NWCA: IT's NOT JUST FOR COACHES ANYMORE

NWCA Launches Leadership Program on U.S.S. Intrepid

With a goal of developing coaches to be effective leaders and mentors, the National Wrestling Coaches Association launched its Leadership Development Program on May 11 on board the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. The NWCA "Building Leaders for Life" program is sponsored by the United States Marines Corps and was launched in January, 2002.

Brute sponsored the inaugural seminar, which was attended by 50 high school coaches from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The daylong seminar featured speeches by corporate and wrestling dignitaries including Lt. General Martin Steele, CEO and President of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Bruce Baumgartner, Olympic Gold Medallist and President of USA Wrestling, and Michael Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. The event titled "Building Leaders for Life" was facilitated by Ray Faidley and NWCA Board Member, Stan Zeamer.

The event got off to a rousing start following a moving and stirring speech by Lt. General Martin Steele that inspired all of those in attendance. He spoke about the storied history of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, which is a 900-foot aircraft carrier docked in the Hudson River. Hearing the history of the Intrepid, it was apparent that it served as the perfect backdrop to launch the "Building Leaders for Life" program. The Intrepid played a key role during the Pacific Campaign during World War II as the aircraft carrier and its crew sustained numerous hits during the war but refused to sink and each time, returned to battle with more determination. The Intrepid played a key role in the United States winning the Pacific Campaign. Parallels between the Intrepid's history and the sport of wrestling could easily be drawn as the wrestling community has demonstrated a similar unsinkable spirit as it confronts several challenges that threaten the future of our sport.

Following the morning speeches, the rest of the day was spent in a classroom style discussing the challenges that coaches face today. The mission of the leadership development program is to develop coaches to be effective leaders and mentors and creates a system, which will develop student athletes into "leaders for life."

Jack Holloway, Athletic Director of William Penn High School, New Castle, Delaware said, "This is a great course that should be required for all coaches. It is relevant to the veteran coach as well as the young coach just starting their career." Holloway added, "In the past the focus has been on the tactical and technical, while this workshop expands the focus to include the athlete as a whole."

The NWCA will be working diligently in the ensuing months developing its "Building Leaders for Life" program. The NWCA will be conducting more seminars throughout the country with goal of taking this program into the athletic, educational and corporate world.

"Its been our mission at the NWCA to deliver the "Gold Standard" of coaches education programs to our nation's mentors. The leadership initiative unveiled today addresses the very core of successful coaching." Concluded Roger Reina; Head Wrestling Coach University of Pennsylvania, President, National Wrestling Coaches Association.

For more information on the "Building Leaders for Life" program, please contact Patti Weaver, Director of Development, NWCA at (717) 653-8009.

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