We try to teach our basketball boys self control,

poise, cool under fire stuff, yet we turn around and
act like maniacs ourselves during the ball game."

"The only criticism | have to make of the coaches
in general is that they are a little lax in answering
correspondence and in some cases they do not even
answer letters.

When a visiting coach appears with his men to
change for the game, or to watch the usual pre-
liminary for a few minutes, the home coach should
make it a point to see him, shake hands, ask about
his needs, and explain what is being done to take
care of him or the team. After the game, a coach
should get up at the timer's table and at least go
through the motions of shaking hands."

"As respects the selection of officials, | find that
too often these men are chosen without a mutual
consideration of both coaches. Especially in inter-
sectional games some coaches will still assume the
complete jurisdiction of choosing officials for their

home games. They are chosen with utter disregard -

of the approval of the visiting coach. In some
instances the choice of officials is not even disclosed
to the visiting coach until his arrival for the game.
The coaches of our game should be imbued with
such principles of correct conduct as to respect the
rights of his fellow coach and especially those boys
whose efforts to play the game on the square
should not be overshadowed by a tendency or prac-
tice to win the game before it is played."

"Too frequently, in non-conference or intersec-
tional games, the home coach is too quick to take
advantage of the opportunity to prepare a testing
laboratory for a new official; to submit to the pres-
sure of constant influence to use some local official:
to repay some previous good turn and the result is
the use of officials whose judgment and ability in
these particular games is too greatly influenced in
favor of local viewpoints to make it possible or even
plausible that such an official be able to work a fair
and impartial contest."

The problem of good behavior for the welfare of
the game demands that coaches be fair with their
fellow coach and fair to the game itself by zealously
guarding the interest of both. The field of the
coach, outside his relations with other coaches and
officials, should serve as an opportunity to ‘light
the torch'' of tolerance, kindness and friendliness.
Criticism of the game, its rules or the work of fellow
coaches is strictly poor behavior. Coaches should
guard their talk and statements to the press criticiz-
ing the game or their fellow coach: statements of
which make good reading and attract attention, but
reflect generally on the game. That which hurts
the game hurts all of us.’ us

The Committee submits that these problems,
which you have considered before, be accepted by

 

each of you as evils of a great sport. That each of
you in your own committees endeavor to be a guid-
ing influence in setting up a behavior that will reflect
the principles of the Coaches Creed and tend to
reduce’ to a minimum any influences that might be
destructive or retard the progress of our game.

It is suggested that a closer acquaintance be set
up with your fellow coach and with the officials. A
key note of friendliness breeds greater respect for
the rights of each other. Be tolerant, unselfish, and
do to your fellow coach as you would desire that he
do to you. The game is prospering throughout the
United States and with its growth you must be al-
ways alert to keep pace with conduct that will
continue to make it possibletor the:game to be a
contributing factor in the American Educational
program. oS

Respectifully submitted,

E. S. Hickey
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
Chairman, Coaching

Ethics Committee
1940-41.

 

EAR MUFFS FOR THIS GAME

Hillsdale College in Michigan, wearing earmuffs,
caps and heavy sweaters and sweatershirts won over
a similarly clad team from Ohio Griffin Junior Col-
lege recently. It was 28 above zero in the fieldhouse
due to broken heating system . . . Moe Becker,
sharpshooter of last year's Duquesne team, is scout-
ing Eastern opponents for Coach Chick Davies
when he gets a chance to leave his Aberdeen, Md.,
army base . . . The freshman schedule at the Uni-
versity of Buffalo has been cancelled due to "lack
of material’’.

Wilson Schwenk, nation's major school individual
leader in total offense (pass and running) during
past grid season, is captain of the Washington U.
(St. Louis) basketball team which handed Loyola
of Chicago one of its two losses... 15 out of 26
on Notre Dame's squad claim Irish blood in their
veins, some of it slightly diluted, however .. .
Squad members voted fullback Ettinger back in
good standing with the Kansas U. basketball squad
after Coach Phog Allen had dropped him ''for the
good of all concerned" . . . Duquesne is said to
control the ball as if it was a part of the team's
personal equipment rather than the neutral object
which the rules prescribe.

Branch McCracken, coaching for three years at
Indiana U., is at least one victory up on every Big
Ten foe... Notre Dame is in charge of Ray Meyer
on road trips. George Keogan handles the team
at home, but is still under doctor's orders not to
travel..