Beach BasketBall Team
Assistant coach
Introduction
Hello, my name is Megan Evans I am a Senior at Portland State University where I am studying Psychology and Anthropology. With my capstone course I have been able to participate in the formation, organization and fundraising for a youth Basketball Team with Beach Elementary in North Portland.
I work for a non profit and I am contracted to run a type of behavior support/alternative to suspension program at Beach Elementary with 3rd-5th grade. Daily I am addressing students difficult behaviors which often stem from their experienced trauma. Many of the students that I work with would frequently argue and fight with their peers, they struggled to work together and there is a clear lack of community especially amongst the 5th graders. Most of my male students are very into basketball so I began to wonder if starting a little Beach basketball team would be a good opportunity for my students to build community, strengthen their interpersonal skills and learn to work as a team with their classmates. I approached the P.E. teacher at Beach and he too had been pondering starting a basketball team so I offered to help!
Hello, my name is Megan Evans I am a Senior at Portland State University where I am studying Psychology and Anthropology. With my capstone course I have been able to participate in the formation, organization and fundraising for a youth Basketball Team with Beach Elementary in North Portland.
I work for a non profit and I am contracted to run a type of behavior support/alternative to suspension program at Beach Elementary with 3rd-5th grade. Daily I am addressing students difficult behaviors which often stem from their experienced trauma. Many of the students that I work with would frequently argue and fight with their peers, they struggled to work together and there is a clear lack of community especially amongst the 5th graders. Most of my male students are very into basketball so I began to wonder if starting a little Beach basketball team would be a good opportunity for my students to build community, strengthen their interpersonal skills and learn to work as a team with their classmates. I approached the P.E. teacher at Beach and he too had been pondering starting a basketball team so I offered to help!
About Beach
- Beach Elementary is a k-5 school with around 460 students.
- Half of the school is a Spanish Immersion School.
- Many of the students are from lower socioeconomic households.
- This school is extremely understaffed and in recent years they have experienced much change in admin and teacher staff.
- This school is fairly diverse with large white, Hispanic, African American and multi racial populations.
- Most of the students that I work with are considered At-Risk youth.
- Beach Elementary is a k-5 school with around 460 students.
- Half of the school is a Spanish Immersion School.
- Many of the students are from lower socioeconomic households.
- This school is extremely understaffed and in recent years they have experienced much change in admin and teacher staff.
- This school is fairly diverse with large white, Hispanic, African American and multi racial populations.
- Most of the students that I work with are considered At-Risk youth.
Responsibilities
My responsibilities with the Beach Basketball team include:
- Assisting Wednesday Practices
- Supporting Behavior during the school day, practice and games
- Running our Hot Cocoa Fundraiser
- Cheering Loudly at their Friday evening Games!!!
Goal
My goal for this team was to offer a safe space for our students to participate in a game they love. As well as build community, strengthen their interpersonal skills and learn to work as a team with their classmates. We also had each player sign a contract which was to hold them accountable during the school day to resist arguments, fights, and to be respectful to everyone. If they broke the contract they would not be allowed to attend 1 practice or 1 game, parents would be notified and there would need to be some type of restorative conversation or action.
My goal for this team was to offer a safe space for our students to participate in a game they love. As well as build community, strengthen their interpersonal skills and learn to work as a team with their classmates. We also had each player sign a contract which was to hold them accountable during the school day to resist arguments, fights, and to be respectful to everyone. If they broke the contract they would not be allowed to attend 1 practice or 1 game, parents would be notified and there would need to be some type of restorative conversation or action.
Results
We had our final official game and the students did great! They have had so much fun all season and even won most of our games!
During practices and games I definitely saw improvements in attitudes and an increased ability to work as a team.
I feel that the benefits of being on the basketball team did seep into the school day as well as many of the students are taking more responsibility for their actions. Now I often see students being kinder to and encouraging their teammates/peers to make the right decisions.
The Beach basketball team has also helped improve my relationship with my students as I am able to engage in an activity that is my students specialty but not my own, we have reversed roles a bit as they have had to teach me about the game of basketball. I am so thankful for this opportunity to engage in a fun activity with my students that is outside of our school day and outside of me just monitoring and correcting their behaviors.
The Basketball games have also provided a space for families to come together to support their child in a positive way.
Future Plans
In the future we hope to continue our Basketball team within an official league!
Please contact me if you would like to donate to help raise funds for league admission.
To be continued.... :)
In the future we hope to continue our Basketball team within an official league!
Please contact me if you would like to donate to help raise funds for league admission.
To be continued.... :)