Coaches as Role Models

Just as parents are the first "real life" role models for children, teachers and coaches come next. Coaches have immediate and quite visible responsibilities to their charges so set the example you want them to follow. Be on time for practices, keep yourself fit and healthy, praise and criticize positively. Kids develop an intuitive alarm that goes off when someone breaks the rules. Be fair, and never use your position of authority to gain an unfair advantage for yourself or your wrestlers.

The use of tobacco products by coaches draws an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in scholastic wrestling, so it is important to know the rules and enforce them uniformly, not only with the wrestlers but also all team personnel. Taunting others is expressly prohibited and can result in the coach, his wrestlers, the team, and other personnel being hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The ethical obligations of coachers are broad and deep and extend beyond practices and competitions to include other members of the academic and nonacademic wrestling communities. Building character, integrity, respect, and assuring the physical well-being of your wrestlers are integral parts of your coaching duties and should be included in the total learning experience of young wrestlers.

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