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Davenport athletics director lays out feeder program plan, sixth‑grade intramurals to widen access
Summary
Coach Dave Shovlin described a multiyear plan to strengthen feeder programs, improve middle‑to‑high‑school continuity and launch a sixth‑grade intramural program to increase access and development. Board members pressed for lists of sanctioned feeder groups and clarity on facility use and co‑op rules for private‑school students.
Coach Dave Shovlin gave the board an update on Davenport athletics and outlined a plan focused on feeder programs, middle‑school development and a sixth‑grade intramural program aimed at boosting participation and access.
Shovlin described a multi‑step strategy that begins with strengthening middle‑school connections to the high‑school programs, building consistent terminology and fundamentals across schools and working with community partners and local colleges to recruit coaches and mentors. “We want a vested, well developed team,” he told the board. “It isn’t all about winning and losing. But at the same time, it’s important to win and learn from losing.”
A central feature is a proposed sixth‑grade intramural program that would run before school and would not require a coaching license, Shovlin said. The intramural program is intended to offer low‑pressure play for younger students and to feed higher‑level feeder teams. He also described plans to pilot expanded intramurals and citywide sixth‑grade participation in events such as the city track meet.
The board and staff also discussed how the district will distinguish sanctioned Davenport feeder programs from independent travel or club teams that brand themselves as local but have no formal ties. Shovlin said the district has required outside groups to submit rosters and that non‑feeder groups may be asked to pay or be removed from facility schedules if space is needed for district programs. “We told them they couldn't use it if there is available space and they'd like to pay if there's available space,” Shovlin said.
Director Beck asked how the recent House File 189 — which requires public schools in some cases to accept private‑school athletes — affects feeder programs and middle‑school participation. Shovlin said the immediate effect is limited and the statute is most directly relevant to high‑school cooperative agreements; the district has permitted participation when other schools or programs did not offer a sport.
Board members asked staff to provide a list of sanctioned feeder programs for parent access and to clarify building‑level roles for athletic directors and the involvement expected of middle‑school staff. Shovlin said he would share names of recognized feeder programs and work with principals and ADs to improve visibility so younger students and families know who to contact.
