Code of Conduct
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Wrestlers Code of Conduct
Wrestling is a very demanding sport from both a physical and mental point of view. As in many other sports, excellent physical conditioning is required. However, unlike other sports, wrestling requires the athlete to contend one-on-one with his opponent for several minutes at a time. There is no break in the action, no completion of the play and no one to pass the ball to. A wrestler must be totally focused on his task for the entire length of his match. In many respects, wrestling is similar to a martial art, requiring long periods of instruction and drill to perfect key moves so that these moves become second nature to the athlete.
These aspects of wrestling highlight two key principles in the sport: Focus and discipline. We on the coaching staff have put together the following rules to emphasize the need for discipline, both in practice and in matches.
1. General:
Horse play (tripping, tackling, pushing, etc) are prohibited at all times.
2. Practice:
Practices for the Central Jersey and Raritan Valley teamswill be held in the High School Wrestling Room on Monday and Thursday Evening from 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Practices for the Middle School Team will also practice in the High School Wreslting Room on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Evenings from 7:00pm - 8:30pm. While we will make every attempt to maintain these schedules, they are subject to change.
It is imperative that wrestlers arrive a few minutes early to put on their wrestling shoes so that practices can begin on-time.
Leaving the practice room and roaming the school halls are strictly forbidden.
Talking is not permitted during technique demonstrations or drilling. It is important for the coaches to have the wrestlers' attention at these times so that they can teach properly and correct mistakes.
Wrestlers are expected to attend ALL practices in their entirety. If a wrestler needs to miss practice for any reason, he should notify one of the coaches. If a wrestler needs to miss practice on a regular basis this needs to be worked out with the coaches in advance. Honest communication with the coaching staff will alleviate many misunderstandings during the season.
Wrestling shoes are mandatory for practice and matches. This is for both sanitary and safety reasons. Also, headgear is required for drilling and live wrestling.
ALL Wrestlers must not leave any equipment, clothing or empty water bottles in the new wrestling room. If you bring it in, take it with you.
Parents or guardians of wrestlers are responsible for dropping off and picking up their children promptly. Parents or guardians are to be waiting for their children at the conclusion of practice.
Parents are not allowed in the wrestling room during practices due to the potential distractions to the wrestlers and because of the size of the room.
3. Home matches:
Before weigh-ins: Wrestlers should arrive at the school 1/2 hour before the scheduled start time of the match. After setting up the wrestling area and once the visiting team(s) arrive, wrestlers will weigh-in.
After weigh ins: After weigh-ins, the wrestlers will stay in a supervised area designated by the coaches. Wrestlers who wish to eat after weigh-ins should bring their food with them.
Dress: Wrestlers will perform their pre-match warm-up exercises together in their uniforms (including warm-up team shirts and shorts).
Bench conduct: During the match, wrestlers will remain seated with the team. After the wrestler’s match, with coach’s permission, wrestlers may go and spend 5 to 10 minutes visiting or sitting with parents or other spectators. Food is not allowed in the team area. However, wrestlers are encouraged to bring a drink to the wrestling area so that they can replenish their liquids after they wrestle. (Parents are not allowed on the bench or to sit with the team during the match)
End of match: After completion of the last match and shaking hands with the opposing team and a brief team meeting, all wrestlers will assist in rolling up the mats and returning chairs to the chair rack. One completed, the wrestlers will be dismissed. At that time, the wrestlers will no longer be under the supervision of the coaching staff.
4. Away matches: Parents are responsible for transporting their child to/from away matches. Wrestlers need to be at the location of the away match/tournament at the specified time. BE ON-TIME!
Dress: When the team arrives at the visiting location, each wrestler should be in uniform.
At the visiting location: The team will gather together at the visiting location in an area designated by the coaches. Same rules apply as for home match dress, bench conduct and end of match.
5. Discipline: Each wrestler will be held accountable for his own behavior. All wrestlers will be disciplined equally, without regard to their wrestling ability.
Practice: Disruptive infractions or other serious misbehavior will result in the wrestler being removed from practice immediately and having his parents contacted to come pick him up.
Matches: At matches, the wrestlers not only represent themselves, but also represent their team and their town. Therefore, infractions during a match will be considered serious. The coaches will not hesitate to remove a wrestler from the line up for one or more matches if he is showing willful disrespect for the established rules and for his team. If a wrestler is removed from the line-up for that match, he will immediately be released to the supervision of his parents.
Parents Code of Conduct
As a parent or spectator:
1. I will not force my child to participate in the sport of wrestling.
2. I will remember that children participate to have fun and that wrestling is for the youth, not adults.
3. I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others.
4. I will learn the rules of wrestling and the policies/expectations of the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association.
5. I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all wrestlers, coaches, officials and spectators at every dual, tournament, practice or other sporting event.
6. I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, wrestler, parent or spectator such as booing and taunting; verbal and physical threats; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures.
7. I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and or well-being of the athletes.
8. I will teach my child to wrestle by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
9. I (and my guests) will treat other wrestlers, coaches, officials, parents and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
10. I will teach my child that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a match, tournament finish, or his/her performance.
11. I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time.
12. I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.
13. I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning. I will also de-emphasize excessive wrestling and competition in the novice age group.
14. I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win.
15. I will respect the coaches and officials and their authority during wrestling matches and will never question, discuss, or confront coaches at a dual or tournament, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place.
16. I will respect the coaches and officials during practices and will never disrupt practice or encourage unsafe/unhealthy training for any child, and will take time to speak with coaches before or after practice at an agreed upon time and place.
17. I will respect everyone’s right to a healthy practice environment and will not remove my child from practice due to his/her performance; and I will let coaches know prior to practice if my child cannot attend or will need to leave practice early.
18. I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events.
19. I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during meets and practices, unless I am one of the official approved coaches of the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association.
20. I will ensure my child will wear the designated WHWA team singlet to all competitions.
Parental Complains are to be filed with the Watchung Hills Wrestling Associations Board of Trustees and immediate action will take place.
All parents will be held accountable for their own behavior under the Watchung Hills Wrestling Associations code of conduct. All Parents will be disciplined equally and accordingly, without regard to their child’s wrestling ability. All disruptive infractions or other serious misbehavior will result in the following.
By failing to follow the Parents code of Conduct:
First infraction, parents will be notified by the board of trustees with a disciplinary memorandum of the infraction and this could result in the Parent being suspended from attending practices or matches. The Parent will be notified to attend a special called meeting to discuss the complaint file with the board of trustees.
Second infraction, will result in the Parent and possibly the Wrestler being removal from the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association program or being placed on a 1 year suspension from the program based on the Watchung Hills Wrestling Associations board of trustees recommendations.
Failure to respect the Watchung Hills board of trustee’s recommendations will result in immediate termination from the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association program for both the parent and the Wrestler with a 2/3 vote.
The Watchung Hills Wrestling Association reserves the right to terminate (without registration refund) your child’s privilege to participate in our wrestling program based on the expectations of the code of conduct.
The Watchung Hills Wrestling Association also reserves the right to terminate (without registration refund) your affiliation with the club as a coach, parent helper or board member based on the expectations of the code of conduct.
Coaches Code of Conduct
The purpose of the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association is to promote the sport of youth wrestling through instructional training of proper wrestling techniques and through a positive influence. Our coaching staff conducts all training in an environment designed to promote a fun, yet informative, training experience. Hard work, dedication, discipline and sportsmanship are promoted, and through positive reinforcement our coaches provide the best possible training for our young athletes.
As we begin this wrestling season, please remember that the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association has high character expectations for all persons associated with the Club. Every coach is not only a representative of this Club, but of our community. Our actions are as important as our words, so please lead by example to show our children the true definition of "good sportsmanship".
1. I will follow all rules and regulations established by USA Wrestling and the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association.
2. I will support and promote the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association and not engage in any activities that conflicts with the best interests and goals of the club.
3. I will keep an open line of communication between myself and other coaches, parents, and board members.
4. I will be respectful in victory and defeat.
5. I will not criticize wrestlers but will provide instruction and coaching in an appropriate manner.
6. I will accept the final decisions of officials as being fair and called to the best ability of said officials. I may discuss calls with an official in a manner within the rules, but will not berate or yell at the officials.
7. I will not criticize an opposing team, its wrestlers, coaches, or fans by word of mouth or by gestures.
8. I will emphasize that good athletes strive to be good students and that both are physically and mentally alert.
9. I will place the emotional and physical well-being and safety of my team above all other considerations
10. I will strive to make every wrestling activity serve as a training ground for life and a basis for good mental and physical health.
11. I will not deliberately incite unsportsmanlike conduct. I will be jointly responsible for the conduct and control of team fans and spectators.
12. I will remember that the sport is for youth, not for adults.
13. I will refrain from using profanity at any games, practices or any other youth wrestling events
14. At our team tournaments, I will help to coach wrestlers in every division and age group and provide assistance when waiting for the next match no matter the wrestler’s level of experience.
15. At practice and competitions, I will not show favoritism toward any wrestler. I will coach at the direction of the Head Coach(es) and will not show favoritism toward my own child(ren) or put additional expectations or duties on my own child(ren).
16. I recognize my personal problems and conflicts may interfere with my effectiveness as a coach. Accordingly, I will refrain from undertaking an activity when I know or should know that my personal problems are likely to lead to harm to athletes or other participants or cause harm to the parent–club relationship.
17. I will immediately inform the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association Board, in writing, of any negative issue which arises and would be reflected on a current background screening including, but not limited to, being arrested, receiving drug related ticket, domestic abuse involvement, etc.
18. I understand and accept the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association Board, at its discretion, retains the right to immediately expel/suspend any coach, depending on the severity of a violation of this Coaches Code of Conduct.
19. I have the following mandatory required certifications to coach for the WH Wrestling Association.
A. Valid up to date - USA Wrestling coaching card w/ Background check
B. Valid up to date – CRP Training certification
C. Valid – Rutgers NJ Coaching certification card
Consequences for violating any of the above:
All violations of the Coaches Code of Conduct will be reviewed by the WHWA coaches committee and presented to the board of trustees. The violation is to be reviewed by a majority of the Board within one week of the incident to determine any and all consequences. Consequences may include verbal warning, practice and/or tournament suspensions; removal as coach. Consequence decisions made by the Watchung Hills Wrestling Association Board are final.
