Playing field lessons for classrooms

A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are — Ara Parseghian, former football coach.

In my many years as a nba player and coach, I have heard genuinely interested and committed teachers lament, “Some students are totally unmotivated. They simply don’t care. They are good kids, but they don’t seem to care whether they learn or not.”

I have also heard teachers and coaches argue that the same kids who are indifferent and indolent in classrooms are outstanding on the playing field — motivated, responsive, and hardworking. This is true. It is not uncommon to see youngsters who struggle in classrooms become responsive and motivated on playing fields.

Therefore, sports coaching mantras and techniques — when adapted well (which is seldom the case) — have a lot to offer classroom teachers. A genuine coach sees what her players can be rather than what they are. For example, he/she:

• Wants all players to win. For a team to be successful, all players must perform well. An effective coach constantly encourages and assists all team members. She knows the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Unfortunately I fear that in the classroom some students are over-looked, others given up on or not included as part of the team.

• Knows all her players, is well aware of each player’s strengths, weaknesses, pers-onality, and potential, and is prepared to invest in developing weaknesses and enhancing strengths.

• Designs the goals of the individual as well as the team. At any time throughout the season, a responsible coach will give you an honest opinion about how the team and individual players are doing and where they will be by the end of the season. Such caring and responsibility is rare in classrooms.

• Great coaches identify each player’s strengths and help maximise individual skills. In classrooms as well, this strategy can be used to develop students’ skills and boost their self-esteem.

• Is flexible, responsive and understanding of the dynamics and conditions that players face each day, be it the weather or the social, emotional, and physical baggage they bring to a practice or game.

• The best coaches also innovate and practice new skills. These skills are taught at a pace that suits players and by way of detailed coaching lessons. Sufficient drills and practices are provided to ensure that skills are mastered. On the other hand, too often, classroom teachers experience pressure to “move along” the curriculum or “cover the portion” before students are ready for the next level of learning.

• Constantly evaluates and assesses. Coaches are keen observers of their players. They are eager to give players the feedback and support to move forward positively.

Author and educator Richard Sagor examined skateboarders who are found in every American community, and are often written-off by teachers as unmotivated and lazy in the classroom. However he noted that they will go to the local skateboard track and practice their moves and tricks for endless hours, experience a failure ratio of 100:1 and yet persevere, hour after hour to learn new manoeuvres and master old ones. After conducting dozens of interviews, he found that on the track they tend to be driven solely by their own performance, and measure their progress only in comparison to their previous day’s accomplishments. In other words, on the track they compare themselves with themselves whereas in the classroom their progress and performance is compared with students or is measured by arbitrary tests.

There are several other reasons why youth who are slow and uninspired in classrooms are often livewires on playing fields and in sports arenas. Quite simply, sports are fun! They can be and are often exciting. And ‘learning’ and ‘fun’ work well together as every successful coach and class teacher knows — or should know.

Track and field sports also offer many opportunities for small victories. Even if you don’t win the game, you may make some good plays along the way and create wonderful memories for yourself. Another positive aspect of sports is focus on flexibility, creativity and decision making. It’s a lot about “learning by doing” and teaches patience, perseverance, consideration of options, weighing of choices, and the development of strategy.

But undoubtedly the greatest advantage of sports education and participation is learning the vital life skills of teamwork and camaraderie. While sport is necessarily competitive, it also teaches teamspirit, mutual support, peer encouragement, empathy and cooperation. These virtues developed on playing fields need to be adapted and imported into classrooms to make learning exciting, fun-filled and cooperative.

(Dr. George A. Selleck is a San Francisco-based advisor to EduSports, Bangalore)