|
|
|
|
Erving Elementary School Library
|
On Tuesday, January 30th, Erving parent John Putala visited the library to tell third graders about one of his jobs.
Mr. Putala is a sports coach at Turners Falls High School. He coaches both football and basketball, boys and girls. In fact, he has coached many students who once attended Erving Elementary School!
A sports coach is really a teacher who works after school. A coach needs to know all of the rules of the game, study plays, and must be able to communicate effectively with the players. As an aspiring coach, Mr. Putala had to attend specialized training and take certification exams in both football and basketball coaching. For his work as a baseball umpire, he is required to pass an exam every year! A coach must also have CPR and first aid training.
Mr. Putala reads a lot to prepare for his job. He reads Referee magazine, as well as Scholastic Coach. He must know all of the official plays and rules for each of the sports he coaches and referees. In some sports, the rules of play are different at the high school, college, and professional level. Football and basketball are changing all the time, with new plays being invented. Coaches must learn these so that they can teach their players. Coaches must also know a lot about the human body, so that they can help their players get stronger and faster. Coaches also teach players how to properly wear their helmets and other safety equipment.
 
Mr. Putala showed the students some of the many books he has to read to stay current in his work. He also passed around his umpire's mask and a football helmet, which he allowed the children to try on!
|
