Category: Special Features

Special features are longer stories on topics related to health, physical education, and coaching or profiles of individuals representing the same fields.

Follow this category. New to RSS?

The Story of the Lewis-Clark Valley Loggers Football Program

This is a 4-part series on the Lewis-Clark Valley Loggers, a college-level football program composed of men who play and coach for the love of the game.

Part 1: For the Love of the Game

Team_Photo

What is it about college sports that creates such loyal and ardent followers and passionate participants? Is it the allure of the high from the victory that keeps people coming back even after they suffer through the low of defeat? Is it the connection to something more than one’s self or the opportunity to create an identity around engagement in something with others? Or, is it just simply the love of a game?

Read More

Snow Valley: A Learning Environment for Coaches

This story describes the legacy of the Snow Valley Basketball School on coach development and the game of basketball.

(This article was originally published in four parts 11/30/18, 12/21/18, 1/15/19, and 2/15/19)

Chapter 1

A Passion for Teaching Fundamentals
Herb Livsey still operates in the shadows of basketball legends, canvassing the globe for basketball talent.  For 21 years, Livsey has served as a scout in the National Basketball Association (NBA), a role often filled by the keenest of basketball lifers and hidden from the fast-paced, social media-driven limelight of NBA culture.  But, out of the public eye, the 83-year old basketball savant has been shining a fatherly glow on the game of basketball and basketball coaches for more than 60 years.

Read More

Remembering Earle Zeigler: August 20, 1919 – September 29, 2018

Last month the world of physical and health education lost one of its most imaginative and inspirational leaders. Dr. Earle Zeigler passed away, aged 99.

I first became acquainted with Earle early on in my own professional career. Earle distinguished himself for at least two noteworthy reasons. First, because of his unexpectedly diverse educational background (read below), he brought an incomparable breadth and depth of knowledge to discussions and debate about physical and health education and sport issues. Second, at professional meetings Earle was instantly recognizable among his suited peers as the man in the cap and vividly decorated wool sweater. Earle Zeigler through his writings, leadership, and unique dress sense always stood out from the crowd!

Regrettably, over the years I didn’t get to know Earle well, but did connect with him via email a few years ago. I asked him if he’d like to share something with PHE America readers. Almost instantly, he responded (he was 96 at the time!), with an essay entitled, “Creating Positive Values Through the Promotion of Physical Activity Education.” He also proceeded to send me links to electronic copies of several of his books. Then just over a year ago I reconnected, this time with a request for him to share thoughts about where the professions should be headed in the future. Again, he was quickly back in touch with an essay entitled, “What Should the Field of Physical Activity Education Promote in the 21st Century?”

Read More

Beyond Experience as a Teacher-Coach: Insight from 50 Years of Leading Young People

Teaching and coaching are among the most rewarding yet challenging professions.  Teachers must create instructional environments that motivate learning and develop student skills. Doing this successfully, demands dedication and lots of time spent planning, mentoring, and assessing. Frequently, the more time teachers devote to these tasks the better the learning and performance outcomes. But without proper work-life harmony, both teachers and coaches risk burnout (Altfeld, Mallett, & Kellmann, 2015).

Interestingly, those who enjoy longevity in teaching and coaching seem to find a reasonable work-life balance (Raedeke & Kentta, 2013). While longevity in any profession doesn’t necessarily confirm effectiveness, it does hint at some level of insight and knowledge.  So, when seeking tips and strategies to improve balance and reduce stress, it makes sense to listen to advice from experienced colleagues. What follows is an account of two life-long teachers who continue to inspire others with their energy, passion and commitment to young people.

Ron Slaymaker
In the state of Kanas, Ron Slaymaker (i.e. Coach Slay) is a familiar name in education and the sport of basketball.  Coach Slay is probably best known for his time as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Emporia State University (ESU), where in over 28 seasons he amassed 465 wins, received NAIA national coach of the year honors in 1986, and was a 6-time NAIA District 10 Coach of the year (Larsen, 2013).  Coach Slay is a member of (4) different hall of fames and the basketball court at ESU is named in his honor.

Read More

Don Hellison: Celebrating A Life Well Lived

(Update: Don passed way peacefully on June 6th, 2018. Please see the personal comments many people have already added below this essay. If you knew Don, listened to him present, or used his materials and ideas, you are invited to share your own thoughts. His innovative thinking, passion, and friendship will be missed.)

~

Many people know Don Hellison a heck of a lot better than me. But over the years our paths did cross a few times. And so, when I recently heard that Don, now aged 79, had suffered a stroke with some serious complications it got me thinking about him and the way he changed how physical education is taught today.

Read More

The Passing of a Coach

The complicated life of sports’ coaches is well documented in biographies and the media.  Additionally, it plays out every day across America, on college campuses, in high school athletics, and in the club sport system.  Coaches who dedicate themselves to leading a team and developing student-athletes are repeatedly forced to walk a fine line between family and work commitments.  To balance this dynamic, coaches frequently integrate family life into team functions. Children will attend practice sessions, teams come to the coach’s house for pre-game meals, and family members are recruited to assist with fundraising events such as off-season sport camps or tournaments.

(photo courtesy of Dan Pambianco)

Done successfully, student-athletes and coaching staffs become extended families, creating a support system for all those involved.  Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s daughter described her family’s involvement in the Blue Devil basketball program as follows:

Read More