We have received some very encouraging feedback on this proposal. There will never be a better time for this to move forward than now. PLEASE bring this to attention of other coaches and administrators in a respective, positive way. If you are a Junior High coach, discuss this at your tournaments and in your meetings, but this needs to happen fast. Leagues will begin scheduling in March, from what I understand. It won't happen if there is not a strong concensus administratively. I have been hoping for this since 1993 when I moved to Kansas, and there is a window of opportunity now that we will not have again.

Rick Cue
Ulysses

I wish we had a season like your talking about. Here in USD-500, our season starts right after football and ends the first Monday in December. We barely have time to teach kids the basics before they are off playing basketball, starting the day after our season ends and ending in March. I have noticed that unless they are involved in a kids club (there are none in KCK) that the high schools really struggle. I feed into one of the major high schools in district 500 and I know that most of the other Jr High coaches feel like I do, we need more time to actually coach.

The east part of the state already does put the Jr. High Season before Christmas break. And if I'm not mistaken, Doug Moore of Concordia worked hard to change the seasons in their league.
It only makes common sense and we all should make this change.

It should be noted that in schools where access to two gyms is impossible that middle schools could run their girls ******ball programs at the same time as the wrestling season and thereby free up gym space for both girls and boys ******ball teams during their repective seasons. This would eliminate the need for those late evening practices that many schools are forced to do. Also, they could possibly use the same coach for both boys and girls teams.

Thanks Coach Johnson. If respected high school coaches like you and Doug are on board, guys who have won state titles, that should mean a lot.

Rick

The NCKL made the switch from after Christmas to before around nine years ago. I don't believe anyone is dissatisfied with the switch. We actually gained a week to our season by making the switch. Junior high football ends on a Thursday and we start practice the following Wednesday. We get 13 practices in before our first competition. Before the switch we had two tournaments, we are now able to attend four as a result. This also benefitted basketball tremendously. We have eight BB teams 7th grade through varsity and access to five gyms, which is more than most schools. Junior high teams were sharing time and practiced about an hour and fifteen minutes. Freshman teams were trading off practicing before school one week and after school the next. By changing the format, which is JH wrestling and JH girls BB before X-mas and JH boys after, this freed up gym space and they are now able to practice longer. The hardest sale in my opinion is the athletic directors. When the switch is made all new schedules have to be made, but this is a one-time thing and some tweaking can be done after the initial switch. I too believe that everyone should get on the same page, as we can't compete with the schools to the west of us, which would be the one negative. As near as I can tell because many have asked (NCAA, MCL, Dodge City, AVL) the coaches are in agreement and they want to switch. One last thing that has been brought to my attention is the fact that coaches are getting increasingly hard to find, especially in the junior high ranks. I have a friend who coaches both JH girls and then boys BB because he wants to, plus the school doesn't have to go searching for more coaches. These are my observations and if anyone has any questions feel free to contact me. I've been in Concordia for 28 years and most everyone knows where to find me.

Doug Moore

It is tiring hearing that "you can't ask for too much" when going to the KSHSAA. They work for the schools, not vice versa. Change that is supported by a simple majority should be ushered in as soon as possible. The administrators are employed by us and they should be reminded of that fact. Proposals for change should be properly assempled, documented, lobbied for and if more than 50% of the parents, coaches, and athletes the change should take place now. It is simply not acceptable that "they won't consider too much change!" Our tax dollars pay for their jobs so our demands should be met no matter how many in number.

The topic here is when to hold junior high wrestling season. The KSHSAA does not set seasons of sport for junior high/middle school sports.

Egg,



I have read it time and time again. "Do not ask for too much." Why not!? If the environment outside of your organization is changing faster than your organization, then your organization will become obsolete. Do you believe that? Do you have any idea who said it? KSHSAA, if a MS or JH belongs, sets the rules for NOT being able to compete in open tournaments. Read the entire post and then pop off. Become part of a solution and quite being part of the problem.

I believe that egg was simply stating a fact to this Jr. High Season topic. The KSHSAA has nothing to do with when the season is held. Rick Cue started the topic to let us know that now is the best time for SW Kansas to change, since they are changing Leagues in both High School and Jr. High.

Billy,

And I believe neither your nor Egg read the entire post as there are other subtopics that do refer to changes that would have to be adopted by KSHSAA. On top of that you and Egg both know that taking something to the administration is nearly the same as taking something to KSHSAA since they are compromised of and run by administrators, former administrators, coaches, and other with academic backgrounds. Rick talked of a standardized season, that will only happen if KSHSAA gets involved. I believe that you work for EGG and you are sucking up to him.

I have read the entire post. As is often the case, the original post ended being morphed into something else. Coach Cue was stating what a great thing for wrestling it would be if all school could have the JH wrestling season right after football season; not about the KSHSAA mandating a standardized JH wrestling season, or the KSHSAA allowing open competition during a TEAM season, or having a JH State Tournament, or any of the other things that got thrown into this topic line.

The KSHSAA does not set season of sport in wrestling (or any other JH sport); that is left to local schools to determine. For various reasons not all schools believe this is a good idea and therefore not all schools wrestle in such a manner.
Sorry, Will, this is one time that you can't take the KSHSAA to the wood shed.

Just to make clear--I am in 100% support of having JH wrestling right after football season and before Christmas. I have brought this topic up for discussion in our league. I will do so again.

Finally, Coach Johnson has no need to "suck up" to me or anyone else. The addition of the little smiley face after your remark does not lessen its demeaning nature.


Greg Mann
Norton

Actually, the smiley face always helps!

Egg,

Lighten up dude! There is nothing wrong with a little roasting and/or brown nosing so I didn't consider my comment to be in least bit demeaning. For the record, I am glad you are not my boss!

You are right, the post "morphed" and my comments regarding KSHSAA were postmorping so they were, in my opinion, in the right place. Thanks for trying to discredit my comments again.

No, it actually doesn't.

Greg Mann
Norton

Will,

I am also very glad I am not your boss.

Greg Mann
Norton

Greg,

You know what would be fun? It would be awesome if I were YOUR boss! I could show you a thing or two about being a superintendent and having a good time while doing it!

Will,

According to several of your earlier posts, you are my boss.

Are you having a good time?


Greg Mann
Norton

Greg,

I am! I have a good time every day. I love it when you post, that makes my day. In the organizational structure that you mention I am too far removed from your box to be your boss. I would rather employ you as my direct report. Here is your first task: SELF EVALUATION

Performance Evaluation Form

1 = Needs Development (N)
2 = Meets Expectations (M)
3 = Meets Most Expectations, Exceeds Some Expectations (M+)
4 = Exceeds Expectations (E)

Employee Name: Greg Mann Date: February 10,2009

Section 1: Self Development or Development of Others:
Objectives (Work or Behavior) N M M + E
1. Has the employee taken steps for self-improvement (University classwork, field specific training, or seminars)? 1 2 3 4
2. As a manager, did he/she hold regular staff meetings to communicate priorities and address issues?

Or, did the employee contribute in staff meetings conducted by his/her manager and contribute toward the departmental/company objectives? 1 2 3 4
3. As a manager, did the employee provide regular feedback to their employees around agreed upon objectives? 1 2 3 4
4. When considering the interpersonal and professional behavior of the individual, is the employee a role model to others in the company? 1 2 3 4
5. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4
6. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4

Comments:


Section 2: Continuous Improvement:
Objectives (Work or Behavior) N M M + E
1. Does the employee operate in a collaborative manner with their peers and other departments? 1 2 3 4
2. Does the employee seek out best practices to perform their function? 1 2 3 4
3. Has this employee improved at least one process in their area of responsibility this year? 1 2 3 4
4. Would this employee’s peers or co-workers consider them an advocate of continuous improvement? (use of lean practices, continuous improvement) 1 2 3 4
5. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4
6. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4

Comments:


Section 3: Innovation:
Objectives (Work or Behavior) N M M + E
1. Does this person encourage initiation, implementation, and/or development of new ideas, products, processes or services to create a competitive advantage? 1 2 3 4
2. Does the employee challenge the status quo through innovative thinking and offering new ideas? 1 2 3 4
3. Has this person offered or suggested an innovative idea around a product, process, or service? 1 2 3 4
4. As a manager, does this person encourage others to think creatively and support an environment where new ideas and concepts are embraced? 1 2 3 4
5. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4
6. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4

Comments:


Section 4: Quality and Safety:
Objectives (Work or Behavior) N M M + E
1. Does the employee understand the needs of their respective customer(s)? 1 2 3 4
2. Does the employee hold themselves to the highest level of quality standard in the work they do? 1 2 3 4
3. As a manager, does the employee clearly communicate the importance of quality in their area of responsibility? 1 2 3 4
4. As a manager, does the employee clearly communicate the importance of a safe work environment in their work place? 1 2 3 4
5. Does the employee respect the importance of safety and operate in a safe manner? 1 2 3 4
6. (Optional: Department objective) 1 2 3 4

Comments:


Calculation: (Above Sections 1 through 4)

Sub Total: Average (total points divided by the number of questions answered)


Section 5: Department Specific Evaluation Calculation (Department Metrics/Scorecard)

Attach individual department evaluation. Determine Score for this section on a scale of 1 to 4.

Sub Total: (Total points divided by number of objectives measured.)



Overall Total: (50% weighting for each Sub Total = Overall Total.)


Section 6: Career Development

Career Objectives:
o What are the employee’s short and long term career objectives?

Manager Comments:


Action Plan, Training and Development:
o Employee suggested action plan items for the next calendar year.

Manager Comments:


Next Performance Review specifics:
o Manager/Employee follow up dates.


Signatures:

Employee: Date:

Manager: Date:

Will,

After performing a self-evaluation using the evaluation form you provided, (nice google by the way), I have determined that if I worked for you directly I would be YOUR BEST EMPLOYEE EVER.

I am expecting a raise.

Good night.

Greg Mann
Norton, KS