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Post by Hoss on Mar 22, 2018 17:39:38 GMT -6
What are the biggest differences y’all have noticed between coaching big school and coaching small school? I’m not talking about “there are athletes at all levels” “there are good and bad coaches at all levels”. I want to know what were challenges when some of y’all went from big school to small school.
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Post by Hoss on Mar 22, 2018 17:43:01 GMT -6
I’ve only known bigger schools. Grew up in a 5A and have only coached in 5A and 6A. (5A is including old 4A.)
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Post by mrwig on Mar 22, 2018 17:43:18 GMT -6
1) numbers 2) parents, I don’t give a fk if u like hunting!
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Post by Hoss on Mar 22, 2018 17:44:57 GMT -6
What about as far as actual execution of your job. Which had the most challenges?
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Post by fbs on Mar 22, 2018 19:33:11 GMT -6
What about as far as actual execution of your job. Which had the most challenges? Spent time at both, I prefer big school for a number of reasons, but as far as the good and bad, I’ll give it a shot for ya: Small school really makes you get creative with kids because there’s not a ready made kid all the time (most of the time there isn’t) for certain spots Parents tend to be louder for better or worse at small schools. They can be a great or a nightmare. I know it can be that way anywhere but Just my two cents. In some cases the teaching load in small schools is not friendly for coaches, but that all depends on the school and your position. Not as many teachers often means the teachers they have do more. There is a huge drop off in the overall quality of talent (which is obvious) but it’s hard to overstate this. Things you might be used to doing may not be possible with those limitations. Pros are these towns tend to be better to raise a family, coaching staffs tend to be closer, everything seems a bit simpler, schematically you see a wider variety of things because people are doing what best suits their kids instead of a cookie cutter variety everyone with talent runs (dude ball)
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Post by fbs on Mar 23, 2018 7:01:42 GMT -6
Oh, right... I left out one major thing: Sharing kids between programs... your starting mike may be tooting the horn during half time, or your f/s might be the starting 3rd baseman during the offseason. diplomacy becomes pretty important.
also having to play kids both ways often changes the way you approach your side of the ball from the perspective of scheme, practice time and coming to the realization that your backup in any position might be a steep dropoff from the starter. all of those things are much more prevalent in a small school situation than at a big, at least in my experience.
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Post by bigern809 on Mar 23, 2018 7:13:46 GMT -6
I've spent my whole career at small schools.
1. There is usually a strong community backing. They tend to be there for better or worse. And aren't afraid about being vocal about the "worse" because the kids don't typically have the option for "select", if that made any sense. You will work very closely with small school parents. They will be at school all the time in a capacity of paraprofessional, volunteering, working concessions, etc. THEY WILL ALWAYS BE AROUND.
2. You have to be creative. The kids are very active and participate in numerous sports, clubs, and academic extracurricular....also..AG. To me, this is a great thing. It makes a well round human being, but not the greatest for athletics purposes. Ex. can't always make weights/practice, miss games for other events (it happens).
3. Admin is more apt to just "pop" into your room at any minute whether it be a quick question, walk through, or BS session. But the perks, if you can call it a perk, is that you see and interact with your supt on the regular. Where I am, there is no admin building. The supt's office is between the front office and faculty bathroom.
4. It's a little harder to "get away" from the community. I go out a town or two over to hang out with friends and I ALWAYS see at least one parent, custodian, etc. I don't necessarily mind it, but can be annoying if you want your personal space.
5. Potential less resources in the academic realm. Depending on what you use, this can be a negative.
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Post by fbs on Mar 23, 2018 7:17:10 GMT -6
oh and good luck going and getting a beer anywhere around town... you'll be labeled the town drunk within a week. seen it happen.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2018 7:33:57 GMT -6
My problem with big schools = The stupid classroom crap they expect. I got points off my evaluation one year because I didnt have a word wall and my room wasnt "inviting enough." Also got asked during a walk thru why I was using a TAKS paper, because we do STARR now and those were not good for this test, even though its the same dam problems on the paper, and I got it off the school resource website. I was at FWISD and the kids werent the problem to me... ya some are rough but they aren't the issue... its the admin and trying to put different crap on teaching that makes no sense. Our curriculum was terrible. I taught math and it was this exploring learning crap.. It sucked. I would just teach them how I know to explain it and got talked to all the time about not doing what the book says. I just figured big school wasnt for me.
Oh ya, my principal asked me one time to step away from athletics and coaching for a couple months to focus on the STARR test. I said if Im not going to be coaching then I quit.
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Post by acsl8ter on Mar 23, 2018 7:42:32 GMT -6
In my personal experience, in small schools the building will generally be smaller with less kids. In bigger schools, like 5A and especially 6A, the building is noticeably bigger and there are more kids.
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Post by Hitch on Mar 23, 2018 7:47:40 GMT -6
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Post by texasleaguer on Mar 23, 2018 7:51:49 GMT -6
I worked small small schools and then went to 6A for 3 years and now down to a 3A. Some major things that stick out to me: -being able to get out of class easily for athletics because there are permanent subs when you need to go get the bus/chalk the field/work on field after it rains/ etc, here it's a big deal to ask for your last period to be covered so that you can take care of stuff. There aren't people readily available to step into a class to cover. -Teaching chemistry at the 6A, we had PLC with the 5 chem teachers so resources and wisdom were readily available. Here, I am the chemistry dept, but we still have PLC with the other subjects in science.... why? - When a kid is being a minor screw up in class or practice you can send them away from practice/the drill, make an example of them/make a point, and someone else is ready to step into that spot and compete at a decent level. Small school may not have that option, you have to work with the ones you have, there are no others. - Sharing athletes is a huge part of the small school. My right fielder missed practice the last two days this week for Ag competition, he is supposed to be shuttled in from Angelo today directly to our game. Hopefully he makes it. - Everything you do in a small school community is scrutinized. Your personal life is not personal, I had issues with that in the past. Doesn't bother me now that I'm over 30 and married. I don't suggest it for a younger single person.
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Post by fbs on Mar 23, 2018 7:54:21 GMT -6
My problem with big schools = The stupid classroom crap they expect. I got points off my evaluation one year because I didnt have a word wall and my room wasnt "inviting enough." Also got asked during a walk thru why I was using a TAKS paper, because we do STARR now and those were not good for this test, even though its the same dam problems on the paper, and I got it off the school resource website. I was at FWISD and the kids werent the problem to me... ya some are rough but they aren't the issue... its the admin and trying to put different crap on teaching that makes no sense. Our curriculum was terrible. I taught math and it was this exploring learning crap.. It sucked. I would just teach them how I know to explain it and got talked to all the time about not doing what the book says. I just figured big school wasnt for me. Oh ya, my principal asked me one time to step away from athletics and coaching for a couple months to focus on the STARR test. I said if Im not going to be coaching then I quit. you were in one of the worst school districts in texas... so yeah, that's gonna happen. fwisd is a joke.
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Post by fbs on Mar 23, 2018 7:55:50 GMT -6
In my personal experience, in small schools the building will generally be smaller with less kids. In bigger schools, like 5A and especially 6A, the building is noticeably bigger and there are more kids.
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Post by moxWASmybackup on Mar 23, 2018 8:15:10 GMT -6
My problem with big schools = The stupid classroom crap they expect. I got points off my evaluation one year because I didnt have a word wall and my room wasnt "inviting enough." Also got asked during a walk thru why I was using a TAKS paper, because we do STARR now and those were not good for this test, even though its the same dam problems on the paper, and I got it off the school resource website. I was at FWISD and the kids werent the problem to me... ya some are rough but they aren't the issue... its the admin and trying to put different crap on teaching that makes no sense. Our curriculum was terrible. I taught math and it was this exploring learning crap.. It sucked. I would just teach them how I know to explain it and got talked to all the time about not doing what the book says. I just figured big school wasnt for me. Oh ya, my principal asked me one time to step away from athletics and coaching for a couple months to focus on the STARR test. I said if Im not going to be coaching then I quit. you were in one of the worst school districts in texas... so yeah, that's gonna happen. fwisd is a joke. Yeah it is... We have also been in places the are not really much better, at all.
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Post by fbs on Mar 23, 2018 8:30:19 GMT -6
you were in one of the worst school districts in texas... so yeah, that's gonna happen. fwisd is a joke. Yeah it is... We have also been in places the are not really much better, at all. I'd agree if I hadn't been in one of the better schools in hisd. there's only one school in all of fwisd that would be worth working at, and that's arlington heights and even they have fallen off.
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Post by newcoach on Mar 23, 2018 8:31:04 GMT -6
Big School:
- More athletes means more ability and options when someone is screwing up - Have to be much more on time. - Admin has their heads up their asses most of the time. I had a really good principal who taught for 15 years, another who taught for 3 before making the leap, and one who was a jr. high coach for 5 before going. The one who taught for 3 years had no idea what was going on and did everything by the book. The other two were ok. - It takes an act of congress to get kids outta your class for discipline reasons. Heaven forbid you send them in the hall for more than 2 minutes. - Facilities were better in my experience. - Have anything you could ever want. More money. - rarely do you share.
Small School: - Kids are better for the most part - gotta get creative - admin will pop in on you often but for the most part are down to earth. Have had one who should be a Kindergarten teacher but other than that I liked small school admin better. - sharing is great but sometimes you gotta put the band director in his place because he thinks he runs the show. - Dont drink in town, it only leads to bad things.
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Post by moxWASmybackup on Mar 23, 2018 8:35:45 GMT -6
Yeah it is... We have also been in places the are not really much better, at all. I'd agree if I hadn't been in one of the better schools in hisd. there's only one school in all of fwisd that would be worth working at, and that's arlington heights and even they have fallen off. While I was, without a doubt, at one of the worst in that district and your place is probably infinitely better... It's still like being Hoss in a room full of 450 pound Polaroid patty's... Sure hes probably the fittest guy in the room... Still fat though.
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Post by fbs on Mar 23, 2018 8:36:56 GMT -6
Big School: - More athletes means more ability and options when someone is screwing up - Have to be much more on time. - Admin has their heads up their asses most of the time. I had a really good principal who taught for 15 years, another who taught for 3 before making the leap, and one who was a jr. high coach for 5 before going. The one who taught for 3 years had no idea what was going on and did everything by the book. The other two were ok. - It takes an act of congress to get kids outta your class for discipline reasons. Heaven forbid you send them in the hall for more than 2 minutes. - Facilities were better in my experience. - Have anything you could ever want. More money. - rarely do you share. Small School: - Kids are better for the most part - gotta get creative - admin will pop in on you often but for the most part are down to earth. Have had one who should be a Kindergarten teacher but other than that I liked small school admin better. - sharing is great but sometimes you gotta put the band director in his place because he thinks he runs the show. - Dont drink in town, it only leads to bad things. agree on almost all of this, careful on the facilities being better though. big districts often don't translate to great facilities. My first run at a big school was a district with 2 6a's and a 5a, and we were fine facility wise, second run was in a massive district and our facilities were the worst you can imagine, and I'm not exaggerating. The one I'm in now is a large district that is sort of middle of the road with facilities. The bigger the district, the harder it is to get anything done. We just got a new ac unit in the field house... it broke last june.
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Post by mrwig on Mar 23, 2018 8:55:12 GMT -6
What about as far as actual execution of your job. Which had the most challenges? that's a 2 part or more answer. 1) execution or expectations is base off the hfc from the parents it can be above genetic make up expectations that will run you out of town. as for the hfc, everyone is different. the 6a guy i work for now has high expectations, but that's why he has won 300 games as a hfc. 2) now execution in big schools for one when pertaining to position coaching is just that, you coach one position but then depending where you're at the expectations could vary. small schools you're looking at 2 positions plus coaching a special teams spot, unless you're at a rich small school that can afford 8 or so varsity coaches. i only spent one year in a small school, not for me. i like to escape from my job not always be watched or visible.
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