I have found myself struggling over this issue and want to thank Randy Hinderliter for making the original post. While it may be a can of worms, worms as bait often times bring about some great fish and that is not always such a bad thing.

I have found myself pondering over this issue especially since its original post. I find myself struggling with the issue because I coached my daughter through high school in soccer and have helped coach my son through wrestling for the last 9 years. I realize that because he is on the mat he is at the point where he knows more and can execute more than I can, but I am a good motivator. I have had to deal with the fact that I help coach for the club, my son happens to wrestle for the club. I have and would encourage any dad who coaches to submit themselves to the head coach and I find myself continually doing this with Derby. What the head coach says goes, and there are no exceptions in the practice room or during a match. I often ask others to coach my son because I know they can do better for him than I can at times due to a variety of reasons, usually on my part due to being excited or something else. Most of the time he still wants me there and as a dad I appreciate that.

Last year during state I had the honor of coaching another young man, Daniel Smith, as opposed to my son who was wrestling at the same time. After the match, which Daniel won, he jumped up and hugged me and the other coach in the corner because this was the first time he was going to place at state. At that point I was reminded of what coaching is all about. What a thrill to be there with him and because of it I have a relationship with Daniel that I will always cherish. At that point there was no place I would have rather been as a coach. I know that I can sometimes get excited, not nearly as badly as in the past, when coaching one of my children. Unfortunately, I had to learn those lessons the hard way with my daughter and in the early years with Nathan. Part of me recognizes that because I never knew my dad I would have loved to have the honor of him being in my corner. I also realize that a dad and a coach are two different things. Takedwn169 also made me think due to his wonderful heart tugging post. I still struggle but realize that each father / son must recognize what is best for the team, and at the point of competition, the wrestler is a part of the team as is the coach, but if necessary, the coach has to give the team what they need over what he or his son may need.