A Coach's Influence (Archived) As the seasons' end draws near I have watched more matches than I can count. I've been observing the various wrestling styles and techniques, as well as behavior and attitudes of teams from all over Long Island. What I have noticed is that while techniques and favorite moves may vary with each team and wrestler, the behavior and attitudes of these teams along with their success or failure is in direct correlation to the behavior and attitude of their coach. One day while waiting for a match to begin, several spectators around me were having a discussion about the retirement of two very successful Long Island coaches. The general opinion was that since wrestling teams are made up of individuals and the talents of each, the loss of these beloved coaches while sad, would not have a major effect on the durability of the team. As they spoke, I thought that while their conclusion seemed logical, history has not born out their rationale . I know of many Long Island teams that went under after the loss of their successful and talented coaches. Surely, this must be more than just chance and the lack of talent among the turnover of incoming wrestlers. It is my opinion, after witnessing the waning of many programs, that the coach is indeed an integral factor in the continued success of a particular team. While many coaches may be equal in their ability to teach moves and technique, it is blatantly apparent that all coaches are not created equal, when it comes to the gift of motivating and instilling cohesiveness within their team. It takes a special coach to foster team spirit as well as respect for their teammates, including respect for the wrestlers of the opposing team. When you have attended as many wrestling events as I have, it becomes most obvious that the coach sets the tone and example for his entire team. It is not only how he conducts himself in the wrestling room, but what he says and does that teaches his team what his values and expectations are. Just by watching his wrestlers performances on the mat as well as the behavior they display at events you learn much about their coach. It has been my experience, that the coach who teaches team pride along with individual goal setting, has a team that encourages each other and stays involved until the last man has wrestled. A coach that treats officials with professionalism and demonstrates restraint when under pressure, teaches his team to perform at their best and in a mature fashion regardless of the outcome of their match. Most of all, wrestlers of all ages and abilities need positive strokes, encouragement, constructive criticism and at times plain old TLC from their coach. This will create an open and respectful relationship between coach and wrestler, one in which the wrestler wants to do his best, not only for himself, but for his coach and team. Unfortunately, I have witnessed coaches who have berated their wrestlers during a match, showed obvious disdain when they were disappointed and even turned their face away from their wrestler when he was walking off the mat after a defeat! It is clear that they believe fear and "toughness" will bring about a winning team, and for a while it may seem to be work. During the long haul however, his wrestlers become downtrodden, angry and unfocused. It will be his team that often loses points for unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness, and disrespect for the official on the mat. Why should the coach be surprised when that is what they have learned from his tirades, negativity and his ridiculous behavior when shouting at the referees? Make no mistake about it, the coach's' influence and conduct are what pulls it all together when the team faces the tough times! When a coach is "loved" and respected his program grows, because his reputation filters down to the Middle school athletes and former wrestlers want to come back to their high school and work with the young wrestlers coming up. Their coach has built a relationship with their former wrestlers that never dies, and the values he instilled then lives on through each future team. His veterans carry on his "style" as they take new wrestlers under their wing! As a youngster, I remember my brother's coach at Island Trees High School in Levittown , Long Island. Ted Petersen had a profound effect on Long Island wrestling. He had no experience in the sport and taught moves with the help of a book, but the values he instilled and the affection his wrestlers had for him resulted in a wrestling dynasty. When I asked my brothers, both of whom went on to be coaches too, why did Coach Pete have such grand success,? Their reply was, " He just had a way , that you wanted to wrestle and win for him!" Before coach died from Lou Gerhigs disease, former wrestlers from every state gathered to celebrate his 25 years of coaching. One of his many state champs toasted him and said, " He is not just a coach. He is THE coach" Most of his wrestlers have gone on to be coaches themselves , and as grown men still addressed him only as "coach". These men today are successful in their own right but carry in their heart and bring to their teams today the values they learned from their coach as kids. I saw that same devotion and spirit at MacArthur High School on Long Island, much to the credit of their coach Howie Greenblatt. One year at a tournament, during a time out, I watched as one of the MacArthur wrestlers, who still had yet to complete his own match, turn to the mat next to him and cheer on his teammate that was wrestling along side him! Another instance happened a few years back when Cartney Curnuck of MacArthur won his final match at the County tournament, as the referee held up his hand, with the other hand , he pointed to his coach ..meaning "for you!" It is this type of respect and coaching that makes for winning teams and builds character within its members. I ask all coaches to think about what they are teaching their wrestlers and to take stock of themselves and their "styles" for it is ALL a coach's' influence! dedicated to: the late: Ted Petersen Howie Greenblatt Damian Garcia