Why I Think the Basics are so Important


I believe one of the most important jobs of a coach is to help athletes understand that wrestling involves learning, and attempting to master, a progression of techniques that run from the very simple to the extremely advanced. A firm grasp on this concept will give athletes a lifetime of motivation, since they will now be students of the sport itself and not subservient to the constant internal win/loss struggles that can overwhelm even the best of us. A “student of the sport” mentality should start being molded from the first day a new wrestler steps onto the mat and continue as the individual grows, matures and improves.   The little league segment of wrestling is especially challenged by this concept because such a large emphasis is placed on winning as quickly as possible. 

If we believe that winning matches immediately is the most important factor in wrestling development then we should certainly be teaching big moves…why waste time on the basics? “My son is getting head-locked each weekend…show him this move so he can win now.” While I have never been opposed to teaching and executing “big moves” I do believe that to focus on them excessively, at an early age, can be to the detriment of a wrestler’s long term development.  

Most coaches teach big moves early on because they understand the temporary advantage they have on kids that are new to the sport. What they don’t understand is that it is about more than just teaching kids to win!! Learning to cope with the challenges of losing matches at an early age is an important developmental trait that must be mastered (not necessarily accepted). Losing matches forces an athlete to evaluate his/her technical skill, strength, strategy and mental outlook and go back to the practice room to try and become a better skilled competitor. A 4^th  grader who wins matches with headlocks and cement mixers every time out does nothing but reinforce that “winning” is everything…and who am I…if I don’t win? 

I truly believe…It’s not good for a 4^th grader to not know what losing is!! We can rah, rah, rah all we want but the reality is, it is not good for anyone to not know what losing is and how to deal with it in a way that can actually make you better.  As a former college coach, high school coach and current youth coach I have observed the negative effects of athletes not being able to cope with losing. Youth coaches need to understand that their primary role is to instill a love of the sport and a firm grasp on the basic techniques that will help the athlete advance as they get older…that’s really it!! Winning state and national titles and collecting trophies from all over the country and becoming a student of the sport are not mutually exclusive but winning early can fail them, if they do not understand the sport, stay excited about improving their skill and view losses as tremendous opportunities to learn and improve. 

Don’t get me wrong, winning is more fun than losing and it takes quite awhile for a new wrestler to build up sufficient basic skills in order to be less vulnerable to big moves. However, once they have the basic skills and the desire to learn more…they will have the foundation for continued success. As parents and coaches, we need to support the teaching of basics and truly believe that learning the right moves at the right time, is the best practice for developing young wrestlers that will stick with the sport for years to come. 

 

Wrestling is fun! I know we all talk about the benefits of wrestling on character, discipline, work ethic, etc, those things are all true but could we ever really say that an 8 year old is going to want to get into wrestling for that reason alone. I don’t think so! One of the greatest things wrestling has going for it is, that even when you take away all the gear, all the clubs, programs, colleges, coaches, fancy tournaments…take away everything…wrestling someone else is just plain fun. 

Think back to growing-up…or if you’re still young, think about right now. When you’re family is sitting around the house, watching TV in the living room, you don’t break out into a game of basketball or tennis, or golf or football do you? No, wrestle matches can spontaneously erupt in any family, even in non wrestling families. Remember, these are spontaneous events, not planned matches, organized events…these matches just happen naturally…it is what is inside everyone (at least a little bit). I would venture to say that most living room matches result in rolls of laughter, carpet burns and fond memories for both those involved and those watching…you don’t really forget things like that. Even the bad can’t overcome the good when it comes to wrestling. Some families probably remember a flared temper a sulking child or a sprain or injury or two but that all fades and the memory and story remains the same…”Remember that time!”

If you’ve never had a solid family upbringing…that’s ok, you can even take away the family dynamic…kids in a back alley, in a dirt lot, on a clump of green grass at the park…anywhere you find kids and space, you can find a potential wrestling match, you can find fun! I would even speculate that the fun factor is not even limited to kids. Uncle Bob and Uncle Jim (fictional) have never broke out into a badminton match at a family reunion…they have however rolled around on the floor like a couple of kids trying to pin or submit one another, just for the fun of it. 

Even the challenges of wrestling do not take away from the enjoyment of the sport; in fact, I think the toughness of the sport is what makes the memories last a little longer than usual. I have met dad’s (myself included) who can still feel the pure joy of struggling with an opponent…it makes you smile and it makes you want other people to experience it as well. Is that why we try to get our kids in wrestling? If that is the reason, then we would be well served to remember that fact, every time we take them to practice or to a match…keep it fun!! You have to work REALLY hard to make wrestling not fun…but it can be done. Coaches need to either know (or learn) when serious can be fun, when loose can be fun and when a combination of both is needed. As a wrestling community, we need to be careful the pressures we can put on kids (I don’t just mean little kids either). I would venture to guess that a wrestler will give everything he/she’s got, every time out…if they are competing for someone that has not taken the FUN out of wrestling.  

Coach Barbee Provides Some Tips for Families with Wrestlers

·         Support your child by encouraging them to learn new moves, pay attention and try as hard as they can. 
 

·         Don’t contradict yourself by encouraging effort and then talking about winning and losing all the time.
 

·         If your child is new…don’t expect them to know anything or to catch on quickly…but do expect them to listen learn and work hard. 
 

·         Kids learn that wrestling is kind of hard and tiring sometimes…don’t shy away from this…embrace it and teach your child to be proud of their efforts.   Kids will whine about going to practice…don’t ask them if they want to go, tell them we’re leaving in 15 minutes…once they get there, they’ll be fine. 
 

·         Kids get better in seasons not in weeks or months…the goal is to have them return to wrestling each year, all the way through their high school years. Let’s say your child is 8 or 9…and sticks with wrestling…try to imagine how much better they will be when they are 14. If you keep them coming back and have good coaching…they will be REALLY GOOD!! And having lots of fun.
 

·         At tournaments…don’t scream!!! And don’t coach!!! There will always be something a youngster could do quicker, faster, with better skill or more intensity…they opportunity to scream coaching moves is UNLIMITED…so just say good job, nice work, great effort...keep it up!! While you’re not screaming…look around and ask yourself if you want to put that kind of pressure on your son. 
 

·         Technique trumps everything…it may not seem like it at first, but if your child learns the right techniques early, in a systematic fashion and understands how they flow together…there is NO Limit on what they can accomplish. Remember…we want them to be returning wrestler…not just wrestle while they are 7 and 8 and then quit. 
 

·         Learning to both win and lose in sport is a tremendous learning experience. Don’t taint this experience but over celebrating wins or over analyzing losses…let them feel what they feel and teach them that there is a simple equation PRACTICE=IMPROVEMENT. Performing hard and doing their best is the most important thing we can teach a young wrestler.