When it comes to the
subject of coaches as classroom teachers, I personally think that they do not belong in the classroom. My reasoning for why coaches
should not have to teach classes is, for one reason, coaches have many items on
their plates already. Dealing with their players, and their problems, and on
top of that the personal problems the coaches have to make sure that the
players are taking care of business on and off the field or court.
When dealing with
student athletes it brings problems from two different fronts, because there
are certain struggles a coach must to go through to make sure that their players
maintain eligibility. This alone takes an incredible amount of work. Some of
the student athletes do not have a very stable home life, so not only is the
coach trying to lead his players on the court, he also is playing counselor off
the court.
Another time restraint
that comes into play for coaches is trying to keep the player out of trouble,
which is much harder than many people think. I also think that if coaches were not
required to teach classes, they could focus more of their attention on their
team’s success as a whole. This would allow them to find the necessary adjustments
that need to be made to make their teams better. But when the coaches are
teaching and coaching, not only do they have to worry about their student
athletes but also all of the students in their classroom, grading papers, and
tutoring. Furthermore, I think being a coach IS being a teacher in and of it-self,
and the NCAA agrees. In an article I read, the NCAA stated that “The best college coaches are real teachers.”
Although I know coaches have alot on their plates, I do think that having them teaching classes is a bonus for their teams. By having coaches teach, they are getting to know students on a more personal level. By coaches getting to know the students around campus, more students are likely to come to their games if they like that teacher. Getting a sense of a personal connection could only benefit attendance at a sporting event. Don't get me wrong, I know coaches have enough to deal with each semester and may see teaching as a waste of time, but think about the benefits of it as well! Living the life of a coach is hard, either way, they seem to manage just fine!
ReplyDeleteBeing able to coach athletes, young and old, is a privilege, yet a privilege that requires the utmost devotion. Time restraints and obligations are a major concern for every coach and they run rampant in the pedagogy world. The preparation, film breakdown, meetings, practices, and clean up afterwards all lend a hand in the overtime hours turned in by coaches. Teaching classes is a mainstay at many universities because they depend on the coaches to fill certain teaching obligations in a certain department. Therefor it is a part of their job description, which brings forth that part of their salary is being paid by someone other than the athletic department.
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