I came across a very interesting thread on themat.com


http://www.thematforums.com/myforum/?show_topic=48928&forum_id=6


What do you think, are our kids developing sound skills?

This has been a sore subject for me for many years. Headlocks, snakes, bulldogs, cement mixers, cow-catchers and many other moves should not be taught, in my opinion, until the 7th grade. Early success from these moves retard a wrestlers growth. They fall into habits that are near impossible to correct. My son has been wrestling for 5 years and we are just now touching on some of these moves. The main reason we are working on them is to stay out of them.

It's difficult. If I'm coaching a 10 year old at state, and he's down 5 points with 15 seconds to go, I want him to know how to run a headlock. If I'm coaching a ten year old who is pinning novices in the first period with a headlock, then that's not good. It's also difficult to define what is acceptable. For example, a ten year old leg rider. Not really junk and is still okay in high school, should that be discouraged, or taught to run properly? The focus should be fundamentals for sure, but different kids are ready for different things at different ages.

If the kid is ready I think leg riding should be taught, it is fundalmentally sound in my opinion and is used at all levels. I also agree being down by 5 points, the headlock is useful. Too many kids use it because they can't do anything else. At the novice championships I had a wrestler who had been taught the snake by his brother. After using it the first two matches, for his first and only move, he came up to me wanting me to tell him how well he was doing. I simply told him I would be more impressed with his wrestling if he was actually wrestling. I don't think he threw another snake the remainder of the tournament. If one of my wrestlers throws one of these junk moves in a match, I let them know how disappointed I am. I usually respond, "your too good of a wrestler to use that crap."

I am disheartened by the amount of coaches with the "win now" approach. What many coaches and parents don't realize is that kid's wrestling is nothing more than preparation, and bad habits developed now will permeate their entire career. As a teacher I know that an average 10 year old doesn't have the reasoning ability to know why a headlock should only be used at the end of the match. In my opinion, the worst thing that could happen when you're down 5 is throwing your opponent to his back. That only ingrains the thought, "hey, why waste time with these silly shots that are only worth 2 when I can throw a headlock that's worth 5?" The best thing that could happen in that situation is you lose the match and work on what caused you to be down by 5 points in the first place.

Tell Jeremy Long-4X high school state champ and Tristen Deshazer- 4X high school state champ that. Technique is good across the board work on all aspects but capitalize off your strengths.

You are delusional if you think that you can teach the average high school wrestler to headlock like Tristen or Jeremy. They were definitely anomalies--not the norm.

While I agree that there are exceptions and you should capitalize off of your strengths, you should also teach high-percentage, low-risk moves to your young wrestlers. In high school the headlock is a 50-50 move at best.

Great posts!!! I tell my kids you live and die by the headlock! We do not encourage using it except for a last resort. One of my wrestlers used it 3 times in one tourney won all 3 with it but feel he didn't better himself or his true skills. I have taught a few of the other moves due to the fact the some moves work better for different kinds of kids depending on their skills. But feel you need to master the basics (stand-ups, sitouts, hand control,etc.) before alternative moves are added. "You need to walk before you can run."

There's a reason you don't see Jap-wizzer arm throws in high school. They don't work consistently. Again, there is a time and a place for certain moves, but to say that "technique is good across the board" is a ludicrous statement.

thats why I have a rule in practice no headlocks from the standing position. I want to teach our kids good hip movement all the time. That to me is more important than the headlock and all those other moves. Anyone else have any ideas how to break a kid of a headlock let me know. Even though my son has that rule in practice I still see him trying to take the easy way out in the tournaments.

Here's my suggestion: if he throws a headlock in practice, say something to the effect of, "That's great that you can throw a headlock. Now that we know you can headlock Billy, let's have you spend the rest of the practice wrestling with Butch, who's a few years more experienced and a few pounds heavier. See if you can throw the headlock on him."

we try that to. he gets to wrestle little and big spex. he still goes back to the headlock. he is getting better at not trying it i will give him that much.

I figured the first thing you'd show was how to ride legs!!!

Alright ... I was trying to get a nap in between rounds but couldn't stop thinking about certain things!

Once in a while, I see a competitor in our younger divisions whom I would call, a "technician!" The "wrestlers" that win the majority of matches are the kids who are gifted athletes and have the brawlability (spellcheck does not like that word) gene. These two traits are tough to beat even for a true "technician."

Occasionally, even at the high school level, I witness a great brawler, win matches. But more often than not, I see a good kid with tremendous technique winning matches.

But my big concern, one I have been expressing at my most recent clinics, is we are progressing kids through the wrestling ranks that don't have a basic skill set. At the end of every match, one kids gets his or her hand raised. Is the "winner" the one who displayed superior technical skills?

Every club in USAW-Kansas should have a set of goals or a statement of objectives. In the language of those if we are not including "skill development" I think we are missing the boat! Plus we should be "feeder programs" for our high school teams!

A problem I have (and others I have talked to) is that we send a bunch of kids on the high school coach without fundamental skills. Or perhaps worse than a lack of skills, we send kids on that have tons of bad habits!

Some of you may recall my rants before and remember that we were trying to gather a list of fundamentals. Let's get back at the list!!

i will not teach my son legs until later if at all. I was ok with them but I want him to be his own wrestler. We have another coach that teaches legs as well. I have been working the farmers half though.

Bockman, everytime he throws a head lock make him do 30 push-ups, 30 sit-ups, and 30 sprawls. This counts for matches too. He will either get tired of doing the extra work, or be one cut little kid.

hey I think I will try that. He is pretty cut but a little skinny. He wrestles in the same weight that christian robinson wrestles. so you have proabably seen him wrestle. Hopefully I can break him of this sooner the better.

thats great stuff Beeson

what are some moves that shouldnt be done like the top five dumbest moves haha

Top 5 worst moves for a kids wrestler:

5. cement mixer/mikey b/snake/whatever you want to call it
4. headlock
3. that dumb front headlock where you roll across your own back
2. headlock
1. reaching back