Coaches Must Set the Example
October 15, 2012
By Scott Westfall
MSU Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
NOTE: This is part one of a two-part viewpoint explaining the importance of coaches and parents setting proper examples for young athletes in their treatment of game officials.
In light of the recent uproar over NFL replacement officials, it seems that never before has it been so common and socially accepted to yell disgust at referees.
While this trend is prevalent in both professional and college football, it has unfortunately trickled down into the high school ranks. What is actually accomplished when a coach or fan yells at an official? Do people really believe that if they become irate, a ‘bad call’ will be erased? In all of my years watching, playing, and coaching athletics, not once have I seen a referee change his or her ruling because a coach or a fan yelled at him or her.
When adults lose control and scream at referees, who does this bad behavior really affect? Since youth learn their emotional control from adult leaders, I believe the true damage is done to the young minds that are witnessing their mentors lose their cool. After their display of anger, how can these same adults hope for kids to stay calm when things do not go their way in life? It is pure hypocrisy to expect otherwise.
Whether we like it or not, referees are the absolute authority in athletic contests; they control the game from start to finish, make the tough calls on the playing surface, and even decide who gets to stay and who is sent to the locker room. Yet, it is baffling how often their authority is disrespected.
It is the coach’s responsibility to establish his or her program as one that respects authority. Since players watch all of the moves their coaches make, it is imperative that coaches respect the officials – especially when the calls do not go their way. If a player sees his or her coach going berserk due to a ‘bad call,’ the same player will think it is OK to act like this down the road when upset or faced with adversity. Even more detrimental to these kids is hearing their coach preach a message but contradict it by not backing it up with actions.
Great high school coaches will use the playing surface as an extension of their classroom. In my years as a head coach, I tried my hardest to set a good example for my players and told them to never question, back-talk, or disrespect an official. However, I made the mistake of breaking my own rule on one occasion by questioning the referee’s judgment.
When I was a younger coach, I may have attributed my actions to the heat of the moment, or defended myself on the criteria that I was trying to stick up for my team. However, being a veteran leader who wanted to practice what I preached, I saw my mistake as a teaching moment.
The next practice, when we conducted team discipline conditioning, “Reminders” (usually reserved for players with unacceptable school behavior or poor grades), I asked my players what I had taught them about respecting authority and if I had broken my own rule. The players agreed that I had broken my rule and had not respected the referee.
I let them know that this rule applied to me as much as them. I then lined-up on the goal line and ran my own set of wind sprints as the players, assistant coaches, and managers watched in disbelief. Afterward, to even my surprise, several players thanked me for holding myself accountable.
One kid even had tears in his eyes, and said that after watching my self-imposed discipline, he wanted more than ever to be a man of his word and do the right thing.
Scott Westfall has spent the last 10 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in Fort Collins, Colo. He currently is working on his Doctorate at Michigan State University, with an emphasis in Sport Psychology and Athletic Administration, and assisting the MHSAA with its student leadership programs. Westfall is a former athlete who participated in football, wrestling, tennis and cross country at the high school level, and rugby at the collegiate level. He can be reached at [email protected].
PHOTO: Scott Westfall celebrates with his football team while serving as a coach at Boltz Middle School in Fort Collins, Colo.
Century of School Sports: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 11, 2025
A long-held and common philosophy among those serving in educational athletics is that celebrations of achievement should be focused primarily on the student-athletes who participate in MHSAA sports.
But those making those activities possible also realize more than most how much is accomplished behind the scenes – and the MHSAA annually recognizes those contributors as well.
Every school year, the MHSAA presents a series of service awards, voted upon by its Representative Council. Nominations are due by Nov. 1, and awards are then presented over the following months.
Below are brief descriptions of the MHSAA’s awards, and more information including all past honorees is available on the Awards page.
Winners of the 2024-25 Women in Sports Leadership, Nate Hampton Champion of Progress in Athletics and Charles E. Forsythe Lifetime Achievement awards will be announced later this month. This school’s year’s Vern L. Norris Leadership in Officiating Award honoree will be announced in April, and Allen W. Bush Meritorious Service Award winners will be announced later this spring.
Women In Sports Leadership Award: The MHSAA has honored 38 leaders since 1990 with this award, which is presented either during the every-other-year Women in Sports Leadership Conference or during MHSAA Finals in years between conferences. The WISL Award recognizes the impacts of women coaches, officials and athletic administrators.
Nate Hampton Champion of Progress in Athletics Award: The newest addition to the MHSAA’s annual honors was presented in 2024 for the first time and recognizes leaders who promote the advancement of opportunities for women, minorities and other underrepresented groups within interscholastic athletics, while serving as an administrator, coach, official, educator or school sports leader. Hampton served as an MHSAA assistant director for 32 years, retiring in 2021.
Charles E. Forsythe Lifetime Achievement Award: Since 1978, the Forsythe Award has honored 74 individuals who epitomize excellence and service throughout the interscholastic community based on outstanding contributions at the local, regional and statewide levels. Forsythe was the first fulltime executive director of the MHSAA, serving from 1931-68.
Vern L. Norris Leadership in Officiating Award: A total of 34 officials have been recognized with this award since 1992 for their participation in local officials associations, mentoring of other officials and involvement in officials education. Candidates all have been registered with the MHSAA for 20 or more years at the high school level. Norris served as the MHSAA’s executive director from 1978-86 and on staff for 23 years total, and also was a highly-respected game official.
Allen W. Bush Meritorious Service Award: Beginning in 1992, the Council has honored 108 individuals for their contributions in a number of roles including coach, administrator, game official, trainer, doctor or member of the media – focusing on candidates who have served without receiving much attention for their difference-making work. Bush was the MHSAA’s second fulltime executive director and served from 1968-78.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders - Read
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
(MHSAA file photos.)