news-record.com

Winning isn't everything, and it's not the only thing. It's more like nothing in the Guilford County school board's proposed new policy for coaches.

Vince Lombardi might be appalled, and so might some coaches, boosters and sports fans who measure success by conference championships and deep runs into the state playoffs.

The policy sets different priorities: "The most important benefits of athletic activities at the schools are educational, not athletic, and students deserve to be in an environment that fosters educational growth, sportsmanship, and fellowship. Coaches of interscholastic athletics must possess a commitment to the values and ideals of the board."

Coaches "will never place winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character," a proposed Code of Conduct requires. They "will promote and work in harmony with the entire interscholastic program of the school ... be sure that every participant meets all requirements for athletic eligibility ... inspire the student-athletes to achieve the highest academic success possible."

These admirable aspirations will be tested when a football coach fields a team that scores high in the classroom and exemplifies good sportsmanship but can't beat anyone on Friday nights. There are no grounds for firing a coach who does everything right except win.

The school board, though, is properly focusing on athletics as a part of the curriculum, not apart from it. Students can't choose to attend a particular school for its sports programs. To assure eligibility, athletes must document where they live every year. They must sit out a year if they transfer from their "base" school. They must maintain respectable grades and adhere to disciplinary measures.

Coaches have the job of developing students' athletic abilities, seeing that practices and competitions are conducted safely, within the rules and in a spirit of fair play, and encouraging youngsters to put academics first. That can be carried out best by coaches who are faculty members first. The new policy allows outside head coaches only if documented efforts to recruit faculty members fail.

This will force out some coaches, which could represent a loss for the schools and students. A de-emphasis on winning also could discourage talented and ambitious coaches from working in Guilford County. After all, coaches earn recognition in their profession, and opportunities to move up to bigger schools or to the college ranks, by winning games and producing star athletes. Many supplement their modest incomes with sports-related work outside school -- activities that would be sharply restricted.

Some athletes, too, might fear their chances of catching the eye of college scouts will diminish if sports are downplayed. Plus, it's just natural for athletes to want to win.

The board has good reasons to push for these new policies, but "winning isn't anything" will be a hard sell in a Vince Lombardi culture.