Measure W will support athletic programs in Davis junior and senior high schools by funding more than 100 coaching stipends in over 20 different sports for a period of three years.   These are not new programs; these are popular existing programs placed at risk by a lack of state funding.
 
Season after season, we rely heavily on these coaches to instill a sense of pride, work ethic, and sportsmanship in our young men and women.   The stipends often translate into pennies an hour for these dedicated people.  They are good value for the money.
 
With qualified coaches in place, team sports have many benefits:
 

• As the nation strives to decrease obesity in its youth, coaches design sports conditioning programs to keep players active even in the off-season.

• Sports provide a sense of school connectedness for many, including those who struggle academically.  Some students actually come to school only because they want to participate in team sports.

• League rules mandate that players maintain good grades and attendance.  Coaches and teachers work together to identify students at risk of academic failure, and support them in achieving academic goals.

• Involvement in extracurricular sports mean fewer unsupervised teens at home in the afternoons, vulnerable to negative influences, and with little to keep them motivated to stay on track.

 
This is why the Davis Blue Devil Football Backers voted to endorse Measure W.  Our coaches will continue their efforts to support these student athletes, and our community will benefit from having teenagers challenged in the classroom and on their fields of play.
 
Lisa C. Nelson
Co-president, Davis Blue Devil Football Backers