ATHLETE STUDY GROUPS: Some athletes skip out
By Chuck Mathews
Apache Staff
Study enrichment group: that’s the new buzz word around LRC-B this year. This pilot program was designed for the athletes involved in baseball and basketball but is also for any other student who wants to go. The program was designed to improve study skills and test preparation, as well as help the students with their classes.
Basketball coach MikeRiley said another goal is “to teach them time management.”
The basketball players are required to spend at least three hours a week in the lab, the baseball players are the same with a few exceptions. Ten of the sophomores aren’t required to attend due to good grades, and the out of district players are required to spend an additional two hours a week there. Also, all of the math students are required to spend extra time studying math.
Coordinator Mary Turchi, baseball coach Bob Koopman and Riley agree that the program seems to be helping the students. The faculty has been polled on a bi-weekly basis to determine the grades of the athletes. The faculty has been encouraged to contact the students when they are in the lab in order to give them extra help.
The coaches seem to be convinced with the importance of this program.
Koopman said, “if they don’t go, they don’t play or practice.”
However, there have been reports of abuse of the amount of time being spent in the lab. Some tutors said that some athletes, who were supposed to go to a study session, have walked upstairs and then walked right past the tutor and out. The athlete returns later to sign out.
Despite the efforts of the coaches, tutors, and instructors, the decision is ultimately the athlete’s.