Coaches and parents, if we are going to create the best wrestling team in the country, we must get organized and be on the same page. This outline will discuss what is expected at the practices for each age group. There is a note about competition at the bottom.
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The coach’s main job is to be a commanding drill sergeant.
You are the dominant alpha male in the room, you are not to be challenged by anyone. The kids should slightly fear the coach; by commanding this respect, you will bring out their best. A DEEP LOUD VOICE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL. COMMAND AND THEY WILL OBEY.
Kindergarten group:
Keys to focus on: Athleticism, fun, and safety!
Number of water breaks: 2
Key Fundamental Movements: Gymnastics
Key Wrestling Movements: None
These future champions need to learn their bodies and get used to rough play. Most of the class will be spent on athletic exercises like bear-crawling, duck-walking, hopping on 1 foot, tumbling, etc. They need to get stronger and more coordinated so that they can learn to wrestle next year. There will be a little bit of wrestling, but mostly wrestling based games like toe touch, sumo, dragon tails, “can you get off your back?”, “can you grab his wrist first?”, etc. No technique should be taught at this level; they are not ready for drilling at this age.
This age is where wrestlers are the most delicate, keep a close eye on them, as it only takes one hard fall for them to never want to wrestle again. These are our babies, and we will be very protective of them when they are 4-5 years old.
Get them sweaty! Every practice should end with a game.
1st and 2nd grade group:
Keys to focus on: Athleticism, basic wrestling skills (USE THE VIDEO CURRICULUM!), safety.
Mantra: “Hard work pays off” “level change, head up”
Number of water breaks: 2
Video Curriculum: www.CoachTube.com “Dynamic Wrestling”
Key fundamental movements: Stance and motion, level changes, shots (with a level change), sprawl, bridging, proper gripping.
Key wrestling movements: Double leg, single leg, high crotch, half nelson (sink it deep finish), switch, cement mixer, t-rex, dump truck, sprawl.
This is our first real wrestling practice for kids. They will learn the basics, continue to develop their athleticism, and start learning that “hard work pays off.” All movements are to be taught in the EXACT WAY they are demonstrated in the video curriculum, using the same language. This is ultra important; all of our coaches must teach the movements the same way, so that ideas (and language) are being reinforced.
Every practice should end with hard work. If they work hard, they can play a game, but it must be earned.
3rd – 5th grade group:
Keys to focus on: Athleticism, discipline, staying in their stance when they are drilling (no talking), setups, hard work.
Mantra: “I’m always in my stance when I’m drilling” “level change, head up” “all shots involve a setup” “I only do perfect push-ups”
Number of water breaks: 2
Video Curriculum: www.CoachTube.com “Dynamic Wrestling” (kids should be attempting to complete the curriculum by the completion of 5th grade)
Key wrestling movements: setups leading into doubles, singles, and high-crotches. Crab ride tilts (different entrees), half nelson with short hook finish (from the knees and from flat), basic defensive strategies.
Most of the technique shown should be based off the curriculum, but coaches can begin veering towards what they see as necessary. Kids are to be kicked out of practice for fooling around. They are not allowed to talk. This is a competition team. This team has a strong focus of preparing for state and national level events. Every kid should leave dripping in sweat. All pushups are always expected to be perfect.
6th – 8th grade group:
Keys to focus on: Explosiveness, intensity, chain wrestling, knowledge of finishing and defense.
Number of water breaks: 1
Key wrestling Movements: chain wrestling from neutral and top, leg riding, tilts. Complex understanding of finishing/defense from critical positions.
Key wrestling positions: T-rex, single on the mat, single in the air, high crotch on the mat (both wrestlers on both knees), high crotch with one wrestler on 1 knee and the other standing, crackdown position.
This group is to be ULTRA DISCIPLINED, more so than the varsity group. These are the wrestlers that we are preparing to be varsity state champions. The purpose of this group is to build technical super athletes; they must be pushed, a high standard is our expectation. They must understand the intricate details of finishing and defense. Every kid should leave dripping in sweat. All pushups are always perfect.
Varsity Group:
Keys to focus on: Autonomy, chain wrestling, speed changing (slow and fast drilling), defense.
Number of water breaks: 1
In season workouts will be felt out by the coach. Practices will either be technical and light, or intense with a lot of live, depending on how the athletes feel and their upcoming competition schedules. Autonomy is encouraged, and each wrestler may be drilling different things related to a concept (ex: offense from the russian, tilts from top, chain wrestling from bottom, etc.).
Competition:
Many of our wrestlers are competing too much, instead of investing their time on sharpening their tools. There are benefits to competing, but over-competing puts too much stress on the wrestler’s psyche, and is often a waste of time/money. I strongly suggest an approach focused on long term development. Competing a lot at the youth age before opponents become highly tactical/intelligent, provides them with incorrect feedback; wrestlers at the youth level are rewarded for poor techniques that win, and don’t yet understand the need for intense attention to detail. These incorrect feedback loops are very difficult to fix later. If you don’t want your wrestler to be a “headcase” later in his career (when everyone is very good), avoid this trap.
There is nothing wrong with wrestling a lot of matches… the trap is focusing on the results instead of the style of wrestler you’re trying to become. Too much focus on winning, and the wrestler becomes scared to lose. Be patient; it’s a very long journey to the top.