Be careful now :rolleyes: I think the number of coaches is a good thing and realize that some people will take the course for a number of reasons. The main one for some parents is the free admission to events. Not a big deal here, but by the time you add up state, National Duals, and Fargo it is a lot cheaper to get the certification than pay admission to all of those events. I think Fargo alone is $80. Some of those parents have no desire to go to the floor, but a knowledgeable fan, who can help in a pinch is not such a bad thing. I see the certification process as an opportunity to teach more about the sport, which is a good thing. I think it was mom4 from Chapman that was talking on the HS thread about teaching an older gentlemen about the rules at a tournament. The more knowledge the better.
My concern with limiting the number of coaches, or making it harder for them, then limits the number of opportunities for the kids. I don’t think that is a positive thing for our sport. There are many sports who have to beg for coaches and wrestling is not unique in this way.
Regarding requiring the HS Certification and testing; I took the test this year for officiating and I don’t care if it is open book, it is hard, much harder than people likely realize. I would support the need to take the test, or even attend the class or so many discussions, (as long as it don’t run potential coaches off) but would not require the passing of that test or membership as a requirement to coach kids. The passing of the test for the Bronze, not Copper, should be the criteria we look at. Meet those criteria and then the individual can learn over the years with experience and continued educational opportunities.
