Domain 1

Domain 1

Coaching Philosophy

My coaching philosophy describes that I exist to develop athletes to their fullest potential as well as develop relationships with athletes in a positive environment conducive to learning and relationship building. My philosophy is grounded by eight key values that define specific behaviors that everyone involved with our team is to demonstrate on and off the court. These eight key values are: enthusiasm, pride, resilience, caring, communication, greatness, ambition, and olympism. 

Five Daily Actions

  1. Create a positive environment for athletes during all practices and games and build relationships
    • Ask everyone to communicate during practice
    • Ask everyone (coaches & athletes) to say at least two enthusiastic comments each day
    • Encourage athletes to give each other high fives during every drill
    • Ask athletes to share highs and lows for the day during team warm up
    • Talk to each athlete every day to check in and gauge how their day is going
    • Encourage everyone to fulfill their potential
  2. Lead by example
    • Demonstrate the 8 components of my philosophy so that athletes see them in action
    • Positive pinpoint athletes who demonstrate components of my philosophy during practice to motivate others to do the same
    • Encourage all athletes to do their best to lead by example on and off the court
  3. Keep composure and confidence at all practices and games
    • Stay composed in the event of failure
    • Remain confident in abilities in the event of failure
    • Don’t show weaknesses, always bounce back from issues no matter how large they are
    • Encourage athletes to stay composed and confident when they fail
    • Require athletes to come up with at least one positive during times of failure
  4. Rotate the core values as words of the day
    • Ask athletes to write down what each value means to them after practice each day
    • Ensure athletes know the definition of each word
  5. Develop a practice plan/game plan each day
    • Prepare for practices/games in advance using yearly planning
    • Communicate with coaches and athletes about what each day’s plan entails

Hazing Policy

(Information of about hazing will draw from the courtesy of Lee Green, Baker University)

Definition

“Hazing occurs when an act is committed against a student or a student is coerced into committing an act that creates a substantial risk of harm to the student or to any third party in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with any school group, club, athletics team, grade level, activity or organization.”

Hazing includes but is not limited to:

  • Any activity involving an unreasonable risk of physical harm (beating, sleep depriving, exposure to weather, harmful substance to the body, branding, electric shock, paddling)
  • Any activity involving the consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco products, or any other food, liquid, or other substance
  • Any activity that subjects a student to an extreme and unreasonable level of embarrassment, shame or humiliation which creates hostile, abusive, and intimidating environment for the student.
  • Any activity involving any violation of federal, state or local law, or any violation of school district policies and regulations” (Green, n.d.)

Virginia Anti-Hazing Law

Virginia Code Section 18.2-56 (2000): Title 18.2 – Crimes And Offenses Generally, Chapter 4- Crimes Against Persons, Article 4- Assaults And Bodily Woundings

“It shall be unlawful to haze, or otherwise mistreat so as to cause bodily injury, any student at any school, college, or university. Any person found guilty thereof shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless the injury would be such as to constitute a felony, and in that event the punishment shall be inflicted as is otherwise provided by law for the punishment of such felony. Any person receiving bodily injury by hazing or mistreatment shall have a right to sue, in civil court, the person(s) guilty thereof, whether adults or infants.”

“The president, or other presiding official of any school, college, or university receiving appropriations from the state treasury shall, upon satisfactory proof of the guilt of any student found guilty of hazing or mistreating another student so as to cause bodily injury, expel such student so found guilty, and shall make report thereof to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in which such school, college, or university is located, who shall present the same to the grand jury of such city or county convened next after such report is made to him.”

Policy Infractions

We will have a zero tolerance policy for hazing.

Bullying will be on a three chance basis and athletes will follow this order of consequences:

Reinforcing Team Values

Sportsmanship Statement

All athletes, coaches, and staff, “shall exert his or her influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators, both directly and by working closely with parents and other individuals involved in the program

All athletes, coaches and staff will promote “high standards of ethics, sportsmanship and personal conduct by encouraging administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes, and community to commit to these high standards” in all aspects of life (NIAAA, 2013).

Code of Ethics

Overall Code of Ethics (from NFHS Coaches Code of Ethics)

• All coaches and staff, “shall be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence, for either good or ill, on the education of the student and, thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest ideals of character.” (Responsibility)

• All athletes, coaches, and staff, “shall uphold the honor and dignity of the [sport]. In all personal contact with students, officials, athletic directors, school administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, [athletes, coaches, and staff] shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct.” (Integrity)

• All athletes, coaches, and staff, “shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.” (Responsibility)

• All coaches and staff, “shall promote the entire program and direct his or her program in harmony with D & J’s training program.”

• All athletes, coaches, and staff, “shall exert his or her influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators, both directly and by working closely with parents, booster club, and program directors.”

• All athletes, coaches, and staff, “shall respect and support contest officials. The [athletes, coaches, and staff] shall not indulge in conduct which would incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical.” (Respect)

• All coaches, “should meet and exchange cordial greetings with the opposing coach to set the correct tone for the event before and after the contest.” (Respect)

• All coaches and staff, “shall not exert pressure on school officials to give student special considerations.” (Integrity)

• All athletes, coaches, and staff, “shall not scout opponents by any means other than those adopted by the league and our program.” (Integrity)

Adapted from NFHS Coaches Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics Based on Ethical Principles

Adapted from the NIAAA Code of Ethics, NFHS Coaches Code of Ethics, and CSCTA Code of Professional Conduct.

Respect

  • All athletes, coaches, and staff “will display respect and treat all persons equally,” in all athletic and academic efforts, “regardless of sex, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious belief or political affiliation” (Canadian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association [CSCTA], n.d.).
  • All athletes, coaches and staff will protect “the civil and human rights of all individuals, and endeavors to understand and respect the values and traditions of the diverse cultures represented,” within the program (National Interscholastic Athletic Administration [NIAAA], 2013).
  • All athletes, coaches and staff “shall respect and support contest officials. The coach [specifically] shall not indulge in conduct which would incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical” (National Federation of State High School Associations [NFHS], 2019). 

Integrity

  • All athletes, coaches and staff “are expected to consistently display high personal standards and to project a favourable image of the sport and of coaching to [athletes], other coaches, officials, administrators, spectators, the media and the general public” (CSCTA, n.d.).
  • All athletes, coaches and staff will promote “high standards of ethics, sportsmanship and personal conduct by encouraging administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes, and community to commit to these high standards” in all aspects of life (NIAAA, 2013).
  • “The coach shall uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. In all personal contact with students, officials, athletic directors, school administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct” in order to gain respect and maintain honesty among athletes and the program community (NFHS, 2019).

Responsibility

  • All athletes, coaches and staff will fulfill “responsibilities with honesty, integrity and a commitment to equity and fairness” (NIAAA, 2013).
  • “The coach shall be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence, for either good or ill, on the education of the student and, thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest ideals of character” (NFHS, 2019).
  • All athletes, coaches and staff will demonstrate a high level of responsibility by holding themselves accountable to following all rules and regulations within the program and society. Coaches and staff specifically will understand that they “shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse,” and “shall avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco products when in contact with players” (NFHS, 2019). Athletes will specifically understand that they will not be able to “use recreational, illegal or performance enhancing drugs” at any time (CSCTA, n.d.).

References

Canadian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association. (n.d.) Canadian swim coaches and teachers association (CSCTA): Code of professional conduct [PDF file].Retrieved from http://www.csca.org/Admin/images/CSCTA%20Code%20of%20Professional%20Conduct112506.pdf

National Federation of State High School Associations. (2019). Coaches code of ethics. Retrieved from https://www.nfhs.org/nfhs-for-you/coaches/coaches-code-of-ethics/

National Interscholastic Athletic Administration. (2013). NIAAA code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.niaaa.org/about-the-niaaa/niaaa-code-of-ethics/