Interview with Dennis Cook Youth Recreation Program Coordinator for the City of Seattle

ABW staff recently interviewed Dennis Cook, Youth Recreation Program Coordinator for the City of Seattle. The Seattle Parks Department was the first program to become an active part of ABW in the Seattle area. With the program firmly in place for one year, we asked Cook to give us some insight into youth athletics and how ABW has helped his programs.

ABW - How long have you been involved in youth sports in your current position?

Cook - Twenty-four years as an administrator.

ABW - What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Cook - When former program participants come back years later to tell me what a great influence the program and I have been for them. I am very proud of the many success stories over the years.

ABW - What have been the challenges over the years?

Cook - Attitudes have changed, particularly with the parents. When I was young, I played sports because it was fun. Today, with college scholarships and the more competitive environment in general, I see many kids competing because their parents want them to. You can tell by the look in their eyes that they don’t want to be there playing or practicing. Sports have become work instead of play. Also, television has done lots to bring out the negatives in sports at all levels. Controversy sells print, and kids see sports much more as a business today then when I was growing up.

ABW - We all know that we can’t go back in time to change things, but how can we help to make this a better environment for athletes today?

Cook - First of all, we need to educate all involved in our programs. This includes players, coaches, and most of all parents. I look forward to working with ABW to help develop a parents program that will effectively communicate the importance of sportsmanship in their child’s program. Sportsmanship must be our top priority. Athletes and parents must be taught how to lose with honor and respect. And all must learn to respect each other.

ABW - How did you learn about ABW?

Cook - I was asked by the mayor’s office to talk with Sam Lee, then the Executive Director of the program and Kendra Jones, Resource Coordinator for ABW. I was impressed with the curriculum and the easy method to getting our coaches to understand the importance of winning more than the game. Since I have had experiences with educational programs, this looked like a viable way to help all our program participants.

ABW - What did you do to implement the program?

Cook - I asked ABW staff to come in and speak to our coaches about the program. I asked community center directors to allow ABW to present their program to them. I also asked other department employees to embrace the program. My job was easy; all I did was explain the program to employees and coaches who are in the trenches. They saw a need to help deal with problems in youth sports today, and it grew from there. ABW staff has talked to all and has distributed written material. They have provided support and material to individuals who have requested it. In addition, ABW staff has been present at league games to talk to everyone about the program.

ABW - Have you adopted the Code for Living?

Cook - The Code for Living hangs in the community centers throughout Seattle. It helps everyone to understand that we all need to have respect for others. By hanging on the wall, not just league players but others have a chance to read it, and hopefully it will make a difference in how we all see sports.

ABW - How has ABW helped your programs?

Cook - I was speaking with another employee about that the other day. It seems that my Mondays have always been spent dealing with ejections and disciplining of players and coaches. This past basketball season, the incidence of appeal hearings on these Mondays was greatly reduced every week. This has not happened previously, and I directly attribute this to coaches being educated by ABW! With the sharp decrease in ejections, ABW has given me more time to administer to program needs and not worry as much about the headaches involved in the tense situations of excluding people from our programs. I have recommended ABW to other local programs, and they have also reported similar successes. I am a firm supporter of ABW and as I mentioned previously, I look forward to working with them in the future to make youth sports a positive experience for all!

ABW - In closing, what advice would you give to athletes concerning playing sports?

Cook - Most of all, play the sport because you love it! Have fun! And don’t let others pressure you to get involved in something you are not comfortable doing. Most of all always respect yourself, others, and the game that you play.

ABW - Thank you for your time.

Cook - You are welcome, and keep up the good work that you do!