By Lloyd N. Gardner
Head Basketball Coach
Fairdale HS, Louisville, Kentucky

Basketball is king of the bluegrass, but not every Kentucky high school athlete pins his hopes on the round ball. In fact, many students train and excel in other sports. Multisport participation benefits the student-athlete and the whole athletic program. It also provides a needed balance in the lives of high school youngsters.

I coach basketball at Fairdale High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Before coaching at Fairdale, I was the trainer for the Kentucky Colonels in the American Basketball Association. Fairdale has garnered three state championships in the 1990s in a state that has no divisions or classes and produces a single champion each year. Fairdale football teams have qualified for the playoffs every year for the past 20 years. We have b a successful athletic program comprised of athletes who regularly spend time on both the gridiron and the hardwood. Eleven players on our state championship teams participated in football and basketball. Our three state championship basketball teams produced five NCAA Division I football players and three Division I basketball players.

I relate this story because it is a dramatic example of how coaches of different sports can and do work together for the benefit of the student-athlete. I use football and basketball as examples because they usually serve as benchmarks of a school's athletic programs. But whatever the sport, the advantages of allowing your student-athletes to participate in more than one sport far outweigh the disadvantages. In a school environment where a high percentage of students come from low-income families, we have found numerous benefits for multisport student-athletes.

Grades
Our teachers must post a weekly grade report on every student-athlete. Coaches continually receive updates on their students' progress in the classroom. Statistics show that most athletic failures in the classroom occur during the off-season. This constant monitoring provides a simple safeguard against eligibility problems. It also is to every coach's advantage to ensure student involvement in positive daily activities, such as alternative sports, instead of resorting to some of the more negative adventures that grow from the idle time when kids are not involved in sports or some other co-curricular activity.

Development
One of the vital functions of athletic participation is to develop our young people - mentally and physically. The multisport athlete develops athletic skills and mental toughness throughout the year. Cross country in the fall conditions for the winter basketball season. Track or tennis in the spring prevents months of deterioration until the next season rolls around. Regular competition sharpens and stabilizes the mind and concentration of an athlete that often is the difference in victory and defeat.

Inviting
In school districts that allow the student to pick and choose from among schools, such as the magnet programs offered in Jefferson County, the freedom to participate in more than one sport often attracts students to an athletic program. A coach's willingness to share athletic talents encourages students to attend that particular school. We also have discovered that college coaches thrive on youngsters who participate in another sport. College coaches are often found in the stands evaluating athletic talent for a sport other than the one being played. Successful multisport participation requires several things. Coaches must understand the need for flexibility and cooperation. They cannot be jealous or concerned about their egos.

For 20 years at Fairdale, coaches from different sports have socialized in and out of school, whether by sharing a lunch table or a weekend evening. During much of that time, we discuss our players and their progress, both in and out of the competition arena.

During the off-season, the basketball coaches prepare the football and baseball game fields and work hard on other athletic facilities. Coaches of other sports film games and work in the concession stands during their off-season. All of us work toward the goal of maintaining the best facilities and creating a positive environment for our kids.

Our football coaches realize that basketball players attend summer tournaments that draw more than 200 Division I coaches. Basketball coaches realize that Fairdale football teams are perennial playoff contenders and the long season delays the development of the basketball team. However, a strong summer program and the carryover of a winning attitude helps the team to develop at a faster pace.

Coaches must realize that participation in a single sport is only one thing that could make or break the success of the student-athlete. I have instructed my players to stay home, study and rest for a college entrance exam the next day instead of playing in the Friday night game. On one occasion I had to do this with two Division I football players on the night of one of the basketball season highlighters. Basketball, while important and enjoyable for them and our team, did not stand in the way of the pursuits of these young men. Both signed Division I football scholarships and qualified academically to participate as freshmen. One of the players, Leland Taylor, now plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

If colleges are recruiting an athlete in another sport, it is important that the student be allowed to make visits and prepare themselves for the academic requirements. If one of your student-athletes is being honored, let him or her attend the presentation of the award that has been earned without the fear of punishment for missing practice or a game.

In striving for excellence and victory, coaches must resist the temptation to improve their records and reputations at the expense of the development and well-roundedness of their athletes. We must remember that the growth and improvement of young people is the singular purpose in building athletic programs.