Code of Conduct

Overtime wrestlers are expected to take increasing responsibility for their own development. Athletes are expected to:

• Arrive prepared and on time.
• Bring appropriate wrestling shoes, athletic clothing, water, headgear when required, and any other necessary equipment.
• Know their practice schedule and tournament schedule.
• Communicate respectfully with coaches.
• Listen during instruction.
• Give honest effort.
• Be coachable.
• Take responsibility for mistakes rather than making excuses.
• Help create a positive training environment.
• Treat teammates, opponents, officials, coaches, parents, and facility staff with respect.
• Take care of Overtime equipment and facilities.
• Clean up after themselves.
• Continue developing independence as they mature.

Coaches will guide athletes, but athletes are expected to become active participants in their own wrestling journey.

Consistency matters. Athletes improve through regular practice, not occasional bursts of effort. Athletes should attend the practices included in their program whenever reasonably possible.

If an athlete must miss practice, the family should follow Overtime's established communication procedures. Missing practice does not automatically create a financial credit, refund, or additional class unless the athlete's specific membership agreement states otherwise.

Repeated unexplained absences may affect:

• Competition recommendations
• Advanced-room eligibility
• Leadership opportunities
• Tournament coaching priority
• Movement into higher-level programs

Coaches cannot properly develop an athlete they rarely see.

Athletes should make every reasonable effort to arrive before practice begins. Repeated lateness disrupts:

• Warm-ups
• Instruction
• Training partners
• Coaches
• The athlete's own development

If an athlete arrives late, they should enter quietly, speak with the coach when appropriate, and join practice as directed.

Nobody is expected to be the best wrestler in the room. Everyone is expected to make an honest effort. Athletes must:

• Pay attention when coaches are teaching.
• Avoid talking over instruction.
• Attempt the techniques being taught.
• Accept correction without arguing or becoming disrespectful.
• Ask questions appropriately.
• Work with assigned partners.
• Complete drills honestly.
• Avoid intentionally disrupting practice.

A bad day is understandable. A consistently poor attitude is not.

Wrestling requires trust. Athletes must protect their teammates while training. Prohibited behavior includes:

• Deliberately attempting to injure someone
• Continuing after a partner has clearly tapped or indicated distress
• Using excessive force outside the drill
• Retaliating against a teammate
• Dangerous horseplay
• Bullying, hazing, humiliation, threats, intimidation, or harassment
• Slurs or discriminatory behavior

Athletes must immediately follow a coach's instruction to stop. Safety always comes before winning a practice exchange.

Overtime wrestlers represent themselves, their families, their coaches, and the academy. At competitions, athletes are expected to:

• Shake hands as required.
• Respect opponents and referees.
• Avoid arguing with officials.
• Avoid taunting, throwing equipment, or profanity directed at others.
• Accept wins with humility and losses with maturity.
• Return to their coach after matches when instructed.
• Learn from both wins and losses.

Winning does not excuse poor behavior. Losing does not excuse poor behavior.

Parents are an essential part of a successful youth sports environment. Parents/guardians agree to:

• Treat coaches, referees, opposing athletes, and other families respectfully.
• Avoid coaching from the stands unless specifically invited to do so.
• Avoid yelling technical instructions that conflict with the athlete's coach.
• Avoid publicly criticizing athletes, coaches, referees, or other families.
• Allow athletes to learn through both success and failure.
• Bring concerns directly to Overtime rather than discussing them negatively with other families.
• Maintain appropriate behavior at practices and tournaments.
• Support academy policies even when disappointed with a competitive result.

Parents should encourage. Coaches should coach. Athletes should compete.

A tough loss or a rough tournament can hit hard, and athletes need room to feel that without being immediately analyzed, corrected, or questioned. Right after a match, the most helpful thing a parent or coach can offer is often just support — a hug, a word of encouragement, or simply space — not a breakdown of what went wrong.

The same goes for conversations between parents and coaches. Emotions run high right after competition, and whenever reasonably possible, parents should avoid initiating heated discussions with coaches in that moment. If there is a serious safety issue, it should obviously be raised right away.

For ordinary concerns — coaching decisions, competition opportunities, athlete development, match strategy, progress, or frustration after a loss — parents are encouraged to let things settle, give their athlete some breathing room, and then request a respectful conversation once everyone is calm.

Questions are welcome. Disrespect is not. Parents and athletes should use Overtime's designated communication channels.

Coaches are not expected to respond immediately at all hours. Families should avoid repeated late-night texts, excessive messaging, or expecting coaches to be continuously available outside scheduled responsibilities. Emergencies should be handled appropriately. Non-emergency questions may be answered during normal business or coaching hours.

As athletes become older and more experienced, Overtime expects them to increasingly handle appropriate responsibilities themselves. This may include:

• Asking coaches questions themselves
• Knowing their tournament schedule
• Participating in their own tournament registration
• Packing wrestling equipment
• Tracking goals
• Communicating when something hurts
• Knowing their weight responsibly
• Reviewing brackets and checking match assignments
• Understanding practice expectations

Parents should support this independence rather than doing every task for the athlete. The goal is not simply to create successful wrestlers. It is to create capable young people.

Overtime Wrestling Academy does not support dangerous or extreme weight-cutting practices, particularly for youth athletes. Athletes should not engage in practices such as:

• Deliberate severe dehydration
• Excessive sauna use
• Training in unsafe heat-retaining clothing for rapid weight loss
• Starvation or vomiting
• Misuse of laxatives, diuretics, medications, or supplements
• Any rapid weight-loss method that threatens health or performance

The long-term health and development of the athlete comes before making a particular weight class. Families should consult appropriate qualified medical or sports-nutrition professionals regarding individual nutrition and weight-management concerns. Coaches may discuss responsible competition preparation but are not substitutes for medical professionals or registered dietitians.

Athletes should never hide a significant injury simply because they want to compete. Athletes and parents must notify coaches about relevant injuries, medical restrictions, or conditions that may affect participation.

If a coach believes continued participation may be unsafe, the athlete may be removed from practice or competition until appropriate clearance is obtained. Athletes should not attend practice when they have a contagious illness that could reasonably put teammates at risk.

Because wrestling involves close physical contact, hygiene is extremely important. Athletes are expected to:

• Shower promptly after practice and competition.
• Wash practice clothing after each use.
• Keep wrestling shoes reasonably clean and fingernails trimmed.
• Cover or report suspicious skin conditions immediately.
• Follow applicable medical and competition requirements before returning after contagious skin conditions.
• Avoid sharing towels, razors, or personal hygiene items.

Athletes with suspected contagious skin conditions may be temporarily withheld from practice.

Athletes and families must respect the Overtime facility and any facility Overtime visits. This includes:

• No intentional damage or unauthorized use of equipment.
• No food or drinks on mats unless specifically permitted.
• No wrestling outside designated areas or climbing on equipment.
• No reckless behavior.
• Keep personal belongings organized and dispose of trash.
• Follow staff instructions.

Families may be held financially responsible for intentional damage caused by their athlete.

Athletes must respect privacy and appropriate boundaries. Absolutely prohibited:

• Photos or videos in changing areas
• Harassment or bullying
• Inappropriate exposure or physical behavior
• Taking or hiding another athlete's belongings

Any serious concern should be immediately reported to a coach or responsible adult.

Phones should not interfere with practice. Unless a coach gives permission, athletes should keep phones put away during training. Athletes may never use phones to record another athlete in a private or inappropriate situation. Coaches may allow athletes to record technique, matches, or instructional material when appropriate.

Athletes and families represent Overtime online as well as in person. Participants should not use social media to:

• Bully teammates or attack opponents
• Harass referees or publicly insult coaches
• Share private team information irresponsibly
• Post humiliating images or videos of another athlete
• Engage in discriminatory or threatening conduct

Constructive disagreement should be handled privately and respectfully.

Overtime believes athletic development should complement—not undermine—an athlete's responsibilities outside wrestling. Athletes are encouraged to:

• Stay responsible academically.
• Respect parents and guardians.
• Maintain appropriate behavior at school.
• Develop healthy sleep and recovery habits.
• Balance sport with other responsibilities.

Participation in advanced opportunities may include expectations regarding behavior and responsibility outside the wrestling room.

Overtime has zero tolerance for serious bullying, hazing, harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment, threats, or intentional intimidation. This applies at the academy, at tournaments, during travel, in group chats, on social media, and at team activities.

Anyone who experiences or witnesses concerning conduct should report it to a coach or responsible academy leader. Retaliation against someone for reporting a legitimate concern is prohibited.

Athletes may not possess, distribute, or use alcohol, nicotine, vaping products, illegal drugs, or unauthorized controlled substances while participating in Overtime activities. Athletes arriving impaired may be removed from participation and released to their parent/guardian.

Competition can be an important part of development, but participating in every event is not always the best choice. Coaches may recommend that an athlete gain more practice experience, compete more or less frequently, change competition level, or focus on development before entering a particular event. These recommendations are intended to support long-term development.

Parents/guardians are responsible for understanding their selected membership or program agreement. This includes monthly dues, billing dates, cancellation terms, tournament fees, private lesson fees, camp fees, travel expenses, and additional services.

Missing practice generally does not automatically create a refund, rollover, or financial credit unless stated in the membership agreement or specifically approved by Overtime.

If Overtime offers scholarships or reduced-cost participation, those opportunities are intended to increase access for families with genuine need. Families receiving assistance are expected to follow the same standards of attendance, communication, effort, conduct, and respect as every other athlete. Receiving assistance does not make an athlete less valued or less important.

Athletes and families may have opportunities to participate in fundraising for tournament travel, equipment, scholarships, team activities, facility improvements, or other academy-related purposes. Participation expectations will be communicated for each fundraiser.

Families should never misrepresent Overtime as a charitable nonprofit organization unless Overtime has legally obtained such status.

Depending on the seriousness of the behavior, Overtime may use any of the following:

1. Verbal correction
2. Private coach-athlete conversation
3. Parent notification
4. Written warning
5. Temporary removal from practice
6. Temporary suspension from tournaments
7. Behavioral agreement
8. Suspension from the academy
9. Termination of membership

Not every situation requires each step. Serious safety violations, violence, harassment, threats, theft, major misconduct, or behavior putting others at risk may result in immediate suspension or removal.

During practices, tournaments, camps, and official Overtime activities, athletes are expected to follow reasonable instructions from authorized Overtime coaches. Parents who have concerns regarding a coaching decision should address them respectfully outside the immediate competitive moment unless the situation involves urgent safety.