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A.D. Workshop and WADA:
great resources for any new
athletic director
By Mike Bates
Information Coordinator, WADA
Before the school bells toll the first time next
fall, there will be many
new athletic directors who this summer are looking to “learn the ropes.”
Two valuable options are available:
(1) the New Athletic Director Workshop on
Wednesday, Aug. 3,
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. Workshop
The basic
details for the New Athletic Directors Workshop may be found on-line on
the WADA web site at www.wadawi.org.
Look for the link to the A.D. Workshop on either the
“home page” or the “WIAA News
Corner page”
To reserve a spot in the one-day
Workshop, pre-register prior to Friday, July 15.
To register for the Workshop, contact Deb Hauser, WIAA Associate Director and
the WADA Liaison, at dhauser@wiaawi.org.
Morning sessions, following the
Welcome by WIAA Executive Director Doug Chickering, include: Mission Statement and Affiliations,
Athletic Department Structure, and Risk Management. Don Dalton and Bryan Yager will present the first
two sessions, and the third will be presented by
Jan Doleschal, legal consultant for Pierski & Gray, Milwaukee.
The attendees will be divided
into groups following lunch for several afternoon sessions,
and will rotate to each topic:
(1) WIAA Handbook and WIAA Season Regulations, with WIAA staff members
Tom Shafranski and Marcy Thurwachter, (2) Hand-on Computer Training, with
Deb Hauser and Todd Clark, WIAA Communications Director, and, (3) Eligibility
Questions and Answers, with Dave Anderson, WIAA Deputy Director.
Then, details will be offered
regarding the WADA. Included
will be: Membership in
WADA and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association
(NIAAA), the WADA Mentoring Program, and the WADA Workshop in Appleton on
Nov. 6-7-8, 2005. Presenting
will be Mark Kryka, WADA President and Verona High School Athletic Director.
The 2005 new A.D. Workshop starts
at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 3.
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 WADA members
are more than willing to assist rookie A.D.’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.
While some schools or districts
will have a veteran athletic director available to help the
new athletic director, sometimes an A.D. will “learn on the job.” The annual WADA Workshop
in November can help those newcomers.
At the WADA Workshop in November,
there are valuable mini-sessions, informative speakers, and the valuable
opportunity to network – sit down and talk with other A.D.’s. The result is that a new A.D. gains
insight on issues important to athletic directors around the state, and he or
she does not have to reinvent the wheel regarding their new position.
This year, middle school athletic
directors in Wisconsin will find many topics of interest at
the WADA Workshop, which has the theme, “We’re In It Together”.
Some of the basic details
regarding the 2005 WADA Workshop
are already posted on
the WADA web site at www.wadawi.org. Registration details, a complete schedule, and more
information on the WADA Workshop will be added to that web site this fall.
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The web site for
the WADA is www.wadawi.org and Mike Bates may be reached via
e-mail
at mbates1@new.rr.com.
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