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WADA INSIGHTS |
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from the WIAA Bulletin July 2,
2004 . |
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Wisconsin
Athletic Directors Association (WADA) |
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New A.D.’s find
resources
in A.D. Workshop or
WADA
Information Coordinator, WADAAny new
athletic director can easily find assistance in many ways as they “learn the ropes” as
an A.D.; two valuable options
available are: 1) the New Athletic Director Workshop
scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 4, at the WIAA Office in Stevens Point, and, 2) become an active member of the
Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association (WADA), an organization open to anyone involved in the
administration or supervision of interscholastic athletics at Wisconsin schools. New A.D. WorkshopThe basic details for the New Athletic Directors Workshop may be found on-line on the WADA web site at www.wadawi.org. On the front page of that web site, scroll down to WIAA News. It is a one-day Workshop which requires pre-registration prior to Friday, July 16. To reserve a spot in the Workshop, contact Deb Hauser, WIAA Associate Director and the WADA Liaison, at dhauser@wiaawi.org. Sessions include: Mission Statement and Affiliations, Athletic Department Structure, Eligibility Standards, Officials, Coaches Not Licensed to Teach, WIAA Handbook and WIAA Season Regulations, and the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association. The day starts at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 4. WADA Membership
Over 400 individuals are currently members of the WADA, and most are at the high school level, although some are involved in athletics at the middle school level. Many of the current members are more than willing to assist rookie AD’s become comfortable and productive in their new role. Topics such as conference matters, WIAA tournaments, dealing with all of the paperwork, coaches, parents or media, and numerous other athletic responsibilities might seem overwhelming at times, but there are plenty of helpful resources out there. “For starters, I was fortunate to have our former A.D., John Forsythe, still in the building when I started, so I was not ‘thrown to the wolves’ right away. It was at the WADA Convention in November, 2002 when I got my first real taste of the benefits of the WADA” said Steve Lenz, a veteran as a coach but a relative newcomer as an A.D. at Waupun High School. “It was at the sessions offered at the WADA Convention that really had a direct benefit to me and my job,” Lenz continued. “I still teach classes plus have the A.D. responsibilities. At one session they talked specifically about how to manage time. I kept sitting there, listening and saying to myself, ‘Yeah, that’s me!’ I walked out of that session knowing that others are out there doing the same thing as me. “If I have a question, there are many that can offer some assistance,” added Lenz, who has been a social studies teacher for 14 years and previously coached hockey for 10 years and JV girls golf for 7. “Waupun sponsors 19 sports for the 780 boys and girls, and I am proud to say things have been going quite smoothly even though I do not have an secretarial assistance,” commented Lenz, who runs a one-person operation and is also responsible for much of the middle school athletics. “In my first year as a new A.D., many things hit me like a Mack truck. I just got plowed over. This past school year has been better. At WADA, there is an opportunity to sit and talk with other A.D.’s. Just like teachers find the staff lounge a benefit, so did I with just listening to what others had to say. I have learned not to reinvent the wheel, so I steal many things that are picked up at WADA and then use them here at Waupun. “I have developed a working relationship with many A.D.’s, but guys like Jim O’Leary (at Oconomowoc) and Jeff Sitz (at Wisconsin Lutheran) have been there for me and helped me through some difficult times. Whether the difficulties have been athletic or time-related, they were able to give me some insight on how to deal with the issues. The biggest benefit of all is the networking and camaraderie you have with the other A.D.’s,” said Lenz, a father of four. “Another thing that was a big benefit is the New A.D. Workshop sponsored by the WIAA and WADA. That gave me an idea of how things worked prior to starting my first year as A.D.,” added Lenz. Kathy Allen has been the A.D. at Baraboo Middle School for 15 years. She said there are advantages for members who are involved in middle school athletics -- in the WADA and especially those with membership in the WIAA as well. “One of the biggest benefits is the parameters set for length of season, number of contests, etc. Many middle school conferences are struggling because some schools are members and some are not. In this scenario, it is hard to get everyone on the same page… because there isn’t a common philosophy or statement of purpose,” she said. “In our conference, all schools
must be a WIAA member,” added Allen, who just finished her 31st year at
Baraboo Middle School. “This
gives all the members a solid base from which to build a program.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The web site for
the WADA is www.wadawi.org and Mike
Bates may be reached via e-mail
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Vol. 80 -- No. 17 --- July 2, 2004 708