Dear Colleagues,

 

Let me first apologize for the long email. But, I have had something on my heart for many years. Here goes.

 

As a long time teacher/coach, I have been thinking for several years about ways that we can impact our young people and our school community in the area of how kids are being treated in our hallways. Just like every school building in the country, we have kids at Grant County who get on the bus in the morning, go through their entire school day, get on the bus to go home, and do not experience one positive comment, smile, greeting, etc directed their way. Not only are they ignored, these kids are usually laughed at, made fun of, ridiculed, and often physically harmed day after day.

 

My opinion is that we as football coaches can positively change this culture. We generally deal with the largest group of athletes in our schools. Our kids are also typically the popular kids who are looked up to as well. I believe that if every building in the country had their football players trained to be compassionate and empathetic, these targeted students would be protected. I feel very strongly that students are the only ones who can change this epidemic problem in our schools. It must become "cool" to be kind to all kids and to defend the kids who are weak and can't protect themselves. I believe with the right leadership, our football programs can promote this initiative in all school communities. We have all seen far too many suicides, acts of violence, etc. in our schools due to how kids are being treated. Enough is enough!!

 

I have a vision of forming a committee of coaches, securing a corporate sponsor to help with resources, and setting up a program of leadership to teach our players how to "protect and serve" in our schools. We as coaches in Kentucky could really leave a legacy of advocating and promoting kindness in our schools. If this is something you have a passion for, I'd love to see where something like this could go. Please let me know your thoughts, and if you would be interested in creating something like this. I know we are "crazy busy" and adding one more thing to our plate seems impossible. But, this subject is far more important than winning football games. Let's change the culture in our student's lives. Whether we deserve it or not, we as coaches are major role models in our communities. WE can do something BIG if we put our energy into something like this.

 

Best,

Kevin Siple

Grant County Football

Here here! Love it.

"It's cool t be kind!"

I think this is great.

Count me in to help.

Love me some Kevin Siple

Finally someone putting there money where their mouth is.

Great read all tough bullying does not discriminate even football players get bullied.

Sooo...who decides who the "weak" kids are? Is this something he's expecting the athletes to pick up on? Just a question, not trying to put a damper on the idea.

I think this is fantastic. I've been against bullying since high school when I whipped someone's rear for bullying my brother. Not something I'm about and it needs to stop.

Sooo...who decides who the "weak" kids are? Is this something he's expecting the athletes to pick up on? Just a question, not trying to put a damper on the idea.

 

It's called making the kids aware of the problem so they develop compassion. It's obvious some kids are lacking it.

Very cool.

Anybody wonder why it's so easy to work for Coach Siple? Thanks for letting me be part of what you're doing at Grant County!

Bullying is an issue my kid's coaches harp on constantly. "Being leader's in the hallways" is what they ask of them after every game I know and pretty sure after all practices too. I agree and support and am happy my kids are being led by men who believe in this. I applaud all of the coaches trying to make a difference.

 

BUT...

 

I can't help but play Devil's advocate. Ultimately these men are judged by wins and losses (check 40+ coaching changes in KY this year) Their own families depend on them to make a living and more often than not it depends on their X's and O's not their teaching ability, and even less about how they teach character.

 

Could asking coaches to implement one more program and be responsible for the moral behavior of their players while they are away from them be a little much?

 

Where is the line for football coaches' responsibility drawn?

Bullying is an issue my kid's coaches harp on constantly. "Being leader's in the hallways" is what they ask of them after every game I know and pretty sure after all practices too. I agree and support and am happy my kids are being led by men who believe in this. I applaud all of the coaches trying to make a difference.

 

BUT...

 

I can't help but play Devil's advocate. Ultimately these men are judged by wins and losses (check 40+ coaching changes in KY this year) Their own families depend on them to make a living and more often than not it depends on their X's and O's not their teaching ability, and even less about how they teach character.

 

Could asking coaches to implement one more program and be responsible for the moral behavior of their players while they are away from them be a little much?

 

Where is the line for football coaches' responsibility drawn?

 

If anyone, as a coach, feels that it is too much for them to handle, then they don't have to do it. In fact, you can unofficially help the cause by just making your players aware of the negative impact bullying has on kids. Fair or not, football players are looked up to more than the kid that will be the next Einstein. The way they handle themselves carries a lot of weight. Their "voice" can be heard by many students. Even if it is just modeling compassionate behavior, other kids will pick up on it. There's not one single school in this state that is not impacted by bullying. If you keep just one kid from getting bullied, wouldn't you say that is a success?

Outstanding.

I have always felt that athletes can have the biggest impact on bullying in the schools. I talk with my kids all the time about being leaders, making the right decisions, taking up for those that are weaker or being picked on/bullied. They can make a difference.