Parents for Good Sports

ESM to start "Parents For Good Sports" Program

ESM's Athletic Department introduced the "Parents For Good Sports" program in spring, 2006.  The program provides parents, athletes and coaches with an opportunity to enhance sportsmanship and guides parents in becoming positive leaders in their school's athletic programs.

The district's athletic department pilotedthe program with softball, baseball and boys and girls lacrosse at the varsity levels.

"It is evident that many adults, including some parents, have lost track of the goals and purposes of sports offered by our educational institutions," Dick Bader, Executive Director of Section III, in a letter to athletic directors.

The program helps parents, athletes and coaches communicate more openly with one another, achieve a better understanding of one another, and discover a common ground upon which to build good working relationships.  It also helps to establish agreement about how to work with one another in creating a contentious-free team community and designates a place where they can regularly gather to strengthen their relationships.

Bill McEachron, ESM Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, explained that each sport will have a leadership team with at least one athlete, one parent, and a coach.  The Leadership team will receive training prior to the start of the season.

ESM staff will identify parents with the potential to be leaders in the school and community and who will encourage other parents to be positively involved in supporting their school athletic programs.  Mr. McEachron said the district hopes to enlist parents who have children in more than one sport and who will have children in district athletic activities for multiple years.

The goal is that parents will work with school administrators, athletic directors and coaches in developing a positive and supportive climate for interscholastic athletics.

The pilot program has expanded to other ESM varsity and junior varsity sports and is now being implemented for modified sports as well.  The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship Committee has endorsed the Parents for Good Sports program.
 

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