About:
The IB Sports Science program is a college level course that is offered at Red Hook High School and is called International Baccalaureate Sports Exercise and Health Science. It is an upper level course for students interested in studying physical therapy, sports medicine, coaching, teaching physical education, athletic training, sports management, nutrition or any other health related field. One of the core topic areas the students study is Skill in Sports and there is a lot of content about how athletes progress through stages of learning what are best practices in teaching and coaching athletes and how to give feedback. Part of the culture we incorporate in this class is to find ways to do service learning and give back to the school or community. This is the second year the students have decided as a group to volunteer coach for the St. Christophers/St.Sylvia's CYO basketball program. There is a high need for coaches especially in the older divisions. Many of the students in this year's class grew up all their years in the Red Hook community and were a part of CYO basketball as young students. Now as seniors, they were eager to coach the young students and share what they know and have learned in our class lessons and in the many years that they have participated in school sports. The students began meeting about the CYO program in December of 2022, they were involved in coaching meetings and safe space and CPR trainings. Students began coaching and practicing in January and continued working with their teams into mid-March. Student Coaches coordinated one hour practices each week and coached a weekly game for an hour each weekend. Time was spent communicating with parents and other peers to discuss practice plans and student growth. Four students coached the boys 7/8 basketball team and 2 students coached the girls 6/7/8 program. Each student has contributed 19-25 hours each between planning, practicing, and coaching. Between the 6 students they have logged about 150 hours. I am incredibly proud of the commitment these students have shown, the dedication and professionalism they have portrayed and the amazing mentors they have become for the young students in our community.