Structure and stability are key in the upbringing of young student-athletes. That’s the hope, anyway, for the Benton School District, after it recently implemented a seventh-grade athletic program for the 2017-2018 school year.
“Our district has been talking about starting a seventh-grade athletic program for at least 10 years,” Athletic Director Scott Neathery said. “We knew there was a need in the community because our patrons have expressed interest in starting a seventh-grade athletic program.”
Neathery said the need arose after several parents expressed their concern to the district.
“Several kids felt they were being left out of youth sports because they couldn’t pay the price to be on a travel team,” Neathery said. “It also helps players and families adjust to school sports after being involved with parent-led teams.
“And players will be better prepared to compete in the eighth grade because they will run the same plays and learn the same drills.”
Neathery worked alongside Benton Middle School Principal Steve Quinn in hiring staff and “deciding how to fit into the school’s schedule.”
“He and I worked together in really developing the philosophy of what we were looking for,” Quinn said, “and we worked closely in hiring the right people for the positions we had open.”
Quinn said the district hired three new staff members and another one who was in the district but not coaching, and the district is utilizing other coaches to help with the program.
Two of the new hires include Maddie McRae and Maddie Rhodes. McRae and Rhodes coach the girls basketball teams, while Rhodes also coaches the volleyball team.
“Right now, our teams are half and half,” McRae said. “Half have played basketball before, and half haven’t.
“So there is a huge learning curve right now. Running plays looks a lot different than it does in peewee ball.”
McRae said there are 28 girls playing basketball, and those 28 are split into two squads — Gray and Maroon.
“We split into two even teams,” McRae said.
Not counting the scrimmage, the teams will play nine games this season, including the season opener Nov. 14 against Pulaski Academy.
“It has been so amazing for them,” McRae said. “I’ve talked to the junior high coaches and what their expectations are for me and what the students need to learn.
“Some girls come in not knowing the rules or the difference between offense and defense, but now I’m teaching them how to pivot without walking.
There is also a seventh-grade football team, and volleyball and track programs. McRae said they will be “all hands on deck this spring” with nearly 200 competing in track. The boys basketball team is coached by Jeff Crumpton.
Neathery said the biggest challenge so far is making sure players get meaningful playing time while keeping large numbers of players on the team, “and making sure we have places for practice, along with strength and conditioning classes for the kids who are not playing that sport,” Neathery said.
Quinn said he believes it has been close to 25 years since the Benton School District has had a seventh-grade athletic program.
“It is not only good for our kids to develop athletic ability, but it is good for our school as a whole,” Quinn said. “It’s a great opportunity to be involved in another extracurricular activity.
“It sets a lot of fundamental ground work for these students going forward.”
Neathery agreed, stating that there have been many studies on the success of students that are involved in extracurricular activities.
“We feel like the more students that get involved in extracurricular activities, the more successful our school district will be in producing well-rounded graduates and contributors to our community,” Neathery said.
He said Benton was the only 6A school in the state without a seventh-grade program.
“We believe that to be true,” he said. “All the schools I polled had seventh-grade athletics.
“Years ago, several schools went to the ‘middle school concept’ of not being competitive in seventh grade. When all the other schools went back to seventh-grade athletics, Benton did not.
“It takes a financial commitment to have seventh-grade athletics when your district is not set up for it.”
Laura Barber, chief financial officer for the Benton School District, said the total cost for the seventh-grade athletic program is $115,761.71, with $65,761.17 budgeted for salary, stipends and benefits. The remaining $50,000 is set aside for start-up equipment and supplies.
“Our program is set up to emphasize player development,” Neathery said. “Hopefully, the players will learn fundamentals, skills and have fun.
“We hope to introduce kids to sports that they wouldn’t ordinarily play.”
Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.