excessive coaching and unsportsmanlike conduct

[britcanbulldogtkd]

"Double Up yr shots and then take his head off with a reverse hook kick, he as no guard" I heard a coach say to a fighter at a small regional competition "Wow thats pretty observant to notice that in the heat of the 1st round" I had noticed that the fighters opponent tended to drop the left arm when delivering a kick with the right leg. The reason I had noticed it was because I was the centre referee The other coach was telling the opposing fighter that if he were to hit him with a push kick as soon as the refs arm dropped he could then step in with a front kick to the face and score 2 possible 3 points Thats pretty aggressive coaching I thought and if it was on a world championship stage I could understand it Two top quality black belt fighters fighting for gold Its all pretty exciting
The only problem I had was this wasnt top black belt fighters. This was a couple of Kids at greenbelt level fighting in a small competition. Who were both obviously nervous probably not been on the mat more than 6 times between them."WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE" The outcome of the 2nd round was one kid not being able to carry on owing to the excitement of the fight because the other kid punched him in the mouth causing lots of tears and a small cut on the lip
I disqualified the puncher and called it a draw. and I got flak from the coaches because both of them thought their fighter had won.
No doubt we who have refereed have come across this thing on many occasions
LOL I have even had parents telling me that I know nothing. when their little angel as lost. (bet they wouldnt get on to the mat though)
I am sorry to report that "win at all costs" is not what sparring is about and where does the fault lie With overzealous coaches and fighters that cheat. ITS DESTROYING ITSELF
We preach or should preach the tennants and forget about them when we get to the big sports hall where the competition is being held and the ego and atmosphere take over
How many competitions still exsist where the competitors are called up before the start and are requested to show respect to the flags and organisers etc how often do we see the fighter bowing to a referee when a deduction is made for some infraction of the rules I once deducted a half point even before the fight had started because the black belt wouldnt bow correctly to the fighter opposite That blackbelt lost by a point. The coaches screaming out while the fighters compete we all know once you are fighting. You cant hear a thing.
Do you think we can go back to the dojang and start again teaching that respect ettiquette also apply to the competition as well as within the school. and if required instruct the parents on how act when at a competition
how do others feel
(its long winded I know but i needed to get that off my chest)

 

[Twin Fist]

i have disqualified fighters for thier instructors doing crap like that.

I warn them 3 times, 4th time and thier fighter is OUT

pisses them off to no end, but as long as the promoter backs you up, who cares?

 

[terryl965]

All of my student it is mandatory that they do. My students even after the match win or loose go ove rto each corner score keeper timer and center ref. and shake there hands, it about given respect to those that are helping and caring enough to be there.

I have always said it is about respect and dignity not winning and loosing.

 

[SageGhost83]

There is one of the pitfalls of competition - excess testosterone coupled with overgrown egos. I am not surprised that such things occur, but I pity it, nonetheless. The role of the coaches is very interesting, indeed. They usually hype the fighters up and get them pumped to no end while at the same time forgetting what they are participating in and the kind of respect that goes along with it. The coaches would be well served to remember the tenets of their art and put them into practice even within their own position as coaches.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Well, I can't say I never went overboard in any tournament I've been in. I've always been a Vince Lombardi and Miyamoto Musashi kind of guy when it came to competition.

But thing is, I never had anyone coaching me. I have always competed as an adult, didn't even get in martial arts or shooting till I was older.

If you guys think tots in karate tournaments have way to much adult help, wait till you see kiddie leauge soccer or baseball. Those coaches and moms will kill you (not kidding, some will at least fight you.)

Some ground rules need to be made before the tournaments. Rules not just for the contestants, but for the coaches and spectators. WRITTEN RULES. Make sure of that. Make sure they all sign off on it. Do that and you will see alot of that stop. And in the rules let them know what the spirit of comptition is.

Oh, and win or lose, I've always shook the hands of the others and complemented them on the match. That's just being a decent person.

Deaf

 

[Kacey]

Coaches must adhere to the same standards of sportsmanship that the competitors and referees do; if they do not, their competitor may pay the price, as this one did.

I only have one problem with the statement the coach made - "Double Up yr shots and then take his head off with a reverse hook kick, he as no guard" - and that is the "take his head off" part. The rest - double your kicks, use a reverse hook kick, he has his hands down - those are all, IMHO, legitimate coaching. Inciting excessive contact, however, is illegal, and should be treated as such.

 

[StuartA]

Thats one of the reasons I dont like coaches by the mat.

Besides, a student should be able to do their stuff themselves and should have been coached to the comeptition level already.. coaches IMO, on the mats are not needed!

Stuart

 

[Bret Hinds]

This is a self control sport and art, not little league. I think your points are well made , I have not allowed coaching to take place in some of the ring that i have judged, because one side had a coach and the other did not. I also have had walking around B.B.'s look to the fighters needs that need help. Little dragons and tigers ages. All the best in the arts

 

[Jai]

I've ejected coaches before from being on the mats before, with the full support of the promoters. I've DQ'd fighters before because of the actions of coaches and parents. I have no problem with doing it. I also have no problem stopping a match to speak with an overly aggressive coach or parent and telling them to back off. I don't know where everything went so wrong. I can't honestly remember more then a very few times when I was coming up in the ranks of TKD where a coach or parent was overly aggressive, and it was usually far between when incidents happened. My instructors always taught us honor and respect first, even when you lose. In all my years teaching I have followed with those two very important aspects of Martial Arts in general. The other problem I have is to many coaches are treating tournaments like a street fight. Where did it all go so wrong? Kids are getting hurt in record numbers these days in a situation where safety has taken a back seat to aggressiveness that looks more like a sickness over sportsmanship, and I put the blame on parents and coaches that just don't know when to back off and push kids to far just to see them take a match.

 

[YoungMan]

Excessive coaching, I think, is the result of several factors. First, the parent or coach wants to inflate his own ego by showing that my kid/student can beat your student. Second, I suspect that many of these coaches and parents are competing vicariously through their kids, to make up for whatever athletic endeavors they were unsuccessful at when younger, or to try to reclaim past glory.
Bottom line: it's just a game. Do not put your failed dreams or ego on the shoulders of a 10 year old kid. According to WTF rules, a competitor can be disqualified if the coach, parent, friend, or fellow student engages in this type of behavior.

 

[britcanbulldogtkd]

I think that maybe we as coaches instructors, referees, need to tighten up on the rules and ruling. and start to deduct and disqualify more freely.
After all "a poor belt testing structure makes for a poor student" I believe so maybe poor competitor/coach/referee makes for a poor competition

 

[terryl965]

I agree but here lies the problem if your tournament is DQing people for this guees what nobody come the next year except a few and finally you have to stop running it and these folks know this, that is why I never host tournaments anymore it is just to political now a days.