The STF is confident that its coaches are aware of the importance of maintaining a high standard of coaching discipline. Nevertheless, it highlights some poor practices which coaches will do well to avoid.
They are as follows:
- Introducing sparring without briefing trainees on the rules of the game.
- Knocking trainees out during sparring session to save face.
- Making trainees perform more physical exercises than Taekwondo techniques and skills during regular training sessions
- Expecting trainees to perform techniques beyond their abilities.
- Frightening children by threat or shocking them.
- Punishing trainees by hitting them with a focuser, manhandling them and embarrassing them.
- Criticising trainees in the presence of an audience.
- Calling trainees names like ‘Fatty’, ‘Shorty” and ‘Stupid’
- Identifying trainees by race – ‘that Malay boy’, ‘that Chinese boy’ and ‘that Indian boy’.
- Depriving trainees of toilet breaks or drink breaks.
- Disallowing trainees rest when they need to.
- Using obscene language or gesture.
- Touching trainees inappropriately.
- Engaging in inappropriate physical contact in front of the trainees.
- Smoking while coaching.
- Wearing attire unsuitable for coaching
- Leaving injured trainees in the lurch.
- Advising trainees to ignore seniors from other Clubs.
- Showing disrespect to seniors and elders including School Principals, Vice-Principals and other officials
For the best practices, coaches may refer to the “Effective Coach’ book which is available at the Secretariat at a special price of $20.00.