Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network adopts new Coach Selection Criteria

Our school district is struggling to enhance the academic performance of our youth.  As an organization whose mission is to provide support to our community through youth-oriented programs that build character, self-esteem and self-confidence, and as an organization that serve youth that attend school in Wilkinson County, the Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network is committed to doing all that we can to help our schools become successful.    I believe that we have been doing a good job monitoring, counseling and encouraging our participants towards improved academics, but that is not enough, we need to and will do more.

As many of you know, working with youth and coaching youth sports is no small task.  Many of you have already experienced this and you know it is unlike anything you have ever done before.  The Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network works to ensure that the participants in our program have a great experience and this commitment is manifest in our efforts to bring in the best coaches possible.  
Coaching in the Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network requires the commitment of a lot of time and energy and in most cases, it will be a very rewarding experience.  You have an opportunity to help mold the lives of the youth in our program.  This responsibility and the privilege of helping to shape the future of Wilkinson County is very serious and we hold our coaches accountable to maintain that standard.

The following information outlines the Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network’s coach selection process and will help potential coaching candidates understand the organization’s expectation and plan for developing great youth coaches and assist the school district in its efforts to enhance academic achievement.

Head Coaches will be selected by the Football Commissioner in consultation with the General Manager for football operations. In addition to completing all required training and obtain Heads Up coach’s certification and passing a background check, the head coach must be enthusiastic, organized and dependable.

Additionally, in order to fulfil the Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network’s obligation to our youth and stated commitment to the school district, Head Coach candidates are required to develop and implement a plan to help our youth and district achieve academic success.   
 
I am aware that most of our coaching candidates will not be certified teachers.  However, that should not prevent them from being able to make a positive impact on our participants’ academic performance and conduct.  
Some examples of making a positive impact might include, regular consultation with parents and teachers to identify emerging problems or concerns; school visits from coaches, assisting teachers in obtaining additional parental involvement in the education of our youth; adopting a classroom and making arrangements to provide needed instructional materials; helping to encourage parents or a designated parent representative to attend school “open house” and Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) meetings.   
These are just a few examples that I have heard being discussed.  I believe that there are many more workable ideas that have not been considered or talked about. I will say to All potential Head Coaches that when you develop your plan to help improve academic achievement in our youth, you are only limited by applicable laws, school district policies and YOUR Imagination.  

REMEMBER OUR YOUTH DO NOT CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE-John C. Maxwell

I look forward to working with All of you as we work together to improve our schools.

If there are questions, concerns, suggestions or other issues, please call me at (601) 810-9428 (Please leave a message if I am unable to answer the phone) or email wilkamiteyouth@gmail.com.  
 
David Walker, President
Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network