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Yard sale
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, S. Main St., Belmont, will have a yard sale Saturday, Oct. 4 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Space rentals and table rentals are available. Outside spaces are $10. Inside spaces are $15. Tables can be rented for $5. Call ahead to reserve space, (704)825-8175.
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Coaching kids to get physical
By TARA MANJARRES
- Thu, Apr 10, 2008
BELMONT—Coach Ron Froneberger has a rich and storied history like his favorite football team the Dallas Cowboys.
Though you would never guess it from the unassuming man now just affectionately called “Coach” at Belmont Central Elementary School. It’s not the national spotlight in which he’s spent his career but rather the local one having put in 31 years in Gaston’s school gymnasiums. He’s taught physical education at middle and high school, and now he’s getting the youngest students of all ready for sports.
He could retire anytime except for one reason.
“I really like my job, and I love working with kids. If I didn’t, I’d retire for sure,” said Froneberger whose hobbies include woodworking and photography. He also likes to ride his Harley. But for now, his pastimes remain sidelined.
Though he serves as the school’s physical education teacher, he earned the title coach from his days of coaching football and girls track at East Gaston High School. He described it as a shock going from high school sports to elementary phys ed but the timing was right in his life for a new challenge.
Fitness in elementary school is more than just kickball, he stresses.
“It’s important to me to make sure all the kids are active. I try to put a positive spin on PE because being physically active helps teach the kids how to be active in life. I also try to make games fun for them. It is about them being competitive but I still stress sportsmanship and fun over winning.”
But what about the kids that don’t like PE? Coach doesn’t bench them.
“I make sure everyone is active and having fun and I make sure no one is feeling left out. If I see someone not as competitive and who doesn’t have the skills, I try to give them individual attention and make sure they feel good about themselves.”
Just like all coaches he doubles as a motivational speaker.
“If I have a kid that’s not been exposed to athletic activity, I’ll tell them ‘lets just play and have a good time and we’ll get better as we go.’”
Coach admits he believes kids don’t get enough physical activity. Right now, second- and third-graders spend 30 minutes with him once a week. Fourth- and fifth-graders get an additional 10 minutes upping it to 40 minutes once a week.
“Honestly, I think the kids should have PE with a coach everyday,” he lamented lightly. “If your body is active, your mind is active and that’s one reason I think kids need more physical education.”
But he said he’s glad that they do have at least 30 minutes of play time with their teacher dailywhich has been required by federal law since 2006.
Coach said being physically active at school carries over to home once the dismissal bell has rung.
“The more active they are at school the more likely they are to be active at home,” he said.
And what about dodgeball— the game synonymous with PE?
“Kids still love dodgeball,” he laughed. “Mine would play everyday if I’d let them.”
But with his knack for inventing games, Coach guarantees his students are up-to-date in the world of PE. Sometimes his games are variations of old standbys with a twist like Survivor Dodgeball but most of them don’t sport official names. Coach said the true purpose is about adding variety to the exercise program.
“I can take an equipment catalog and see all the different equipment and then I think ‘what kind of games can I come up with to get them active?’”
Coach doesn’t come from a family of coaches or teachers. He is the first. He played sports in high school and at Lenoir Rhyne College and said he has always been passionate about athletics. He said he decided to pursue a job in the field he loves.
“I’m competitive with everything I do and coaching was a natural job choice,” said Froneberger, who’s also an avid sports fan.
Locally, he pulls for both East Gaston and South Point high schools. And when, they play each other.
“I sit quietly and enjoy the game.”
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