Webutuck considers intramural sports

WEBUTUCK — Athletic Director Jon Zenz gave a report at the North East (Webutuck) Central School District Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Monday, Feb. 13, to further discuss the modified sports program and proposed intramural program.“We need to set the bar higher, and that starts with coaching. Kids should have a well-rounded experience, which means winning some games,” he said.Zenz is looking to improve the modified teams by making sure the students involved are there for the right reasons.“There are three main categories to consider: mindset, fundamental skill of the sport and athletic ability. If a kid has shown me even a glimmer in one of those areas, I want to nurture that,” Zenz said. “Unfortunately that’s not always the case. Some kids don’t even like the sport and it’s not helping the teams.”Zenz would like to cut students who are on the teams for the wrong reasons and steer them toward after-school activities that are more appropriate for them.Board member Joanne Boyd was hesitant to have students get cut.“I think we should be very forgiving on seventh-graders,” she said.Zenz agreed and reminded Boyd that as long as a student wants to be there, he wants to help them be the best they can.“The key word is ‘want.’ If they want to be there, then they are on the team for the right reason. We can work on skills. I’m talking specifically about the students, and it’s a small number, who show no effort in all three of the categories I mentioned,” he said.The proposed intramural program is another possible solution.“I look at this as a way to expose kids to the sports at a younger age. It also provides the opportunity for a student who is cut to go to the intramural program and improve their skills before trying out again,” he said.Zenz is also excited to expose younger students to a larger variety of sports.“Right now the kids get to play baseball and soccer through community programs. I would like to expose them to basketball, field hockey, volleyball and other sports to give them the opportunity to find what they like at an earlier age,” he said.The proposed program is targeted towards the fifth- and sixth-graders with the possibility of including fourth-graders as well.“The idea is that by the time they get to seventh grade they’ll have weeded themselves out, they will know better what they do and don’t like and go out for the appropriate teams,” he said.Zenz stressed his goal is not to just cut kids from teams.“I know you all don’t know me that well yet, but I’m not all about cutting all these kids. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying we do need to have higher standards for the modified teams and that’s tough to do if our attitude is that we have to take all these kids on the teams. We can accomplish both by introducing them to the sports through the intramural program,” he said.“So the idea is to allow some exposure early to encourage the kids who like it to continue forward. How are we going to develop this program for grades four through six?” asked board President Dale Culver.Zenz has already reached out to several coaches for volunteer assistance and doesn’t see any added cost to the district by adding the program.“I see this as a four-day-a-week program with two days a week budgeted each for boys and girls. I see this going from 2:10 to 3:10 p.m. so the kids can catch the 3:15 buses. Gyms are available and I’d like to morph it into doing as many sports as possible,” he said.Culver agreed with the importance of exposure.“If we create micro-bursts of exposure to various sports the kids will self regulate. They will gravitate toward what they like and will stay with what they become relatively good at most of the time,” he said. “At least this will allow us to teach the fundamentals. If their first exposure to these sports is fundamentally sound, they may develop good habits to start with. As it stands they’re not getting those habits at all.”Superintendent James Gratto asked to have a packet drawn up with the details so the board could approve the new program.Zenz is hoping to start the program as early as March.Culver ended the discussion on a note of encouragement.“I can’t see a downside to creating a feeder program for modified; let’s get these specifics worked out,” he said.