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Coaching Life Lessons

Trevor Hancock
Southern Oregon University
Education 409: Senior Capstone

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Abstract:
Coaching athletics is a passion of mine. Coaching allows me the opportunity to give back to the
youth in my community. I volunteered at two wrestling camps, and directed a youth football camp.
During these experiences I incorporated the mantra Champions of Character. The children were able to
learn about being champions in athletics, and in life. We talked about what these looked like, and why
they were so important. This paper goes in depth at one of those experience, and how the youth wrestlers
in my community were able to benefit from this project.

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Introduction/Background:
My Community Based Learning project, consisted of me working as a clinician and organizing a
youth wrestling camp. For this camp, I partnered with the Pendleton Wrestling Club, the Pendleton High
School Wrestling coaching staff, and the Rollin Schimmel Memorial Wrestling Foundation (RSMWF), to
design a summer camp for wrestlers. This was a two day camp designed to instruct wrestlers of all ages,
and ability levels. The clinicians for this camp were Miguel Baltazar (a NAIA All-American), Precott
Garner (a NAIA National Champion) and I. Miguel and Prescott were teammates of mine at Southern
Oregon University.
Wrestlers learned technique from all wrestling positions; neutral, top, and bottom positions. Each
session went in depth on the positions to ensure each wrestler grasped the technique. During the camp,
athletes received one-on-one time with the clinicians, group work, and opportunities for live wrestling.
The purpose of this camp was to create Champions of Character. To instill this ideal, we began and
ended each session with a pep-talk focusing on how to apply wrestling to life, investing in ones self,
and ultimately what it means to be a champion both on and off the wrestling mat.
Rationale:
I chose this CBL project, because I am passionate about the sport wrestling. This sport has
provided me countless opportunities, and has prepared me for life. I wouldnt be the person I am today
without the sport of wrestling, as it offers many great lessons than can be applied to life. I cant solely
contribute that to the sport of wrestling, as it was my coaches who played an intricate role in my
development as a wrestler and a person. This camp allowed me to give back to my community, and begin
to repay all these coaches who have invested time and effort in me. This camp was created not only to
teach kids the sport of wrestling, but foster the learning of the life lessons this sport has to offer. My final
reason for choosing this project, was to allow kids an affordable and quality wrestling camp experience.
Literature Review:

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1. The article Enhancing Life Skills through Sport for Children and Youth discussed the key aspects
that sport can play in the development of life skills youth. Life skill are defined as those skills
then enable individuals to succeed in the different environments in which they live, such as
school, home and in their neighborhoods and with their peer groups (Holt, Pg. 72, 2007). In
2002 study researched by Ewing, and Seefeldt concluded that, 47 out of 52 million children
participate or have joined at least one sport program (Holt, 74, 2007). This is an astounding
statistic, and the statistic is predicted to rise in the future. This means 47 million children could be
impacted in either a positive or negative manner from sports. This article explains that sports can
create an environment where children can learn life skills. However, the students have to be
motivated to acquire the particular characteristics. Coaches are a significant role in motivating
young athletes to learn these life skills through sport.
2. A former member of the US Olympic Wrestling team, Ken Chertow, is the author of an article
titled, Wrestling: Training for the Rest of Your Life. In the article, Chertow discussed the positive
impacts the sport of wrestling has on the future of its athletes, because of wrestlings ability to
prepare kids using life lessons. Intensity, focus, discipline, goal setting, determination, and
perseverance, are just a few of the infinite life lessons the sport of wrestling has to offer. Chertow
is an active member in the wrestling community, putting on clinics for wrestlers. During these
clinics, Chertow invites keynote speakers to address the wrestlers in attendance to exemplify the
point he is trying to make. These keynote speakers are former wrestlers, who are now successful
in all different areas of life. Chertow isnt just pushing kids to train for success in the sport of
wrestling. He is pushing kids to train for success in the sport of wrestling, as the life lessons
learned along throughout the process will make them successful people.
3. The journal, The Benefits of Youth Sport Participation goes in depth at the many positive factors
of youth sports, and how coaches play an influential role in these experiences. The first myth
about sports is that sports build character. This is completely false, as sports dont build character
but it enhances character. Coaches, and parents combined with involvement in sport can enhance
character in youth athletes. Coaches must constantly reiterate the importance of the life skills that

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the sports can teach athletes. These skills include: physical skills, apprehension to fitness, and
acquiring sports skills for leisure (Hestrum & Gould, pg. 4, 2004). Other benefits of sports may
include: maturation, moral development, collaboration amongst peers, self-value, and lifelong
fitness (Hestrum & Gould, p.4, 2004). These benefits are a regular aspect of youth sports, but
coaches must make sure these ideas stay constant in the young minds of athletes.
Description of the process:
I had set many goals for this camp, but the primary focus was that the kids walked away from the
camp better wrestlers and better people from the guidance of the clinicians. I believe there is a direct
relationship between the mindset it takes to be a successful wrestler, and the mindset it takes to be a
successful person in life. I wanted to create an environment that fostered learning for both of these ideals.
Another goal was to provide Pendleton wrestlers an affordable camp, with quality technique from
accomplished clinicians. My final goal was to effectively apply my undergraduate work in Elementary
Education towards the camp.
The idea for the camp was started when the Pendleton High School wrestling coach and I talked
about creating an affordable summer wrestling camp for kids in the Pendleton area. I wrote a letter to the
RSWMF requesting financial support to cover the expenses for the clinicians. The foundation agreed to
cover expenses for the clinician, and also offered to cover expenses for the wrestlers attending from
Pendleton. Once the camp had the financial support needed, the high school head coach set the date, and
the Pendleton Youth Wrestling Club advertised for the camp.
The camp was broken up into the three two-hour sessions both days of the camp. The opening
session of the camp started with each wrestler writing down two goals they wanted to achieve by the end
of the camp, and two long term goals they had for their career. Once the wrestlers had finished writing
down their goals, they taped their goals on the wall in the wrestling room. They walked over and read
their goals at the beginning and end of each session. This activity served several purposes. It allowed the

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clinicians to become acquainted with the wrestlers, and also showed us clinicians what the wrestlers
wanted to learn from the camp. The remaining sessions began with each wrestlers reviewing their goals
on the wall, and a game or fun activity that was related to the technique and skill that we were going to
cover during that specific session. The games and activities acted as a pre-assessment for us clinicians to
evaluate the ability levels, along with where the strengths and weaknesses of the group lied. Once the
ability levels were determined, we planned the technique being covered accordingly.
After the clinicians would demonstrate a move, the wrestlers would then beak from the circle, and
attempt the move with their partner. This camp had varying ranges of ability, and age levels. When the
wrestlers attempted the move the clinicians would go from group to group and give extra individual
instruction where it was needed. If the clinicians saw a majority of the group struggling, we would bring
everyone back into the circle and differentiate the instruction. This allowed the wrestlers to receive extra
help. This process would repeat until each wrestler was able to demonstrate mastery of each move.
A portion of each session was saved for live wrestling. During live wrestling, the wrestlers would
be put into small groups according their age, weight, and ability level, in live scenarios. This provided
wrestlers the opportunity to practice the technique they had just learned while wrestling live. One
trademark of this camp was the clinicians wrestling live with the groups. The reasoning behind this, was
the kids would put fear aside, (as we were much older and more experience) and just wrestle! The hope
for this strategy is that the wrestlers would learn to never back down form an opponent. By allowing the
kids to score offensive points on us clinicians, the kids were able to gain confidence with their wrestling.
It was an exciting accomplishment for these kids.
After live wrestling, the camp was focused on the Champions of Character portion of the camp.
This was a very accomplished and experience group of clinicians, as all of had started wrestling at a very
young age. We were completely honest with the kids, we told them about our fears, successes, goals, and
failures. Times throughout our careers where we struggled with weight management, managing our lives,

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good grades, winning, and being good people. We talked about how the struggles that happen during the
sport of wrestling are similar to those in life. This was also a time where campers could ask the clinicians
any questions about wrestling, or our personal lives. To close, we talked about being champions both on
and off the mat. This was a very crucial portion of the camp. The kids began making connections from
our stories, and how they related to their lives. The learning taking place was very obvious. I have never
seen a group of kids so focused. Our stories helped the kids believe in themselves, it helped them believe
that they had the potential to be great. It was a powerful experience.
After the camp we asked everyone involved for feedback. We received very little negative
feedback about the camp itself. There were coaches taking notes on the technique we showed, so they
could use it in the upcoming season. However, I knew our camp was a success when we were asked to do
the camp again the following year. The only area that could be improved upon was the number of kids
who attended the camp. There were only about twenty five kids in attendance for the camp. When we do
this camp again, there will be a better emphasis on the advertising and promotion of the camp.
Reflection:
Overall, this camp was an amazing experience. I learned that there is an effective way to combine
sport specific training and life lessons during summer camps. I realized that passion is essential for kids
growth. The kids were excited to learn because they saw the passion of the clinicians during the camp.
This concept is one that I will carry over into the classroom as a teacher, because I know that students will
thrive off my passion and energy in the classroom. Now that my athletic career as a competitor is over, I
want to coach. My passion for wrestling will never change, only my role in the sport will change. This
camp has helped prepare for the future, as I will transition from competitor to coach and teacher of the
sport. My most significant takeaway from this camp is how I can use aspects of coaching to make me a
better teacher, as both are very similar. This CBL project has confirmed that I am making the correct
career choice for myself. This was my first experience being a leader in a learning environment, and I feel

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very confident about the result of the camp. Because of this camp, I feel more confident speaking in front
children, communicating with parents, organizing events, and working alongside any organization in my
community. Hopefully, this was just the start of what will be a great annual camp for wrestlers.

Resources

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Chertow, K. (n.d.). Wrestling: Training for the Rest of your LIfe [Web log post]. Retrieved March 14,
2016, from http://kenchertow.com/pdfs/training_tips/wrestling_training_for_the_rest_of_your_life.pdf
Hedstrom, R., & Gould, D. (2004). Research in Youth Sports: Critical Issues Status. The Benefits of
Youth Sport Participation, 4-8. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
Holt, N. L. (2007). Positive Youth Development Through Sport. Enhancing Life Skills through Sport for
Children and Youth, 71-82. doi:10.4324/9780203944783