2009 ARSYAA Sports Survey Results

[Nick]

ARSYAA Survey Results

March 2009

Total Surveys Returned: 50
Number of Respondents currently/previously participating in ARS sports: 25
Number of Respondents that have never participated in ARS sports: 15

Summary of Response from those not participating in sports with ARS:
3 of 15 responses indicate that they participate in sports with other school, etc.
Reasons:

• Closer to home
  
• He never wanted to. He was afraid of being embarrassed in front of his friends. He likes to be the best and usually is with the Parks and Rec Groups. He¡¦s not so sure he will be at ARS. He¡¦s trying baseball with ARS so we¡¦ll see. The boys in his class/grade are not really nice to him and he doesn¡¦t want them to make fun of him.
  
• She does all-star Cheerleading and has now for 3 years.
  
• When he matures (age 6 or 7), I DO want him to play sports with ARS.
  

Summary of Response from those participating in sports with ARS:
12 Respondents listed one sport only: 4 cheerleading only, 2 basketball only, and 6 soccer only.
13 Respondents listed two or more sports, including: football, basketball, soccer, cheerleading, baseball, tee ball, volleyball

Reasons they participate in sports (Although they were requested to only check one box, many checked multiple. If they ranked them, I only counted their top two choices. If they checked multiple, all were counted.)
6 Respondents listed one of their reasons for participating as Exercise
3 Respondents listed one of their reasons for participating as Competition/Winning (One survey indicated winning was not important and the other survey crossed out winning)
15 Respondents listed as one of their reasons for participating Learning Skills/Sports
6 Respondents listed as one of their reasons for participating Socialization/to be with friends
3 Respondents checked Other (all of the above, school spirit/identity, and fun)


Please share strengths of ARSYAA and the sports opportunities available at ARS.

• Tennis, golf
  
• I believe they do the best they can.
  
• My one daughter has not played any sports and the other only played 1 year over 4 years ago. I do know other parents who are very happy with the program.
  
• Having our son involved with sports has immensely helped his social/sharing skills.
  
• This is our first year this spring- coach is great with kids and is very knowledgeable about the sport.
  
• Good variety of sports
  
• Good selection- variety
  
• The ARSYAA has expanded the sporting opportunities over the last three years giving us more options to play different sports.
  
• I think there is a variety of sports offered but that we could try to get a few more sports added ie: track, tennis.
  
• It is nice that there is a variety of sports to choose from.
  
• Most of the coaches try to teach skills. Most parents don’t understand the power of a coach in a kids life.
  
• Overall ARSYAA cares for the kids. Offers most sports. Seems cost effective.
  
• Most coaches stress learning over having a MUST win attitude that I have noticed from other schools.
  
• The variety has continued to increase. It’s great for children to learn and play sports with their classmates.
  
• Kids and coaches usually show good sportsmanship at games, etc. Parent involvement and participation is a plus.
  
• ARSYAA started from scratch and takes a lot of dedication and effort on the part of the coordinators. Thank you for getting it off the ground!
  

Please share the areas you would like ARSYAA to look at changing, adding, or improving.

• More trained or experienced coaches.
  
• There were several practices that were cancelled/rescheduled and we were never contacted. It would be nice to know practice and game times prior to registration to be sure they work with our hectic schedules.
  
• Cheerleading needs to be offered for more than 2 months a year (1st grade) and at different fields.
  
• Uniforms for cheerleaders.
  
• Cost and communication
  
• More competitive with prices with the YMCA, city parks, or work with them.
  
• I would like to see more parents involved in all areas of the ARSYAA- coaching, board meetings, etc.
  
• More parent involvement other than when they have problems with the sports, more people at board meetings and new board members.
  
• Decide when is good time to go from learning sport to competition. I feel the 1st and 2nd years of any sport should be a learning experience.
  
• I would like to see Taekwondo offered. I feel that practicing 1 evening per week and 1 Friday with Saturday games is a good idea due to parents working schedules and kids bed times.
  
• People who have never played should not try to oversee the organization! (Sports).
  
• Never enough players on a team. Always short or barely enough at games. Poor parent involvement- don’t bring kids to practice/games. Communication between coordinators and coaches then to parents is less than desirable. At one time coaches could hand pick players- not fair. Plus equal playing time is not always there depending on coach. Our school kids seem to play with other programs and not through ours.
  
• Parent/Student participation. There have been very few teams that my children have been on where there have been enough kids on the roster to accommodate for a child being sick/out of town/injured and missing a game or having more than 1 or 2 subs. There are very few “new” parent willing to help in any respect. It seems the same people volunteer their time to most every sport. Whether they know the sport or not. The need a time to be a parent as well.
  
• I would like to see the elementary coaches give all children on their team an opportunity to learn and play and not focus all attention on the gifted ones. This is the time for learning, skills and teamwork!
  
• I want to see teams fairly configured. I want to see all kids have an opportunity to play any sport and for kids and parents not to be discouraged from participating because of perceived ability/size. I think for a coach to ignore some children for practice after practice and then get frustrated with the children for not know what to do is completely unfair. Coaches need to be aware that this sort of focus or focus on some players is demoralizing to the rest of the team. I appreciate wanting to keep teams together; but some consideration needs to be given to new kids joining the sport or coming to the school. Sometimes it appears teams are configured based on who you know or based on creating one SUPER team.
  
• Investing in a clinic or seminar for coaches to gain skills and knowledge of coaching their sport/age group. Even volunteers can benefit from training and expert advice and do not have to make it up as they go along.
  
• Communication, try to have more involvement from parents. Try to have more fundraising opportunities that don’t require kids to sell stuff (ex 1 day events or ticket sales).