If high school coaches were able to compile a wish list of things they wish their state or school district would fully support, the creation of athletic periods during the school day would dominate the conversation despite it seeming like it would be easier to climb Mount Everest than get that done most places.
In both a groundbreaking, and deeply inspirational study, Texas is making the case on why athletic periods are so important in school systems everywhere with some recent data they've shared publicly.
Starting with the Foreward, Texas High School Coaches Association Executive Director Joe Martin shares, in part, the following:
"For the first time, we have the data to prove what we’ve always known intuitively—that coaches are a driving force in student development. The findings confirm that when coaches are trained, supported, and given the tools to succeed, student-athletes thrive not only int heir sport but also in academics and personal growth.
But it also reveals a growing challenge. Roughly 20% of coaches in Texas are leaving the profession each year. While some departures are due to retirement, many are not. Increasing stress, expanding responsibilities, and a lack of support are leading talented educators away from coaching. Losing even one great coach means losing the positive impact they could have had on hundreds of younglives. We cannot afford that loss.
This report serves as both validation and a call to action. It validates the essential role coaches play in the educational ecosystem and challenges us to invest in them—to provide the professional development, mentorship, and respect they deserve. It proves that a highly qualified coach is critical to the success of a school and the vitality of a community.
In Texas, we’ve always believed that athletics is about more than wins and losses. It’s about preparing students for life beyond sports. Every rep, every practice, and every challenge is an opportunity to teach perseverance, teamwork, and accountability. That’s what sets our coaches apart, and that’s what makes Texas special.
Now more than ever, we must recognize coaching as one of the most impactful professions in education. Our communities depend on it. Our young people depend on it. And our future depends on it. Despite the long hours, the criticism, and the challenges, I still believe coaching is the best profession in the world. Coaches matter—and now, we have the data to prove it."
This most recent report is the second installment in a multi-part series on The State of Coaching in Texas as many districts and policymakers have considered cutting out the athletic period.
For those unaware of the nationally renowned Texas athletic period entails, it is described in the report as "a daily, credit-bearing, in-school block of time dedicated to the physical training and practice of sports. The athletic period is a daily institutional commitment by many Texas public schools for the development of their student-athletes, serving as the critical juncture where academic life and competitive sports intersect."
For those outside the Lone Star State without an athletic period, it is perhaps the single most envious issue among outside coaches.
The report shares that by allowing practice time to be started, or even completed, during the school day, the pressure on a student's after school hours is significantly reduced, which in turn allows them to focus on academics and utilizing after-school activities like tutoring, mental health services, or holding a job.
A whopping 88% of Texas student-athletes either agreed, or strongly agreed, that the athletic period helps them become better at their sport. That should come as really no surprise. 82% of student-athletes shared that what they learned in athletic periods applied to other parts of their lives, furthering the belief that the athletic periods are being utilized to support students both inside, and outside the classroom settings.
Lastly, and perhaps most impressively, 88% of Texas student-athletes believe that the athletic period is the single best use of their time during the school day, which shows an understanding in the value it brings to their athletic lives, personal lives, and academic pursuits.
While many states, and even some Texas schools, view the athletic period as a luxury they simply can't afford to do, the findings of this report done by the THSCA in conjunction with a company called EverRise, insists it's not a luxury, but rather "a vital structural asset that must be protected and leveraged to reinforce the educational mission of athletics."
Here is a link the the full report and findings, as well as recommendations for high schools from the study, which include targeted professional development, consistent feedback cycles from student-athletes, using technology beyond transactional methods, among others.