VALLEY CENTER WRESTLING CLUB

Coaching Code of Conduct

INTRODUCTION

The athlete/coach relationship is a privileged one. Coaches play a critical role in the personal as well as athletic development of their athletes. They must understand and respect the inherent power imbalance that exists in this relationship and must be extremely careful not to abuse it. Coaches must also recognize that they are conduits through which the values and goals of a sport organization are channeled. Thus how an athlete regards his/her sport is often dependent on the behavior of the coach. The following Code of Conduct has been developed to aid coaches in achieving a level of behavior, which will allow them to assist their athletes in becoming well-rounded, self confident and productive human beings.

COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES

• Treat everyone fairly within the context of the sport, regardless of gender, place of origin, race, color, religion, athletic potential, political belief, economic status, age or any other conditions.
• Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete. Provide feedback to athletes and other participants in a caring manner that is sensitive to their needs.
• Consistently display high personal standards and project a favorable image of the sport of wrestling and of coaching.
  1. Refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches; especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes.
  2. Abstain from the use of tobacco products while in the presence of his/her athletes and discourage their use by athletes.
  3. Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with his/her athletes and discourage their use by athletes.
  4. Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of his/her duties.
• Ensure that the activity being undertaken is suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of the athletes and educate athletes as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment.
• Give athletes the opportunity to discuss, contribute and to agree with proposed training and performance standards. Provide athletes with information necessary to be involved in the decisions that affect them.
• Be responsible for achieving a high level of professional competence through appropriate training. Keep themselves up to date with relevant information on coaching skills and techniques.
• Communicate and cooperate with registered medical practitioners in the diagnoses, treatment and management of their athletes' medical and psychological problems. Consider the athletes' future health and well being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured athletes' ability to continue wrestling or training.
• Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialists. Allow athletes' goals to take precedence over their own.
• Treat opponents and officials with due respect, both in victory and defeat, and encourage athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage athletes to uphold the rules of wrestling.
• Communicate and cooperate with the athlete's parents or legal guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their child's development.
• Be aware of significant pressures in athletes' lives, e.g., family and financial, and coach in a manner that fosters positive life experiences. Be aware of the academic pressures on student-athletes and conduct practices in a manner so as to allow academic success.
• Honor all promises and commitments, both verbal and written.

Not exploit any relationship established as a coach to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interests of their athletes or other participants in wrestling. (I.e. Conflict of Interest)

COACHING RULES

Coaches must:

• Ensure the safety of the athletes with whom they work.
• Respect athlete's dignity; verbal or physical behaviors that constitute harassment or abuse are unacceptable.
• Never advocate or condone the use of drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.
• Never contribute to the abuse of alcohol or tobacco products by athletes.
• Behave in a professional manner at all competitions.

If a coach is in violation of the terms of this Coaching Code of Ethics the coach may be subject to disciplinary action which may include: a reprimand; fine; withdrawal of funding; suspension; dismissal; or a combination of such actions.

Possible infractions and sanctions are not limited to those outlined above.

Impact of a Coach

I have come to a frightening conclusion I am the decisive element in the wrestling room. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a coach, I possess tremendous power to make a wrestler’s life miserable or joyous. I can be the tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and an athlete humanized or dehumanized.

An adaptation of Haim Ginott