Progress on Action Research Project

I feel positive about my progress toward my action research project, which is looking into the need and benefits of a district wide middle school tryout process or policy. I was able to discuss this with several middle school coaches before their season started. The majority of middle school coaches agreed that a common tryout process would be beneficial for our district. I have completed the surveys I would like these middle school coaches to answer. I plan on distributing them within the next couple of weeks. I am currently working on surveys for high school coaches and administrators.

I have also been able to discuss this project and concern with some coaches from other districts. Most of these talks were informal, but provided a lot of good information. I wrote down notes after these conversations and will be sending these coaches surveys soon as well. I was surprised that most districts already have a common tryout procedure for middle schools. This just confirms my belief that our district is in need of one as well.

I will have good information about how our middle schools currently hold volleyball tryouts. I was able to speak with those coaches and even watch a few tryout sessions. The next season I will be able to do this with will be basketball. I’m still interested in discussing this matter more with the high school coaches, so that will be my next big area of research.

I currently have 20 hours of project work complete. Most of these hours consist of creating the surveys and talking with coaches from our district as well as other surrounding districts about their tryout processes.