Plan now for September

Planning now is critical if you want to have a successful intramural program next year. Getting intramurals on the school calendar and gymnasium schedule in June is important for a number of reasons. Most importantly, you will know when you're having intramurals and other teachers in the school can plan around your time in the gym. You will have also set a precedent that intramurals must be part of the yearly gym schedule.

To plan successfully, intramural leaders, coaches and any other potential users of the gym must reach an understanding that the gym must be SHARED by all. No teacher, no team, no group should have a monopoly on gym time. The fact is that the gymnasium does not belong to any teacher or coach - it belongs to the students - and as the adults, we must check our egos at the door and decide what is the best use for the student body.

I have spoken to many teachers that have complained that they have 'no gym time' for intramurals because the coaches get it 'all the time'. This is a ridiculous situation that continues to exist in many schools.

We are always encouraging our students the value and importance of sharing - maybe we should take some of our own advice.