s the same. Unfortunately, following these scores is an article titled “Officials Needed.” NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) reports that this is happening in most communities in our country. The reasons given are “low pay” and “abuse of the officials.” Understandable but not acceptable.

Being in the school business as a teacher/coach as well as a principal, I understood that the officials’ paychecks came from the school’s budget. That money had to be raised from somewhere. There were not many “donations” from community organizations — especially in the inner-city where I was teaching. Also, we had to pay 4 officials for football games each week as well as junior varsity and lower-level games. Today the pay, as well as the officiating crews are larger – 6 officials (and more like $60-75 per official) The complaint from officials on low pay is that they find other ways to supplement ones pay.

The abuse issue is understandable as society is much different in today’s world than in the 1950s and 1960s. I don’t think that needs explanation since we see on our nightly news how lack of respect for authority has dissipated in today’s times. Further, it is not just fan disrespect of game officials but also disrespect from coaches and game personnel. Unfortunately, it is widely known that disrespect of officials happens from school personnel and not just fans. There has always been some of that but far more today than ever before. A security force today is needed for everyone’s safety.

Sports is a great teacher of respect. Coaches and parents can get respect for authority across perhaps better than anywhere else– and they do. I want to leave you with the thought that most do. It’s only a few exceptions that seem to fail in this regard.

Will you “stand tall” with your moral compass to enforce respect for authority?

—————

Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge. 

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Leave a comment

Baseball’s Necessary Changes?

On the TunneySide of Sports
August 29, 2022 #915
Up next…

After further review… Some of Major League Baseball’s rules are confusing: like the pitcher and the use of him as the designated hitter. You can Google that the starting pitcher is also the designated hitter and then see what happens when that starting pitcher is replaced but can continue as the designated hitter. The manager (that’s what baseball calls the head coach) must list 10 players, not nine, when he presents his lineup at the start of the game, if the said manager, is planning that move. For many years it was only the American League that used the designated hitter to step in for their pitcher. Now both leagues use the designated hitter. There are recent new rules as to how often a team can change pitchers. Oh, my!

In 2023 MLB will prohibit the infield shifts making all infielders play in their normal positions, The purpose of that is to open the hitting and thus have more scoring.

The expansion of the pitching clock debate is not yet settled since it is negotiable between MLB management and the MLBPA. This is an attempt to speed up the game. The MLB tests in the minor leagues showed a decrease in the time of the games. When the step-off or pick-off attempts were limited to two, the runners attempted more base stealing which eventually led to more scoring.

It appears that PitchCom will be coming to MLB in 2023. PitchCom is a wireless communication system allowing the catcher to request pitches without using visible signals. The pitcher, shortstop, second baseman, and centerfielder will have such hearing devices. All in the name of stopping sign-stealing. As it is in other sports with the replay system, MLB has that too, the powers-that-be are trying to get a game that is not perfect. Hmm!

Just last week a San Francisco vs. Colorado game was decided when replay ruled a runner had, indeed, been tagged out when the third base umpire ruled him safe on a close play. “Game over,” said the umpire.

Will you agree that MLB needs to make changes to its game and if so what changes?

—————

Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge. 

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged | Leave a comment