Initiative working in Austin

A state initiative is trying to get Austin Public Schools coaches and coaches across the state to look at sports in a new light.

Activities Director Lisa Quednow presented the Minnesota State High School League initiative Why We Play to the Austin Public Schools Board at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night in the City Council Chambers. Quednow said she has been asking coaches to look at this initiative over the last school year, which is a way of focusing attention not only on winning in sports but also on building relationships with the students and finding joy in competition.

“I think this will take some clear intention and focus on our coaching staff as well as our student athletes,” Quednow said to the board. “I think it’s important that we educate our student athletes on purpose versus goal, and I think that we’ve started that.”

The MSHSL started the Why We Play initiative in 2013, and Quednow hopes the district can take hold and really focus on why the students play the sports, not necessarily on becoming star athletes. She showed a video made by the MSHSL during the meeting which outlined how students usually continue in a sport if they enjoy it. The video showed many students drop out of sports by the time they reach the middle school, and Quednow hopes to work with the MSHSL’s initiative to help change that.

“The wins and losses as well as championships and trophies come and are celebrated, but the coaches and I are beginning to evaluate the programs on purpose,” she said.

Coaches were encouraged to read the book “InSideOut Coaching” by Joe Ehrmann and Gregory Jordan, which focuses on sports impacting students’ lives for more than simply becoming a professional sports player. The coaches were also encouraged to write their own Why We Play purpose statements, outlining why they coach and why it’s important to them.

One statement from boys swimming and diving coach Lynn Gulbrandson read, “I coach to build a family out of the team. Each athlete is treated fairly and in turn treats others fairly and with respect.”

Another statement from wrestling coach Jer Osgood read, “I coach to provide a positive culture/climate where athletes will feel safe, respected and successful.”

Quednow hopes the initiative will help students feel that their sport is more than just winning.

“While it’s fun for me to stand here and talk about all our championships and our successes and personal awards, I realize we’ve begun to ask our coaches to work with a purpose,” she said. “And I can tell you that we have an amazing group of coaches that work with our students.”

In other news:

—The Austin Public Schools Board approved the 2015-2016 Austin High School student agenda, which changed the rule about students carrying backpacks to class with them. Previously, the high school did not allow students to carry their bags with them to class. The next school year will allow students to bring their bags to class to protect their devices and more easily carry their items from class to class.