Mark J. Ward, Superintendent Ellicottville Central School Past - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mark J. Ward, Superintendent Ellicottville Central School Past President NYSPHSAA Former Coach, Athletic Director and Principal

Ellicottville Eagles…changing

Landscape of Interscholastic Sports is Changing

No matter what part of NYS you come from; changes

are happening to sports programs

Shrinking enrollment, more to do, less interest in

some sports, more sports to actually choose from, work ethic of students, coaching longevity, requirements, specialization (smaller schools always depended on multiple sport athletes)

We have chosen to be proactive and get out ahead of

things rather than being reactive

Section VI

Combined programs in 2012-13:

24

Combined School Programs in 2015-16: 147

(144 teams)

Combined School Programs in 2016-17: 146-

(103 teams)..will be more spring sports

This is the trend throughout NYS,

particularly in Sections with a large number

• f C and D schools

Breakdown of Mergers Across NYS Based on NYSPHSA Data(# of schools)

Section 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

1

58 72 97 82 75

2

35 34 89 64 36

3 93 94 76 223 276 4 100

117 62 25 75

5

114 162 137 99 161

6

48 81 152 43 80

7

17 17 58 62 49

8

28 27 25 0 0

9

24 28 51 33 28

10

36 45 29 0 109

11

70 73 107 109 132

A Tale of Two Mergers

During the past six years the Ellicottville Central

School District has been involved in two completely different sports mergers

One merger saw two districts make agreements that

were never completely followed through on

Another sports merger took less than a few months

to develop and implement and involved several sports

Several years later the first merger ended up as a

complete sports takeover effective 2015-16

Determining the Viability of an Interscholastic Athletic Program

This is really the first step in the process Do you have competitive teams? Do you have enough student-athletes? Is athletics a positive experience for your

students?

Can you field the various levels of sports

teams (modified, JV and varsity)?

…Viability of Interscholastic Sports Programs

What are the numbers like in the various sports? Is the program competitive or more like an intramural

program?

In order to field teams…are you often forced to use

younger students who are then forced to compete against older students? (safety issue)

Are the coaches at the mercy of the students?

Communication

Need to involve the coaching staff from the very

beginning…lots to talk about!

Communicate with your community the status of

interscholastic sports…there mind set is still based

• n their personal experience not necessarily the

present

Newsletter-allows you to share facts Web site Local newspaper-get some press releases out Provide facts and get out in front of rumors or

information that is simply not true

Develop a Vision

• Lay out a long range plan
• You could use Strategic Planning as a great way to

begin a conversation about the future of sports

• You may have to monitor and adjust based on the

community response

• Start out slow
• You may only want to experiment with one or two

sports

Engage Key Community Members

Develop a list of key stakeholders within the

community

Conduct open meetings to discuss potential plans

(community forum)

Moe problems will come from staunch former

graduates than anyone else

Keep the topic on the Board meeting agenda Transparency

Student Involvement

Extremely important from the outset to get students

involved

Conduct meetings with team captains Find out how they feel…be honest with what a sports

merger might be

Outline pros and cons…we found students were very

• pen to combining for a variety of reasons

Meeting With Other School District

It is important to meet early with coaches, athletic

directors and administration

Soon after this it is important to get Board involvement

from both schools…preferably face-to-face meetings

Is the school district willing to objectively explore the

possibility of combining sports?

Both school districts must be committed

Six Years!!

It took six years to finalize the sports merger with

West Valley.

When school districts try to merge, one of the

biggest stumbling blocks is the team mascot and uniform colors…this is really embedded in parents and grandparents who attended the school and were a Wildcat, Eagle or whatever.

I contend that if you approach it right you can make

a lot of that go away. The students are not as hung up as the older generations are…kids want to play!

Our Experience

Since the mid-1980’s we have had sports mergers

with Little Valley, Hinsdale, West Valley, Franklinville, Allegany-Limestone, Cattaraugus- Little Valley, Jamestown and Olean

During that time the mergers have involved football,

boys and girls track, girls swimming, skiing and girls volleyball

Our community has been very accepting We actually started talking with WV in 2009-10 Plans with Franklinville it started in the spring of

2014

Combining Sports in NYS is Now Easier

A revision in the NYSPHSAA rule concerning merged

sports makes it more appealing to combine based on the way the enrollment numbers are counted

9-11 enrollment is factored in to the total enrollment of

the combined team in the following manner: School with largest enrollment will have the % of other school(s) 9-11 enrollment added according to scale below: 20% D, 30% C, 30% B, 40% A, 50% AA

Thus, schools merging are not always forced to play at a

higher classification. However it should be noted that the State is currently looking at the %.

Combining Sports in NYS is Now Easier (continued)

More and more schools are combining because

programs lack players…actually saves programs

A way to increase athletic opportunities for

students

Life has changed dramatically since the 1960’s, 70’s

and 80’s….there are more options for students

Sports is not the only show in town

NYSPHSA Football Classification Numbers

In most team sports, schools are divided into 5

classifications based on the following breakdown:D- 169 & below;C-170-279; B-280-479; A-480-909; AA-910 +

However, football is different: D-239 & below; C-240-

364; B-365-569; A-570-929; AA-930+

Smaller D schools are forced to play against schools

who are C’s in every other sport…this has led to many mergers across the state in an effort to preserve the sport

New Partnership

….are now teammates!!! We had already been Starting in 2014

Ellicottville and Franklinville combined in football…two arch rivals who really did not like each other combined in boys and girls track and girls swimming for a number of years

Starting in 2015-16 we combined in Boys and

Girls Cross Country and Wrestling

2014

2014 Team Motto

Coming together is the beginning Keeping together is progress Working together is SUCCESS

Why Has Football Worked So Well?

Coaches commitment to making it happen! We have a split staff, 3 from Franklinville and 3 from

Ellicottville . The Head Coach is from Ellicottville. The former Franklinville head coach is a member of the coaching staff and the AD at Franklinville.

The team worked out during the summer of 2014 at

each others schools… also played in a 7 on 7 passing league

Allowed us to have a true JV team something most

smaller schools cannot do

Transportation Dept. has been so cooperative!!

Why Has Football Worked So Well?

Shirts were bought….blending the two colors

(maroon and blue) with a football and 2014…on front and the team motto on the back

Everything was a 50-50- split Alternate practices depending on location of game Shirts and sweatshirts were made available for

students, parents and fans!

We are now able to not only compete but compete at

a higher level…something you can sell the players on

The team went 8-2, losing only to the eventual

NYS Class D champion twice…winning helped!!

More Positive Results

With the success of our first year behind us and a new mascot in

place the Sports Boosters started to promote the sales of tee-shirts, sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, jackets and other items

The football team now sports new uniforms and are known as the

Titans

2015 saw over 50 athletes from Ellicottville and Franklinville field two

strong teams (only 1 player from West Valley), JV’s went 7-1

2015 Football team went 8-2 won the Section VI Championship and

lost in the Western Regional

Ellicottville athletes participated on the wrestling team, girls cross

country and girls swimming. We have been combined with Franklinville off and on for over 10 years…that team is known as the Titans!! Over 40 athletes from Ellicottville and WV were on the 2015 and 2016 Franklinville/Ellicottville Track Team

New track uniforms have been purchased in 2017 with the Titan logo

• n them!

2016

The success of the sports merger continues to help our

students experience success and be part of competitive teams.

JV football just completed another 7-1 season! Cheerleaders were excited to receive new uniforms

reflecting the Titans color scheme.

Girls soccer and Volleyball have strong numbers of girls

from WV on the team

The football team is 6-2 and one win away from

returning to New Era Stadium for the third year in a row! Without being combined, neither school could have field a varsity football program

What Else Did We Do To Achieve Success

Alternated games (each had 2 home games) Wore both jerseys Helmets were painted blue with maroon face masks In 2014 a combined Pep Rally for Playoff game at

Ralph Wilson Stadium and bused 7-12 ECS students to Franklinville for the rally!!! An unbelievable experience!!!

In 2015…Franklinville and West Valley bused all 7-12

students to Ellicottville for a “huge” Pep Rally and again in 2016 we went back to Franklinville!

Combined Pep Rally

Football Team at Rally

Football Team

Coach Bartoszek Named Big 30 Coach-Of-The Year

What’s Next?

No one knew what to call the team because they were

Panthers and we were Eagles. During the year the team started to be called the “Ironmen” after the chemical symbol for the schools “Fe”

After the season we had a contest at both schools for

a new mascot and narrowed it to a couple choices and the students selected the Titans

New uniforms were designed and ordered with

maroon, blue and white…a blend of both schools

Further plans call for using the new mascot in

any of the sports we are combined in

TITANS NEW FOOTBALL JERSEYS

Helmet

What Have We Learned?

When we first met with WV, we had complete buy-in

from the coaches, AD, Board and administration of

• ne school but we did not have complete agreement

from the other school and that led to a breakdown and some plans that never happened

When discussions were re-convened in 2014 public and

community meetings were held and the support to move forward by students and the community gave the Board more direction

Things to Consider

Transfer Rule Legal ramifications Ineligibility Policies Athletic Policies Transportation Where do you practice/play Budget

West Valley Wildcats

West Valley Process

Public Presentation (Forums) led by AD Straw Poll of students in school, people attending the

public meetings (3 choices)

Shared BEDS Numbers, major decline in student

enrollment

Cannot field teams that are competitive After decision was made our coaches went to their school

and met with their students and WV brought their athletes to ECS in June to meet and view our facilities-we are in the process of a capital project that includes a new gym, fitness room and locker rooms

Complete Sports Merger With WV

All teams referred to as Ellicottville Eagles West Valley athletes are part of Ellicottville

interscholastic Sports Program

Practice facilities in WV will be used Some games may be played in WV WV will not pay anything for their students to play on

ECS teams

ECS will hire and pay for coaching staff Transportation from WV and back will be WV’s

responsibility.

Sports Merger With WV

The agreement will be for a minimum of four years Financially, Athletics makes up 1.8% of the District’s

budget so any increase will be minor

No students will be cut from modified teams Additional teams will be added if numbers warrant it

(already added jv boys soccer and girls jv volleyball)

WV students follow ECS eligibility policy

Sports Merger With West Valley Positive Outcomes

Students will have to work harder to make teams or

play

More team depth Like a classroom, increased competition will increase

the level of performance…students competing for playing time will push each other to excel

Will allow athletes to develop at their own physical

and emotional level

Opportunity to meet and make new friends Their students are invited to attend our dances,

Homecoming and other social events

Sports Merger With West Valley Positive Outcomes

No longer have to fill varsity level teams with younger

students (which is a disservice to students)

We were able to expand the number of teams so we have

3 levels in most sports

We are now able to field more age and skill appropriate

teams

It allows WV to maintain interscholastic sports

• pportunities for their students

More opportunities for their students and ours There are now @40 students from WV who have

transferred to Ellicottville to attend school, mostly younger children

Some great friendships have been developed!

What Have We Learned?

It is a slow process People need to be committed to having open,

honest, frank discussions

All levels need to be involved so there is buy-in to

what you are doing. Ultimately if the Board and superintendent are not onboard …the plan will fail

Involve many people- it will help you develop

support and understanding

Once more people are involved it can change the

direction of the process.

Communicate a lot!!

What else have we learned?

Coaches are extremely important in bringing the

athletes together

In 2016-17 we have seen a drop in male athletes (7-12)

from WV and we are not sure why…not true of the girls

Ultimately the students make it work…but it may take

some time. Success helps!

Teammates develop Friendships Students are far less concerned over colors and

mascots….they just want a chance to play and be competitive

Pep rallies, social events, Homecoming, Winter

Weekend needs to involve all schools (both schools)

What Would I Suggest?

It can be a great solution if it is approached correctly Carefully examine your interscholastic sports

program and see if you are having trouble fielding teams, being competitive and maintaining the various levels

What is enrollment looking like down the road? Is there a school in the area that may have similar

issues or would be willing to talk with you about merging for one or more sports?

Talk with districts, administrators and coaches who

have successfully gone through it….

You need to know your community….

Further Information

Mark Ward-5873 Rte. 219 Ellicottville, NY 14731 716-

699-2368 mward@eville.wnyric.org

Karl Schwartz-Ellicottville Athletic Director 716-699-

2316 kschwartz@eville.wnyric.org

Dan Amodeo, Principal, West Valley Central School

Contact, P.O. Box 290, West Valley, NY 14171-0290 716-942-3293 damodeo@wvalley.wnyric.org

Mark Blecha- Franklinville Athletic Director

31 North Main St., Franklinville, NY 14737 716-676-8060 mblecha@tbafcs.org