C. Responsibility to the Student-Athlete Coaches should never place the value of a win above the objective of instilling the highest ideals and character traits in their players. The safety and welfare of the players should always be uppermost in their mind and these values must never be sacrificed for personal prestige or personal gain. Coaches should never teach their players tactics or skills designed to circumvent the intent of the rulebook and the standards of fair play. The rules exist to protect the players and provide a common standard by which final results will be determined. Whenever players exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior on their own, it is the responsibility of the coach to address that behavior and put an end to it.
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players.
The diagnosis and treatment of injuries is a medical problem and coaches should always defer to the proper medical authorities without the slightest interference. Coaches, in consultation with the proper athletic department administrator, are responsible for knowing and following the NCAA Manual, the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules book, or the NCAA Ice Hockey Officials' Manual. Coaches should not knowingly jeopardize the eligibility and participation of any student-athlete due to ignorance of the rules and their application. Coaches should be sensitive to the impropriety of private meetings with on-ice officials before, during, or after the contest, without the presence of a representative of the opposing team. At no time is it appropriate to use the media as a vehicle in which to criticize an official, officials in general, or any NCAA or conference committee or its policies.