Coaching and Leadership

Day 1

During our first day of project week, the coaching and leadership group took an early morning trip to Ashland Elementary School to work with kindergarten, 5th, and 8th grade gym classes. Our students quickly learned specific skills and qualities needed to work with children of different age groups and backgrounds. During our session with kindergarten students, our group worked on throwing mechanics and teaching different variations of tag. With our 5th graders our group we worked on throwing progressions through different games. Finally our group was able to participate in a heated game of dodgeball with 8th grade students, followed by a game of handball where they worked on teamwork and strategy. When we returned to campus, students where able to break down coaching and leadership strategies through a group discussion followed by an activity on practice planning and time management.

Day 2

On day two, our group spent a majority of our morning working towards a new project. Students were broken up into three groups where their task was to create a new intramural game that will be presented to the student life office. During this time, students created PowerPoint presentations on the basics of their newly created sport. This included the rules of the game, dimensions of the field/court, number of players involved, and ways to earn points for their respected teams. After the students finished their presentations, they took a trip up to the lower gym where they were given loose instructions on how to create a sport. After instructions were given, they created a game on the fly and were able to play this out as a group. For the final activity of the day, students were given prompts on real world scenarios that leaders may have to deal with. In groups, students talked out these prompts based on what they believed the best approach would be to these issues.

Day 3

On the third day of project week, we had the privilege to head back to Ashland Elementary to assist with their gym classes again. This time we had the opportunity to work with 4th and 6th grade students to receive a new experience through different age groups. Our students continued to teach teamwork and strategy to the younger students. After lunch, our group took a trip to Plymouth State University where their assistant athletic director gave us a full tour of their athletic facilities. Throughout this time students were able to ask questions about what it takes to operate a large scale division 3 athletics program. They also answered questions about the recruiting process and learn about what they should be looking for in a school outside of the athletic programs. Tomorrow we will be heading back to Plymouth to check out their Men's Lacrosse team play against the University of New England.

On day 4 of project week our students had an action packed day starting with a recruiting panel involving athletes that are alumni of New Hampton. This panel included Luke Albert '17 who played hockey and lacrosse at New Hampton, played junior hockey in the BCHL and AJHL, played hockey at Brown University, and currently coaches u14 hockey at Seacoast Performance Academy. Haley Bartlett '17 who played lacrosse and soccer at New Hampton, played lacrosse at Merrimack College, and is a current assistant coach of the Stonewall women's lacrosse program. Matt Narewski '18 who played lacrosse and football at New Hampton, played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University, and currently does private coaching on top of his management job in Ocean City, Maryland. Later in the day our group headed back to Plymouth State University where they were able to watch a Plymouth State Men's Lacrosse game. Our group was able to watch college coaches interact with their players in real time. Tomorrow we will head to Holderness Central Elementary School to help with their gym classes for a final time.

Day 4

Day 5

On our final day of project week, we started our morning in the classroom. The group was able to start a new budgeting project where they were paired up and given a budget of 1.8 million dollars to renovate part of the athletic facilities at New Hampton. The groups ideas ranged from a lacrosse fan pavilion and shooting center, an upgraded baseball facility, and new locker rooms for the men's and women's basketball teams. Coach Bavaro was able to come by to add feedback on the final presentations for each group. During the afternoon, the students were able to head over to Holderness Central Elementary School where they were able to work with their gym classes for a final time. Going to Holderness Central added a unique perspective on how different gym teachers and coaches are able to do their job. The group was able to find similarities and differences in the way coaches approach a group.