I have been reading many posts about parents, coaches and referee's acting out at tournaments all year in an unprofessional manner.

It is the time of year all the kids have worked for...Subs, Districts and States. We ALL need to control our emotions and set a better example for our children.

Wrestling is hard enough for a child to deal with the emotions of winning or losing, must we heap dealing with parents who charge the mat, officials who act like they above reproach, and coaches who blame the officals every time they don't get the call they think should have had?

Parents need to stay off the mat, I for one would like to see future tournaments roped off. Coaches need to try and respect the officals a little more. And officials need to take their jobs a little more seriously and understand coaches are volunteers who are trying to help our children.

We need to clean up our act and we need to do it now. If us Adults don't take responsibility for our actions around the sport how can we expect our children to learn to repsect the sport?

I believe wrestling is the single best sport for a child to learn to deal with emotions and how to over coming obsticles. But we shouldn't burden them with Parents, Coaches, or Officials who refuse to contol their own emotions.

As I said earlier, it is the time of year the children have worked and sweated for. Let's not ruin what might just be the best time of their lives.

Just a thought!

Great post Spartacus. I know you mean what you say, I have seen you live it in the practice room and on the mat.

• Parents before living your dreams through your child put on the shoes and hit the mat. Do the workout, up-downs, push-ups, set-ups, run the stairs, and then try out the drills, and wrestle with some of the big kids, then on the day of weigh in, make weight with your kid by cutting the same percentage of weight they are. I know that after this you will have more of an appreciation for what these kids go through and you’ll recognize the importance of having fun. This is still kids wrestling and I fear that far too many good and potentially great wrestlers are burned out on the sport.
• Coaches, let us do our best to instill love for the sport and do everything possible within the rules and with sportsmanship to provide the best opportunity to win as possible. When winning does not occur, let’s teach lessons that can be carried on for the next match and later on off the mat. Realize that sometimes our job is to help our athletes accomplish the fullest measure of their abilities. I firmly believe a great coach cannot be determined until we see what kind of adult their wrestlers turn out to be. State Championships while in jail, or broken relationships exist are not really worth much. An adult who has learned to give back to others or a hard working and loving parent who has learned to stick it out and prevail are the true measuring sticks for who does and does not become champions.
• Now for the referees, realize that your job is to provide a fair playing field within the rules. Also remember this, the best of the best are hardly ever noticed.

I say these things because in my 10th year of kids wrestling, I have realized my many mistakes; it is amazing to see many go along the same journey. I hope that they will also change, if not, then they will join the ranks of those many that used to be involved in this sport.

Thank you Mike your vote of confidence is tremendously appreciated! I know the sport is special to you as well and it is time for the Adults to act like Adults and remember this is for our children and we can't ruin it for them.

My fondest memories are of my parents and grandparents coming to watch me wrestle throughout 8th grade and High School.

Thank you Spartacus for your post. The adults should be held accountable for their actions (i.e. suspensions, fines, expulsions) or whatever it takes to make adults act like adults instead of acting like a toddler who dosen't get his/her way.

You are all very correct.

We cannot ask wrestlers to display good sportsmanship, while we ourselves do not.

I have been witness to both the good and the bad side of this issue, and the adults are doing most of the bad.

Thank you for the reminder to behave, and good luck to you all - may the best wrestlers win.

wat ever