This successful program is an adaptable model for other schools' coaches.
Marlow Football Buddies
For many years on game days, the
football players and cheerleaders every Friday go to the grade school to visit Pre-K through second grade. Players visit the classes for about 15-20
minutes. Usually, one to three players go to one class. Players greet,
interact, play catch in the football field across the street, or hang out on
the playground.
The elementary teachers often
make or supervise their students' making treat bags for the players to take
back to the locker room. The school or athletic department sometimes makes shirts to give
the elementary students. The students love it. The younger ones,
who often have older siblings, look forward to the Football Buddies, and they
get to know the athletes and cheerleaders.
Behavior This small
program has improved behavior. If there are weeks when a class does not
behave or do classwork, the teachers will tell them that their Football Buddies
will not come, that they will lose this privilege this week. The Buddies
don't come to the misbehaving class, but they do go to other classes. The
children are really disappointed but learn, even in Pre-K, that behavior and
actions matter. Football Buddies simply do not come if behavior is
bad.
Personal communication, 2014
In a June 2016 conversation with Felix Linden, the co-founder and advisor/teacher of the Roosevelt Leadership Academy, Felix viewed Marlow Football Buddies as a launching pad for almost all Oklahoma schools, including Oklahoma City Public Schools, for whom he works. Felix envisioned "Active Athletes" as the program name.
Structure
Activities could vary by grade, e.g., 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, middle school, etc.
Length of Each Class
Visit – 15-20 minutes, 30 minutes, or more
Added benefit - Routinely assign players and cheerleaders to the same class(es) to increase relationship-building.
Change players as sports' seasons change, e.g., wrestling, basketball, soccer, golf, gymnastics, others.
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Cedar Hill Longhorns,
TX |
Benefits
Improved behavior (for mentors and mentees)
Increased self-worth (for mentors and mentees)
Emphasized academics and athletics
Visit Activities
Talking and
listening to younger students *
Teaching or
practicing a cheer, school fight song and more
Throwing/shooting balls, putting, cartwheels (depending upon sport)
Showing-and-telling with sporting equipment which students can touch or use
Reading a book with
a few students or having them read to athletes
Trying on sports gear, having a photo made with an athlete, printed, and autographed
Assigning team members to a teacher to make weekly visits to tutor and mentor
* Having name tags on the elementary students might be helpful for a few visits.
Pre- or Follow-up Activities
Making signs and/or coloring printables for athletes' lockers (Google sports worksheets and printables.)
Writing a short support message on a Post-It Note. "Go, Pete. Mark"
Attending games with families to cheer on their athletes
Honoring athletes for accomplishments at a elementary or middle school assembly
Doing some kind of school project, fundraiser, or community service together
Crafting - making tissue paper pom-poms in school colors to cheer on the athletes
Team's hosting a school night at a home meet (or game); younger peers serve as "personnel"
Team's performing at a school assembly (either something funny or a routine from their sport)
Problems
Transportation
if the elementary or middle school(s) are far from the high school. Students
will have to carpool, drive, or walk.
Disrupting students’ or athletes' instruction time
Generally, teachers
are willing to give up instruction time for their students’ improved behavior
and increased self-esteem.
Some schools allow
athletes to leave early on game days, or alternate times can be decided.
Send us your ideas or best practices.
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| Trinity College athlete and mentees |
