All middle school and high school coaches desire to have a positive impact on the students they coach, teaching them values, relationship building, flexibility, resilience, determination and how to navigate through challenges, in addition to the rules of the sport.
To help them hone their coaching skills in their particular field, the Kansas State High School Activities Association offers the annual KSHSAA Coaching School. All coaches from Kansas are invited.
“This year's coaching school left me inspired and confident in myself as a coach and in my program,” softball coach Shelby Liska said.
Clinics are offered in basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, softball, spirit/dance, track & field, volleyball and wrestling. Rules meetings are also offered for spirit, football and volleyball.
This year, Parsons Middle School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Olivia Nolting said 8 coaches from Parsons attended the coaching school, which was held in Salina.
Nolting said the new location allowed for the use of courts which was especially beneficial for basketball and volleyball.
“They were able to demonstrate skills, drills, and plays with players from the presenters' school,” Nolting said. “There were sessions for each sport that we offer.”
“There are different presentations. This year there were some high school coaches and some college coaches and they come in and teach based on what their strength is. Some do different plays and drills, some do relationship building or how to communicate with parents. It’s just a wide variety of everything that goes into coaching,” Nolting said. “Wichita State was there. Friends University was there, a lot of bigger schools. Lots of experience.”
Coach Wade Liska said he loved the coaching conference this year: “I enjoyed the sessions that were led by college coaches because I was able to learn new drills and ideas from them. It also gave me new insight on the mental side of sports, and different ways I can approach athletes struggling with mental toughness.”
Rick Holsinger attended a coaching school split into two days, one focused on football and the other on wrestling.
“On Day one, there were coaches discussing practice plans. This was extremely helpful as a first year head coach. I have taken some of the information heard and applied it to my practice plan structure,” he said. “The second day really opened my eyes to what, in my opinion, is a big hole in our wrestling program which is social media. …All in all, it was a great experience that I feel really gave me a lot of positive ideas and got the gears turning on ways I can help improve our programs.”
Coach Kyle Hutley said his favorite session was the track session that “talked about how the coach managed rosters, events and duties for each coach,” while coach Ryan Willis noted he appreciated learning about techniques and tools that he will be able to implement at the middle school level.
“This was my first year to attend the KSHSAA Coaching School and it was excellent to say the least,” Coach Bill Baird said. “The coaches were filled with knowledge and willing to share.”
Nolting said the coaching s school helps with team building with local coaches, giving them time to focus just on coaching and athletics.
“We’re all from different buildings and all over the place, so this is great for team bonding. It’s probably the one time a year us coaches just get to go and hang out and learn more about coaching in general.”
Baird said it was “a success in building rapport and coaching unity.”
Nolting said she hopes more coaches from Parsons attend in the future and she is hopeful a Parsons coach will even step forward to present next year.
“I highly recommend the coaching school for all of our Viking coaches because it will sharpen their skills and reignite their passion like it did for me,” Coach Baird said.