New AD Yapsuga aims to build positive relationships
Ed Yapsuga, a Berks County native who graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1997, officially became Kutztown Area School District’s Director of Athletics and Activities on Dec. 18.
Yapsuga, who previously served as the Director of Athletics at Garden Spot High School in New Holland, earned his bachelor’s degree in athletic training and sports medicine in 2001 from East Stroudsburg University. In 2003, he received his master’s in sports management.
Consistent with his goals as an athletic director at Garden Spot, Yapsuga wants to increase the participation numbers in athletics, specifically in girls and middle school sports.
“That’s an issue that affects a lot of school districts. We are seeing across the board that participation numbers are really starting to go down. I am trying to do whatever I can, along with the administration and coaches to really bring that up to try and create some opportunities for all of our athletes here,” Yapsuga said. “We are trying to get some good positive opportunities for kids to get to participate in as many things as possible.”
As for his plans to achieve these goals, Yapsuga compares the efforts to those of a grassroots campaign.
“It begins by reaching out to the youth organization and the youth leagues and trying to get the parents, community and kids involved at an early age to try and create a passion and a love for the sport.”
With a school district as small as Kutztown, it can be difficult to have strong participation numbers in each and every sport. Many students are involved in multiple activities. According to Yapsuga, it takes cooperation and effort from everyone involved.
“To really thrive, (the sports program) relies on groups being able to really work with each other to allow kids to be able to try as many things as possible. It takes a lot of communication, marketing, and promoting what we as a district are trying to achieve.”
Being new to the athletics scene at Kutztown, and to the school district overall, Yapsuga aims to base his philosophy on building positive relationships.
“(Building positive relationships) is what I believe is fundamental to any kind of team success. You really need to be able to rely on the people you work with. It not only helps you but it also helps the overall culture,” Yapsuga said. “I think that is where success will really come from.”
Another goal of Yapsuga is to
unify the students, faculty and community. He believes a strong bond between the school and community is what will ultimately create the best possible experience for students not only involved in athletics, but with other activities such as Science Olympiad and the music program as well.
“Everybody ultimately has the same goal. Whether it’s sitting in chemistry class or going to a football game or just going to an assembly or dance, you want to provide the best possible experience for the students, the community, and the staff,” said Yapsuga. “You have good ethics, a strong moral compass and you try to do things the right way and make the right decisions as best as you can and create good experiences for everybody involved.”
Being seasoned as an athletic director, Yapsuga understands the importance that involvement in athletics has on students.
“It’s no secret. The research is out there that the more kids are involved in athletic activities, it positively affects their grades. One of the visions I have, and one of the things that I live by with athletics, is that you extend the educational experience of the classroom through athletics,” Yapsuga said.
He said the skills learned in a classroom are the same type of skills that can be applied on a basketball court or a soccer field.
“It’s really important that you are able to be in one area of your life, know how to use those skills, and then transfer over to another area of your life and take that same type of discipline and same type of skill set, and help you to excel in that area as well.”