I’m seeing this more and more of this at every level, but especially at matches 16u and under.
Please don’t be that guy / gal (coach, relative, etc.) who sits matside and coaches over that kid’s corner coach. Encourage, but don’t coach!
Is it so important to you and your ego that the kid you THINK you are helping gets YOUR coaching expertise over the kid’s coach in the corner? I personally don’t care if the corner coach is “just” a parent willing to help out. To that kid, that parent IS their coach that one match and should be TAUGHT to respect him / her as such. Winning never more important than what we model for kids or worth causing tensions between you and that kid’s team of coaches and parents.
How’d you feel if you were in the corner and someone that kid respects (or maybe doesn’t) starts coaching over you? It 100% communicates to that kid and other kids that there are times when it’s okay to disrespect / undermine others (at a 12 yr old’s wrestling match???).
Does the kid listen to you out of respect for you or to their coach in the corner? Corner coach says “go bottom”, sideline coach says “neutral”. What’s that kid do???
What’s truly in that kid’s best interest? MAYBE getting better coaching from you and maybe (doubtful) it be the difference maker in that one particular match? Can you just wait until after the match and respectfully offer your suggestions moving forward WITHOUT undermining so that kid never trusts other coaches? It’s all about you; not the wrestler at this point.
This is somehow accepted within the wrestling community. From what I’ve observed, coaching over a coach it is NOT acceptable in team sports.
Re: That Guy
Posted by No kidding on 2/2/2025, 10:14 am, in reply to "That Guy"
Who are you talking about specifically? It'd probably help to name them, otherwise nobody will change.
Re: That Guy
Posted by Fair on 2/3/2025, 7:54 am, in reply to "That Guy"
I agree, but don’t think it’s teaching disrespect, necessarily. I think it’s rude, for sure. I’ve heard a college coach "coaching" over the top of a High School kids coach too. It’s pretty hard to watch. Especially when the HS coach is making the college coach sound like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Letting someone else coach your kid is a blessing and will help them get better, as long as they are advocating for the wrestler.
Re: That Guy
Posted by Dave G on 2/3/2025, 7:27 pm, in reply to "That Guy"
Very good post. Whoever is in the corner is the one that is coaching. Parents, other coaches, etc need to just be there supporting the wrestler with cheers and screams, not yelling out commands over the top of the coach in the corner.