Guiding questions Coach Carter

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Coach Carter

Movie project TH4A

IB-B English

During this project, some tasks will be done in small groups 

• First of all, create a group of 2- 4 students
• Then, come up with a group name that relates to the Coach Carter Movie
• One of you will add the answers to the Lesson Up questions  (can you change your name into a group name in Lesson up?)  
• Groups with best overall performance will be rewarded at the end of the project

What will your group performance score be at the end of the project?

Post your group name + its members here

1. The movie starts with a basketball game between Richmond and St Francis. Why is Ken Carter going to watch this game? Give two reasons.

2. Describe the mood between the separate teams ánd between the Richmond players within their own team in this (final) part of the game.

3. The old coach wants to quit coaching the team. Which problems does he mention to Ken Carter?

4. Damian Carter, coach Carter’s son, didn’t really like it when his dad decided to start coaching the Richmond team. What did Damian subsequently? And what did his parents think of this?

5. When Carter is introduced to the team by the old coach there’s immediate display of disrespect in language and body language. Provide some examples. Why would the team do this?

6. Rather quickly there’s a confrontation between Carter and one of the players. Describe what happens. Also, describe the confrontation in terms of body language.

7. What is the Code of Conduct Carter imposes on the team? Provide at least 7 of these rules..

8. What do you think Carter's purposes are with this contract and its content?

9. Timo Cruz has left the gym after the first confrontation. Later on he wants to join again. Why? Which requirements are set by CC?

10. What happens when Timo fails to meet these requirements? And what does this tell us about the team?

11. At some point in the movie Kenyan visits his girlfriend Kyra in her apartment. She is pregnant and also has to take care of her baby brother. What is the function of this scene in the movie?

12. In one of the scenes the girls are gathered in the schoolyard, talking about baby names. One of them says to Kyra: ‘’You might as well call the baby Food stamp’’. Explain this.

13. At some point in the movie CC says to Timo: ‘’What is your deepest fear Mr Cruz? That you’re inadequate? Give up Mr Cruz, go home!” What do you think CC tries to achieve by saying this to Timo? What do you think the effect of his words will be?

14. Explain the following CC quote and place it in its context: ‘’Ghetto hoop stars… Signing autographs and humping the honeys. Well I’m going to show you what humping is’’.

15. At some point,CC decides to close the gym: ‘’If you don’t perform in the classroom, you will not play’’. ‘’Report to the library’’. Describe the initial effect of this measure.

16. Explain the following CC quote: ‘’I see a system that is designed for you to fail’’.

17. Explain the following CC quote: ‘’At this school, 50% graduates and 6% go to college, so if you don’t go to college, where are you gonna go? Probably to prison…’’ How did him saying this affect the team?

18. At this point in the movie CC loses his patience in a car incident and is calmed down by his son. Also, there is a moment of him sitting on a ball in the empty gym. Do you think these two scenes are connected in some way? What is their function?












18. At this point in the movie CC loses his patience in a car incident and is calmed down by his son. Also, there is a moment of him sitting on a ball in the empty gym. Do you think these two scenes are connected in some way? What is their function?

19. At the board meeting that was called in order to discuss the measures CC has taken, mostly the closing of the gym, many arguments against the measure are given by parents and teachers. Write down the best arguments in your opinion and explain why you think so.

20. What is Ken Carters main argument to plead his case? What is your opinion on his argumentation?

21. When Carter enters the gym, he is baffled by what he sees in the gym. Explain.





21 When Carter enters the gym, he is baffled by what he sees in the gym. Explain.





21 When Carter enters the gym, he is baffled by what he sees in the gym. Explain.

22. Shortly after, Timo Cruz recites the poem ‘Our Deepest Fear’. What does this reveal about him?

23. Very soon after this scene, the students’ ademic results start to improve and training starts again. ‘’Let’s play ball!’’ How does the first game they play end and how does this make them feel?

24. Eventually, they play in the state championship against St Francis, just like in the beginning of the movie. Why do you think the game ends the way it ends?

25. Character analysis: How do Carter’s players change their lives under his guidance? Think of Kenyon Stone, Timo Cruz, and Junior Battle in particular. What first steps are they encouraged to undertake and how do those steps begin to change their lives? (Kenyon, Timo, Junior)

26. Has watching this movie changed your personal opinion/view on certain matters? Tell and explain.

27. To which IB-B themes you have been working on this year, is the content of this movie connected? Explain how.