Can athletes safely evaluate their coaches?

By Cicely Richardson
for Journal Opinion

Journal Opinion/STPNS

April 17, 2008

BRADFORD, Vermont (STPNS) -- WEST FAIRLEE-How do students evaluate their coaches and what weight do those evaluations carry? Those were just some of the questions directed at Rivendell Academy athletic director Bob Thatcher and high school head Bob Sampson on April 8 by the Rivendell Interstate School District board and parents.

This is the first year that Rivendell athletes have been asked to complete written, signed evaluations of their coaches on the basis of three standards: their relationship with players, coaching performance and personal and professional qualities. The standards are more fully described by specific attributes that the district expects of its coaches.

Each player is expected to rate his or her coach on a scale of excellent to poor, highlight the coach's areas of strength or where he or she needs improvement, and write comments on the coach's performance. In the past, players have been asked for more informal feedback after each season.

Board vice chair Margaret Gladstone was among those who questioned whether players would feel comfortable honestly telling their coaches they weren't doing a good job. "We're really asking these kids to do something I find extremely difficult to do as an adult," she said.

"Part of the lifelong learning aspect [of the athletic program] is effective communication," said Thatcher. "You need to be honest and stand behind what you're saying." He added that, as a a coach, he has received "a great range of comments-and that makes me a better coach."

As for other coaches, Thatcher said, "I ask them to receive the feedback in the way it was given," to clear up any misunderstandings and reach a resolution.

Sampson concurred, noting that the players' evaluations are "tied to specific standards we think are important." All coaches are also evaluated by Thatcher in the high school or Shawn Clough in the middle school on these and other standards, and the coaches have similar forms to evaluate their players.

Asked why parents should not be doing the evaluations instead of their children, Sampson replied, "We're looking for the athletes' specific feedback-they're with the coach every day and we want to be able to teach them to advocate for themselves in an honest way." In the middle school, parents are encouraged to help their children evaluate how well their coach has met specific expectations.

"It's hard to believe these are effective," said a parent. "You're asking an awful lot of 9th, 10th and 11th graders who want playing time next year."

"Can you guarantee that if a kid gives a negative comment, that kid's playing time won't be compromised next year?" he asked. "Yes," replied Sampson.

"You're fighting past history right now," said board member Sandra Ordway. "Kids were retaliated against in past years and that's an obstacle."

"That's a battle I think is worth fighting," said Thatcher. "If you can get out of high school and have learned to advocate effectively for yourself, you're on the way."

Sampson and Thatcher explained the process of hiring and rehiring coaches, pointing out that contracts are limited to one season. Evaluations by players are just one source of information they take into account in determining whether to work with or rehire a coach, they said.

"This is no different than evaluating teachers," said Sampson, pointing out that an evaluation may lead to the coach and supervisor working on specific problems or to personnel changes. As with all personnel, this is "not a public process," he added. The school board has the final say, in non-public sessions.

Board chair Carol Sobetzer pointed out that a parent can talk with the athletic director at any point if they have a complaint. Rivendell Head of Schools Noelle Vitt emphasized that point. "If you have a group of parents that share this concern, they need to talk with Bob-he has to hear those concerns if you want us to grow and get better," she said.

Students can also bring complaints to Thatcher although he said his first question would be whether the player has spoken with the coach. "If so, I sit down with the coach and the player, and parents are encouraged to come in as well," Thatcher said.

Thatcher said sitting down with each of his players for 20 to 30 minutes after the season gives him "a much better idea of where they're at and they where I am." Other coaches will be making appointments to do that as well, he added.

"Trust is a big piece of athletics," said Sampson. "When trust is there, you work as a team. One of the most powerful things I've seen," he added, is the way everyone involved in the soccer program worked "collectively," talking in terms of the program, not of specific teams.

"I think we're pretty fortunate with the coaching staff," said Thatcher. They work together and with each other's teams, he added. "Everybody's speaking the same language."

Ordway raised a

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