We're learning more about the specifics of the Nebraska USBC meeting where our proposal was to be voted on.
It turns out that there was an individual upset that we would have the nerve to ask a bowling organization for help moving forward on an effort that the national organization these people are supposed to represent thinks is important. All that upset caused our request to go to the finance committee instead of being voted on at the time of our presentation. Okay, the extra research is a sound idea, so three members of the board attended the State Championships back in February.
They must have liked what they saw, because they stayed for nearly all of the Sunday final matches. So, fast forward to their next meeting on March 26, and guess what? No quorum. Not enough people attended the meeting to officially call the meeting to order.
The board will try again on July 30. Hopefully this time there will be enough people able to attend the meeting.
Showing posts with label Nebraska High School Bowling Federation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nebraska High School Bowling Federation. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Good Enough to Compete? Really?
Back when I was involved in running the Omaha high school bowling league, I used to hear adult volunteers who were organizing teams say that they weren't sure they were going to have a team because they couldn't get enough good players.
Never mind that they had boatloads of kids try out and they had no problem putting teams together, the volunteer was worried that the collection of student athletes wouldn't be good enough to compete against more experienced and talented players. This kind of attitude in someone responsible for coaching is pretty bogus, in my opinion.
Being a part of the Varsity team is something that many student athletes dream of. Sure, you get kids that come through your program that have next to no competitive blood in them. They want to hang out with their friends and be a part of a team, but after that . . . . well, it's just not a big deal. Those students are the exception, in my experience.
Our job as coaches is to get kids to see things in themselves that maybe they don't yet see. Our job is to help them improve their skills and not worry about whether they lose a match. A coach, especially a high school coach, especially a high school bowling coach, should be putting player growth and development above winning and losing. Holding kids back from Varsity competition because they might lose some games, throws growth and development out the window, and may indicate that the coach doesn't have the skills to help his or her players develop.
With all this being said, I've seen and heard some things in the last few weeks that tell me this trend of holding kids back is alive and well in high school bowling.
This came up recently for me when I was looking at the Omaha Metro Bowling league website. I noticed a lack of Varsity teams. Not a big deal, generally, because these things do fluctuate from year to year. But then I looked at the JV standing sheet and saw boatloads of JV teams. Again, generally, this isn't a big deal, because it's great to be able to field several JV teams to give kids the opportunity to compete.
What stood out in this whole thing was how many of these schools with JV teams had no Varsity teams bowling. I looked further at the team breakdown. Check this out:
Marian has eight JV girls teams, but no Varsity girls entry.
Northwest has two JV boys teams, but no Varsity boys entry.
Central has a JV girls team, but no Varsity girls entry.
Ralston has two JV girls teams, but no Varsity girls entry.
Now, it's not like the JV and Varsity bowl on different days and times, so the schedule prohibits the school from putting a Varsity team into competition. And, remember, since bowling isn't an NSAA-sanctioned sport, the schools aren't making these decisions anyway. To Varsity or not to Varsity is a coach-driven decision.
Unfortunately, this isn't just an Omaha thing. The NHSBF faces some of this too. We currently run four classes of competition, similar to most high school sports in Nebraska. We've never had deep numbers at the Class D level, so all those teams are generally making it into the State Championships. On the surface, that's not a bad thing I suppose, but with all the other classes competing hard for a spot in the tournament, it's tough to see the lack of a challenge in Class D.
The obvious answer to me is to only have three classes of competition, or structure the classes differently, so that Class D teams earn their spot in the State Championships. The way to do this is a topic for another day. For now, one of the reasons we haven't merged Class C & D is the fear that some of the Class D schools would drop out of the program entirely. Why? Because they don't think they could compete against the Class C teams.
Just to make sure I"m clear on this, I think this situation is as bogus as what's happening with the teams I mentioned above from Omaha. Holding students back from Varsity competition, or more challenging competition, because the coach doesn't think the team can compete, is offensive to me.
Winning is great, but after spending years hearing coaches tell me they are "in this for the kids," I'm wondering if that's a true statement. Look, bowling is not football, where players who are bigger and stronger are going to be blocking and tackling a smaller and less skilled opponent. Last I checked, bowling is still a sport where you don't block or tackle the members of the other team.
Is there a gap in skill levels sometimes? Sure, but as a coach our job is to help our players get better and enjoy the sport. Teams win and teams lose, but none of that keeps a bowler from improving and enjoying our sport. Losing is tough, but it's a part of our lives. A good coach knows how to coach through losses and keep the student-athletes focused on their goals. If the only goal is winning, it's time for the coach to find a new hobby, and give a real coach an opportunity to motivate and inspire their players.
With another season completed, it's time to renew the effort to get bowling the NSAA recognition our students deserve. It's time to get this program in the hands of the schools, where the mission to give students opportunities outweighs the need for a coach to win games and tournaments.
Never mind that they had boatloads of kids try out and they had no problem putting teams together, the volunteer was worried that the collection of student athletes wouldn't be good enough to compete against more experienced and talented players. This kind of attitude in someone responsible for coaching is pretty bogus, in my opinion.
Being a part of the Varsity team is something that many student athletes dream of. Sure, you get kids that come through your program that have next to no competitive blood in them. They want to hang out with their friends and be a part of a team, but after that . . . . well, it's just not a big deal. Those students are the exception, in my experience.
Our job as coaches is to get kids to see things in themselves that maybe they don't yet see. Our job is to help them improve their skills and not worry about whether they lose a match. A coach, especially a high school coach, especially a high school bowling coach, should be putting player growth and development above winning and losing. Holding kids back from Varsity competition because they might lose some games, throws growth and development out the window, and may indicate that the coach doesn't have the skills to help his or her players develop.
With all this being said, I've seen and heard some things in the last few weeks that tell me this trend of holding kids back is alive and well in high school bowling.
This came up recently for me when I was looking at the Omaha Metro Bowling league website. I noticed a lack of Varsity teams. Not a big deal, generally, because these things do fluctuate from year to year. But then I looked at the JV standing sheet and saw boatloads of JV teams. Again, generally, this isn't a big deal, because it's great to be able to field several JV teams to give kids the opportunity to compete.
What stood out in this whole thing was how many of these schools with JV teams had no Varsity teams bowling. I looked further at the team breakdown. Check this out:
Marian has eight JV girls teams, but no Varsity girls entry.
Northwest has two JV boys teams, but no Varsity boys entry.
Central has a JV girls team, but no Varsity girls entry.
Ralston has two JV girls teams, but no Varsity girls entry.
Now, it's not like the JV and Varsity bowl on different days and times, so the schedule prohibits the school from putting a Varsity team into competition. And, remember, since bowling isn't an NSAA-sanctioned sport, the schools aren't making these decisions anyway. To Varsity or not to Varsity is a coach-driven decision.
Unfortunately, this isn't just an Omaha thing. The NHSBF faces some of this too. We currently run four classes of competition, similar to most high school sports in Nebraska. We've never had deep numbers at the Class D level, so all those teams are generally making it into the State Championships. On the surface, that's not a bad thing I suppose, but with all the other classes competing hard for a spot in the tournament, it's tough to see the lack of a challenge in Class D.
The obvious answer to me is to only have three classes of competition, or structure the classes differently, so that Class D teams earn their spot in the State Championships. The way to do this is a topic for another day. For now, one of the reasons we haven't merged Class C & D is the fear that some of the Class D schools would drop out of the program entirely. Why? Because they don't think they could compete against the Class C teams.
Just to make sure I"m clear on this, I think this situation is as bogus as what's happening with the teams I mentioned above from Omaha. Holding students back from Varsity competition, or more challenging competition, because the coach doesn't think the team can compete, is offensive to me.
Winning is great, but after spending years hearing coaches tell me they are "in this for the kids," I'm wondering if that's a true statement. Look, bowling is not football, where players who are bigger and stronger are going to be blocking and tackling a smaller and less skilled opponent. Last I checked, bowling is still a sport where you don't block or tackle the members of the other team.
Is there a gap in skill levels sometimes? Sure, but as a coach our job is to help our players get better and enjoy the sport. Teams win and teams lose, but none of that keeps a bowler from improving and enjoying our sport. Losing is tough, but it's a part of our lives. A good coach knows how to coach through losses and keep the student-athletes focused on their goals. If the only goal is winning, it's time for the coach to find a new hobby, and give a real coach an opportunity to motivate and inspire their players.
With another season completed, it's time to renew the effort to get bowling the NSAA recognition our students deserve. It's time to get this program in the hands of the schools, where the mission to give students opportunities outweighs the need for a coach to win games and tournaments.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Return to Regular Writing
It's a new year, and one of my resolutions is to keep the bowling column updated for people who don't see a Nebraska Bowler paper.
I'll do my best to stop by the blog and see if anyone's reading, and to add some of the latest news we're working on.
We're currently looking for a person interested in helping us take high school bowling around the final turn to the finish line, NSAA recognition. Are we really that close? I think we are, although sometimes the progress we make seems to be slow and insignificant.
The schools know we're out there, and I think the administrators see the good in what bowling has to offer their student-athletes. The challenge for many of them is balancing what they know to be good about bowling with the two big issues they face daily. Money and time.
To get us to the finish line, we're hoping to attract a retired AD with enough passion for bowling to get this rock pushed the rest of the way up the hill. The thinking being that someone with knowledge, and some empathy for the demands on the athletic director's time, will be able to make the inroads we have only been able to do slowly and slightly.
If a retired AD can't be identified, we'll need to get someone with the energy and determination to work the schools on a daily basis to make the case for adding the sport we love to the NSAA's roster of activities.
Stay tuned.
I'll do my best to stop by the blog and see if anyone's reading, and to add some of the latest news we're working on.
We're currently looking for a person interested in helping us take high school bowling around the final turn to the finish line, NSAA recognition. Are we really that close? I think we are, although sometimes the progress we make seems to be slow and insignificant.
The schools know we're out there, and I think the administrators see the good in what bowling has to offer their student-athletes. The challenge for many of them is balancing what they know to be good about bowling with the two big issues they face daily. Money and time.
To get us to the finish line, we're hoping to attract a retired AD with enough passion for bowling to get this rock pushed the rest of the way up the hill. The thinking being that someone with knowledge, and some empathy for the demands on the athletic director's time, will be able to make the inroads we have only been able to do slowly and slightly.
If a retired AD can't be identified, we'll need to get someone with the energy and determination to work the schools on a daily basis to make the case for adding the sport we love to the NSAA's roster of activities.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Missed Deadline
It seems like once a year I get busy and miss a deadline. Usually it's later in the season, but this year I've blown my first deadline. I missed October's cutoff for the Nebraska Bowler.
It happens.
Since the last column, we've held our Coaches Summit, which was well-attended and we were able to get close to 40 coaches the technical training they need. Bob Rea was on hand to deliver some of the more critical corrective techniques that coaches can use with their bowlers. Bob's one of the best at delivering this information. Thanks for being with us in Kearney!
In the afternoon session, John brought the coaches up to date on the progress to date with getting a proposal submitted in as many of the six NSAA legislative districts as possible. We've got two districts committed to submitting the proposal, so we'll see how the votes go in November.
I talked a little bit about the ASEP training, and was pleased to hear that many have either finished the course, or are getting started with the material. There will be a more official announcement on this, but I will be able to deliver the Coaching Principles course for ASEP beginning in November.
For coaches who want to take the course in a day, in a classroom setting, this is another option for you. As soon as I have more information on pricing and location of the class, I'll post it here and I expect that John will send out an e-mail blast to all coaches.
It happens.
Since the last column, we've held our Coaches Summit, which was well-attended and we were able to get close to 40 coaches the technical training they need. Bob Rea was on hand to deliver some of the more critical corrective techniques that coaches can use with their bowlers. Bob's one of the best at delivering this information. Thanks for being with us in Kearney!
In the afternoon session, John brought the coaches up to date on the progress to date with getting a proposal submitted in as many of the six NSAA legislative districts as possible. We've got two districts committed to submitting the proposal, so we'll see how the votes go in November.
I talked a little bit about the ASEP training, and was pleased to hear that many have either finished the course, or are getting started with the material. There will be a more official announcement on this, but I will be able to deliver the Coaching Principles course for ASEP beginning in November.
For coaches who want to take the course in a day, in a classroom setting, this is another option for you. As soon as I have more information on pricing and location of the class, I'll post it here and I expect that John will send out an e-mail blast to all coaches.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Follow-up to October's Column
After putting October's Nebraska Bowler column to bed, I got to thinking that I may not have made the coaching certification issue as clear as I could have. Hindsight being 20/20 and all.
So, I think I'll take another stab at it here and see if it makes more sense.
There are two types of coaches involved in high school sports in Nebraska. Those who are professional educators working for the school and those who are not. So far so good, right?
Because the educators hold a Nebraska teaching certificate, they have all the necessary requirements to be considered for a coaching spot in their schools. Certainly, an AD is going to look at the candidates knowledge of the sport too, but the teaching certificate is the main thing.
The NHSBF supports that criteria, so if you are an educator in Nebraska, you would really only need to register with the USBC's RVP program to meet our requirements.
Coaches who are not holding a valid Nebraska teaching certificate are also eligible for hire as a high school coach. There are some professional education courses to take, in addition to the ASEP courses we're requiring. This will give you a Provisional Certificate, which will allow you to coach.
The NHSBF does not require this group of coaches to take the professional education courses, but we do require two ASEP courses, Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid. These two courses, plus some type of recognized coaching class, plus the USBC RVP registration, will meet our requirements.
Personally, I think professional educators would benefit from the ASEP Coaching Principles course. We're not pushing the issue, because the NSAA isn't requiring it either. Still, nothing says a person can't exceed the minimum requirements, right?
Hopefully, this makes the whole certification requirement issue a bit clearer.
So, I think I'll take another stab at it here and see if it makes more sense.
There are two types of coaches involved in high school sports in Nebraska. Those who are professional educators working for the school and those who are not. So far so good, right?
Because the educators hold a Nebraska teaching certificate, they have all the necessary requirements to be considered for a coaching spot in their schools. Certainly, an AD is going to look at the candidates knowledge of the sport too, but the teaching certificate is the main thing.
The NHSBF supports that criteria, so if you are an educator in Nebraska, you would really only need to register with the USBC's RVP program to meet our requirements.
Coaches who are not holding a valid Nebraska teaching certificate are also eligible for hire as a high school coach. There are some professional education courses to take, in addition to the ASEP courses we're requiring. This will give you a Provisional Certificate, which will allow you to coach.
The NHSBF does not require this group of coaches to take the professional education courses, but we do require two ASEP courses, Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid. These two courses, plus some type of recognized coaching class, plus the USBC RVP registration, will meet our requirements.
Personally, I think professional educators would benefit from the ASEP Coaching Principles course. We're not pushing the issue, because the NSAA isn't requiring it either. Still, nothing says a person can't exceed the minimum requirements, right?
Hopefully, this makes the whole certification requirement issue a bit clearer.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Requirements for Making the Team
There's been some back and forth lately about a high school bowling coach requiring that all players on the team sign up for the youth league at the host bowling center.
It's a bonus if a high school coach can also have their players participate in the host center's youth leagues. Especially if the coach is a part of the center's youth coaching staff. The decision to participate, however, belongs to the athlete, not the coach.
Much is expected of student-athletes when they wear the uniform of their school. Along with getting the athlete's best effort on the lanes, good sportsmanship and respect for the rules should also be expected.
Requiring the players to bowl in the host center's youth program during the season should not be a part of those expectations. Once NSAA recognition is achieved, this won't be allowed to happen anyway, but in the meantime, this is an unnecessary requirement to place on the student-athlete.
The bowling centers give their lineage to this program and that is appreciated. Many proprietors are also coaching, which is also much appreciated. The return on that investment may not come immediately. It may be 3-5 years down the line, depending on if the student-athlete chooses to leave town for college. If the student comes back and becomes an adult league bowler thanks to the positive experience he or she had as a high school bowler, everyone wins.
Now, it's possible that this requirement may have been made to get in a little pre-season practice without looking like a pre-season practice. Two schools in other sports have gotten themselves into a little bit of trouble with the NSAA recently over this issue, so I would advise any high school bowling coach looking to get an early start to think twice before organizing any pre-season practices. Granted, we're not an NSAA recognized sport yet, but the NHSBF rules mirror the NSAA rules just the same, so read up before thinking about putting together any informal "practice" sessions.
It's a bonus if a high school coach can also have their players participate in the host center's youth leagues. Especially if the coach is a part of the center's youth coaching staff. The decision to participate, however, belongs to the athlete, not the coach.
Much is expected of student-athletes when they wear the uniform of their school. Along with getting the athlete's best effort on the lanes, good sportsmanship and respect for the rules should also be expected.
Requiring the players to bowl in the host center's youth program during the season should not be a part of those expectations. Once NSAA recognition is achieved, this won't be allowed to happen anyway, but in the meantime, this is an unnecessary requirement to place on the student-athlete.
The bowling centers give their lineage to this program and that is appreciated. Many proprietors are also coaching, which is also much appreciated. The return on that investment may not come immediately. It may be 3-5 years down the line, depending on if the student-athlete chooses to leave town for college. If the student comes back and becomes an adult league bowler thanks to the positive experience he or she had as a high school bowler, everyone wins.
Now, it's possible that this requirement may have been made to get in a little pre-season practice without looking like a pre-season practice. Two schools in other sports have gotten themselves into a little bit of trouble with the NSAA recently over this issue, so I would advise any high school bowling coach looking to get an early start to think twice before organizing any pre-season practices. Granted, we're not an NSAA recognized sport yet, but the NHSBF rules mirror the NSAA rules just the same, so read up before thinking about putting together any informal "practice" sessions.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Moving Beyond a Monthly Column
For several years, the High School Bowling Confidential column has appeared in the Nebraska Bowler. It's great getting the word out on what the Nebraska High School Bowling Federation is doing to get bowling accepted by the NSAA.
There are, however, some limitations to only publishing in print media. For one, there is a definite lack of immediate feedback. I hear through the grapevine that people get angry or agree with what I've written over the years, but it would be cool to get that feedback more directly, and be able to respond more immediately. The addition of this blog should help with that.
So, for those of you who read the column each month (I know there's a couple of you out there), let this blog be a place for you to read and comment. Also, you'll get a little bit more information than what I'm able to publish in the column. So, everybody wins, right?
There are, however, some limitations to only publishing in print media. For one, there is a definite lack of immediate feedback. I hear through the grapevine that people get angry or agree with what I've written over the years, but it would be cool to get that feedback more directly, and be able to respond more immediately. The addition of this blog should help with that.
So, for those of you who read the column each month (I know there's a couple of you out there), let this blog be a place for you to read and comment. Also, you'll get a little bit more information than what I'm able to publish in the column. So, everybody wins, right?
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