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I'm so indecisive! WWYD? (Sorry, kinda long)
As you might remember, my teaching position was cut last year, and I've been psuedo-unemployed this school year. I've taken a position for fall, and I'm really excited about it. It's high school English, and I'll be teaching 10-12 grades. I only have experience teaching Sophomore English (I've taught upperclassmen, but in another discipline.)
The school is a small rural school (like 1200 in the whole district.) I'll be teaching 2 sections of each grade level (10-12), and will be the only teacher teaching those courses. While not a first year teacher (I have a few years experience) I will have a lot to do this fall with it being a new position, and courses I don't have curriculum for. (I am meeting with the teacher who is leaving to get an idea what he teaches now, and will have summer to do plan the curriculum.)
Here's my issue. The principal (who is awesome, supportive, and I'm so excited to work for him) sent me and a few others an email. He has about a dozen things he needs coaches for (both at jr. high and high school level - variety of sports. Some assistant spots and some head coach spots.) Most are basketball - which I would never be comfortable coaching. However, he needs a JV volleyball coach (which would essentially be the assistant coach) and he needs a cheerleading coach. While I've never done either myself, I contacted him to get more info about those two, since he needed so many coaches and I'm interested. I told him I would def. be up for coaching something, and was interested in those two things. Volleyball is a fall sport (Aug - Oct.) and Cheerleading would be November to February. (Because the school is small, they co-op football with the next town over, and that school is where the field in. Hence, that school does cheerleading for football season.) Because they don't overlap, he mentioned I could do both (if I wanted.)
Have any of you coached before? I know it's a HUGE time committment. While I'd like to do both, I'm thinking it's a bit much to take on for it being my first year teaching there. I think cheerleading would be simplier, since often at the high school level they use the same cheers year ofter year. But my issue there is I'd be on my own - and I've never coached. With volleyball, I'd be the assistant, but would be responsible for the JV team, and would have to make sure they win, etc.
I talked to DH and thought over the weekend. Since he works in Agriculture and will be busy until harvest is over, I'm leaning toward volleyball to keep myself buys when he's working until 10 at night. (Plus, bball season often has tournaments over holiday weekends, which i would have to be at as coach.)I'm probably going to call the principal tomorrow and tell him I think only 1 is a good idea this year so I can focus on the coursework first. Since I can't make up my mind, I may just ask which he needs more desperately (I don't know if anyone has expressed interest in coaching either one.)
What do you ladies think??
Re: I'm so indecisive! WWYD? (Sorry, kinda long)
I have coached cheerleading! My sister-in-law coaches volleyball, and from what I gather, it helps to have some experience in the sport if you're going to coach...BUT, the beauty of cheerleading is that it's a learn-as-you-go sport if you've never cheered before, especially if you've got girls on the team with some experience. Also with cheerleading, UCA and NCA (Universal Cheerleading Association and National Cheerleading Association) offer classes to teach coaches the basics, safety and even competitive cheerleading rules and regulations. The classes are reasonably priced and being an NCA or UCA certified coach can connect you with other coaches, tumbling gyms and even cheer supply companies for things like new uniforms, discounts on poms and shoes (yes, there are very specific cheer sneakers that don't have traction on the bottom for easy tumbling and stunting). If you want to coach, cheerleading is a great way to go!
If you have any questions about cheer coaching, let me know!
I've coached during my first year at a new school and honestly, it was really overwhelming. I coach(ed) softball and even though it was at the end of the year, I was still learning the state curriculum (or in your case this may be the grade level) and I found myself a bit burnt out at the end of the season.
I also teach marching band as the color guard director (huge time commitment) and did that from my second year at the school onward until I left (and still teach it now) and it was a lot easier to handle once I had a handle on my curriculum because so much of the work was done (I taught the same courses every year I was there) so it just took a quick look-over and a few tweaks on the lesson, etc.
That's just my personal experience. I also advise first-years in a new school to not coach unless they know the curriculum inside and out because coaching ANYTHING is a huge time commitment and you never can predict how much time you'll spend dealing with coaching issues. That being said, if you think you have a great handle on the curriculum then I say go for it! These are just my experiences and my (really long, sorry) 2 cents. Best of luck!
I've never coached a sport, but I direct the fall play. My first year in both of the schools where I worked I was the assistant director. It helped me get my feet wet, and get experience without being the one with all the responsibility. Maybe being an assistant would be helpful your first year. That said, the play takes up a LOT less time than sports/cheerleading. I guess you need to know yourself and how well you manage your time. If you truly feel like you can balance both the new teaching duties and a coaching position, go for the one where you feel most comforatble or the one that takes the least amount of extra time.
I coach high school volleyball and it is very crazy! I am not sure how big volleyball or cheering are at the school you will be working at, but I would say experience is definitely key especially if they take their sports seriously. I also am not sure how the vball program works there, but at our school I am the jv coach and therefore the assistant to the main coach, but we practice separately so I run my practice all by myself. I would ask how they run their program.
I can tell you from personal experience that pretty much nothing gets done in my classroom after school b/c I have to run out to get to practice or a game. So the mornings are key during volleyball season. If I were to change schools or grade levels I don't think I would be able to keep up with the coaching because of the big time commitment.
I wish you luck in whatever decision you make. If you do end up coaching volleyball I can give you some drills!
aching job if it would be worth the extra effort.
Best of luck!!!