As stated in the previous post, we would start sports club with a unit on football in the fall. Here is a breakdown of an eight-week outline which could be used to conduct this course. Remember, this is not a "jock" club. This is an after-school club for all students which focuses on the educational and athletic side of each sport. While we would treat this as a intramural option for students to play the games, that aspect of this club is only half of the offering.
Week 1: Introduction to Football
First Hour: Welcome all students and explain the purpose of Sports Club as stated above and in the previous posts. Tell the students they will learn the history, science and strategy of the sport while also having fun by playing.
FANTASY FOOTBALL
One important aspect of the Football unit, as will be with most of the four units, is the statistical analysis of Fantasy. For those not familiar with fantasy sports, it is where each player is the general manager of a team. They draft real players who compile real stats throughout the season. Each team plays head-to-head each week matching their players' stats to the other fantasy team. Each team usually consists of at least one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one team defense/special teams.
Statistics used can vary to make the fantasy league as simple and as complicated as you deem necessary. But, usually the Website (Yahoo!, NFL.com, ESPN.com, etc.) calculates touchdowns (passing, rushing, receiveing & defense), yards (passing, rushing and receiving) and field goals and extra points. Each statistical category is awarded a point total (passing touchdown = 4 points; rushing/receiving touchdowns = 6 points; 100 yards rushing/receiving = 4 points, 300 yards passing = 4 points, etc.)
You would give the students an overview fantasy football and tell them they will partner up with another student to build a team. Distribute sports Websites where they can research players. Week 2 is when we will have the draft, which will take up most of the club time.
Second Hour: Divide teams and play flag football outside or in the gym. Go over the basic rules of the game and just let the kids play. We will add the strategy and smaller aspects of the game in later weeks. REMEMBER: This is flag football. NO TACKLING! Also, each week, go over some important rules so the students themselves can be referees while their team is not playing.
WEEK 2: Fantasy Draft
The students are divided into teams (a good number of teams is between 8-12). Each team is to come up with a creative name. Randomly place each team in a draft order which will "snake" through 12 rounds (1st pick in first round gets last pick in second round and so on.) You can do this via the computer or on the dry erase board which is then added to one of the Websites mentioned above. The use of these Websites is paramount 1) so you don't have to calculate the stats each week -- the Website does that for you -- and 2) the students can check the Website each week on their own time.
Have the students reflect on their draft strategy: Why did you pick who you picked in that round? What position do you think is most valuable? What players do you think are going to score the most points? etc.
If there is time left....GO PLAY!
WEEK 3: The Super Bowl
First Hour: There are several great resources on the history of the Super Bowl, which is the most watched television program every year. The history of the Super Bowl and the games can be shown in a video. Show the video and reflect on what they saw/learned. Show some interesting facts about the Super Bowl (advertising rates, viewership, funny commercials, team with most appearances and wins, etc.)
Second Hour: GO PLAY!
In the GO PLAY segment, have the students practice a few basic passing routes and show them basic technique. Advise the students to use those routes in their games by calling plays (as opposed to just running around without the quarterback knowing where you are running.)
WEEK 4: Sports Writing
First Hour: Give each student or group of students a newspaper or Internet article of a football (college or pro) game story written by either the Associated Press or by an independent writer. Have the students identify the important aspects of each story (key plays, important statistics, quotations, strategy by the coaches.) Have them reflect as to how they could use that information while playing the game or apply to their fantasy football team.
Second Hour: GO PLAY!
Take one of the strategies the students found in their game stories have them apply it to the games they play. For example, most kids will simply want to throw the ball during their games, but what they will find out from their story is the running game is an important part of football. Encourage them to add running plays and talk about why running the ball can help stratigically.
WEEK 5: Personal Experience
First Hour: Have the students write an essay describing their experience of attending a football game, or how football is important to them or their family. Many families enjoy football together, watching it on weekends. Some students may have an older brother who plays for a junior high or high school team. The students themselves may even play on a Pop Warner team. There are several things they could write about. Have the students share with the entire club or with a small group.
Second Hour: GO PLAY!
Make this week about defense. Practice basic defensive back skills like backpeddling, tipping and catching passes, pulling the flag "tackling".
WEEK 6
First Hour: Show a sports science video on the physics of football. Science 360 is a great resource to use. Go outside and conduct an experiment if you like. Make this a two-week mini-unit.
Second Hour: GO PLAY!
WEEK 7
First Hour: Sports Science Part II
Second Hour: GO PLAY!
WEEK 8
Have a flag football tournament and have students officiate all the games and determine a winner with a "Super Bowl". Have snacks and refreshments as an end of unit party.
CONCLUSION
Looking back through this unit we have hit on many of the goals we set out at the beginning. We want this to be educational as well as athletic. We talked about the history and importance of the Super Bowl, we did statistical analysis (math) with fantasy football, reading with the sports writing week, writing with the personal experience essay, science with the Sports Science series and physical education by playing each day. And we did so with little or no expense.
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