Youth wrestling competition training
When my son started wrestling, we joined a club that teaches K-8 kids the basics of the sport. This was his first exposure to wrestling and he was as green as he could get. We were surprised when two weeks later the coach wanted me to compete in his first match! My son had barely learned the mechanics of how to spread and takedown; he didn’t make sense for us to enter a competition when he didn’t know enough maneuvers, let alone be proficient at them. Our coach assured us that he was not expected to win, but that competing was part of the program. So off we went, my son got licked, and we continued to compete throughout the season, quickly learning why tournaments are part of the process. As my son continues to struggle and progress in his skills, competition has become an absolute necessity and an integral part of our training.
While you always try to win every competition, when you first start wrestling, it’s important to compete even when you don’t have the tools to win yet. This is because competition sets the stage for many important learning opportunities that you won’t get anywhere else except under these conditions. Regardless of their skill level, competition brings out the best in every athlete and creates a challenge to stimulate further development. At first glance, tournaments are the best way to measure your training progress; The more you earn, the better you’ll be doing! There is nothing that drives an athlete to dig deeper and push harder than an opponent who wants to win more than you do. Competing also shows you the progress of other athletes (from different areas). During competition, you will invariably be up against an opponent who is considerably better than you. This gives you something to work towards and helps you envision who you ultimately want to be.
One of the best (and most important) aspects of competing in wrestling is the opportunity to train with new partners. Wrestling teams practice against each other and end up training with a limited number of partners. No matter how big the team is, you’re lucky to have more than a few peers of your own weight to train with. It doesn’t take long before you get used to fighting the same guys to the point where you can almost predict their next move. Smart coaches are always looking for other teams to practice with to keep their athletes constantly growing and improving to avoid the plateau that can occur from working with the same people over and over again. Contests are a great way to get your hands on new people. Big tournaments that bring in teams from far and wide are great for exposing yourself to new techniques and coaching styles that you might not otherwise experience.
During almost every wrestling tournament, you will invariably come across an opponent who tests your limits. This is also an extremely important aspect of growing as a fighter. In many cases, it is only when his skills are truly tested in competition that he truly learns his strengths and weaknesses. While winning is more fun and definitely the goal, it seems like you learn more from the games you lose than the ones you win. This is because certain situations that will only come up during a live match with an opponent you don’t know can make you realize holes in your game. The most important learning moment for every fighter is the brief meeting he has with his trainer immediately after a tough match. Correcting a mistake is best remembered immediately after the situation. After every competition, whether you’ve won or lost, the most important thing you can do is walk away with a list of tasks that you need to work on in your next practices to improve. The competition offers the most accurate and up-to-date list of what you need to do to improve.
As a beginner, don’t let your team’s enthusiasm for competition drive you away. The worst thing you can do is back off ‘until you’re ready’. If you want the fastest improvement in your skills, racing is an essential part of your training. As well as providing new training partners, tournaments also boost the intensity of your training. When you know you’ll be facing opponents in a week, you’ll push yourself harder during practice and try to get more out of each session. Ultimately, competitions are the most fun you’ll have in the sport of wrestling; the sooner you start enjoying them, the better your season will go! When you start wrestling, enter a competition within the first 2-3 weeks, regardless of your fitness or knowledge base. No matter what happens in your first match (whether you win or lose), you’ll be able to see the movements and conditioning of other, more experienced athletes. This will show you what is possible and what your next step is.
