Elementary Wrestling: A Rewarding Experience
In my many years of involvement
in wrestling, I have observed the elementary wrestling program as a coach, tournament director, state director, parent and
spectator. From personal experiences, being involved as a parent is by far the
most difficult.
I am a firm believer and
backer of elementary wrestling programs. Young wrestlers can benefit a great
deal through participation in this character-building sport. Wrestling helps
develop an aggressive attitude, self-discipline, self-reliance and self-confidence, in addition to being unexcelled as a means
of acquiring physical efficiency, coordination, poise and effective use of the body.
The young, wrestler, as
in few other sports, will find himself in situations where he is on his own and success or failure depends upon his own intelligence,
skill, speed and strength. The youngster must learn to make decision on his own
on the mat such as when to try for a takedown, what maneuver to use for an escape, how to get a reversal and so on. He also must learn to follow a very complex set of rules, for whatever he achieves on the mat must be accomplished
within the framework of those rules.
Wrestling is an “individual”
sport at its best. Wrestlers are given opportunities for self-expression that
are not possible in many team sports. The young wrestler knows that when he makes
his team, he has accomplished this on his own merits; he was not merely chosen by the coach, he personally earned his spot
on the team.
And when he does go out
on the mat, the final outcome is his own responsibility. He learns how it feels
to win, and to lose and how to deal with each. In wrestling, he alone faces the
opponent and there is no credit or blame to share with teammates. It is difficult
to conceive of a better method of preparing youth for situations which will call for self-reliance, initiative, and the ability
to decide upon courses of action under pressure or stress.
Because of this individuality
of wrestling, I want to stress to the parents, that wrestlers in the elementary program are just young boys growing up. They will make mistakes. They are learning
new and very difficult skills. Remember when your son loses, he needs you more
then when he wins. It is easy to face winning, but hard to face defeat. Do not take the fun out of the sport for him.
Do not “pressure” him to win.
Winning is important, but
more important is what your young son is receiving from his wrestling program, regardless of his record on the mat.
The young wrestler usually
must learn basic skills at this age if he is to go on and compete in high school and possibly even college. But even if they don’t go on with their wrestling, they are learning other important aspects about
themselves, their bodies and competitiveness which will benefit them for years to come.
Jack Roller
WRESTLING USA
October 1, 2005
VOL. XL, NO. 2
