Bockman, what are you saying, really I do not understand. I am saying get the numbers and take a look and see if you still agree.

basically if my son was to win a 6 and under championship your saying he is a joke. that is what you said. i dont care about if he wins or not. I just want to make sure he has the same opportunity just like everyone else. they all do the same thing. they pay the same fees. just dont understand the reasoning they are being left out. because they dont fit in the equation. so we dis-agree. thats that. i would agree with you that hey maybe they do need to be seperated. but those that have older kids would have to do too much going here and there. thats the problem right now being in valley center one day and ottawa the next. i dont know the solution. i do know i will never agree with making them pay and leaving them out.

No this is the way it is set up 8&under that means from 1 to 8 with a 37lbs & 40 lbs class that are mostly 6& under so still my question is ( WHATS THE DIFF? ) They are still included just not how you want them to be. the two 6&under states are just another novice tourny for them. Sorry if that makes you mad but its just like HS freshman are to seniors.

The 6 & U state championship tournament is FAR from a novice tourney! I don't know which 6&U tournament you experienced but it wasn't the same one my son experienced. Two years in a row he wrestled 7&8 matches in one day in 64-man brackets. I agree with another's post about having qualifiers for the 6&U across the state in a similar format as the older kids. I think that is a more feasible option.

I really think that the wisdom of those that have been around the sport for many years is correct in their thinking that 6 year olds are NOT ready to take on the rigors/pressure in state qualifying series. It simply should be a beginner/rec program to familiarize them to the sport. Fun and learning basics and NOT winning should be emphasized.

There is nothing that states that because they pay $35 that they are entitled to the State Tournament. Let them learn and it will be there when they are 7 & 8 ...I don't at all feel that the 6 year olds should be pushed away from the sport but it is so much more beneficial to just relax and let them have fun and do novice tourneys on Sundays and a only a few Saturday tourneys during the season. He/She will learn to like the sport and want to do better/learn on their own. I started at age 10-11 and lost probably 17 of my 19 matches my first year in the sport and most by pinfall. But by my third year age 12-13 I had qualified for Kids State because I liked to compete and the fact that it was a personal sport against someone my own size and kids know on their own what it feels like to have or NOT have your hand raised without an adult pressuring them so I worked to get better and placed by year 4 and my kids career ended with me winning Kids State my last two years in 16 & U division and then went on to make the HS State Finals. I had very little parental support throughout but pushed myself and worked to accomplish my goals.

I will admit that selfishly when my Son came along I wanted
"my boy" to be like Dad and prolly pushed harder than necessary
when he first started perhaps 1) because my parents weren't there for me and 2) I wanted him to be a stud at age 6 (STUPID !). Thankfully, He still competes and I don't even coach him usually and just always offer up encouragement and if I put any emphasis on him now it is that he have fun and make friends and ...guess what ?
He is like his Dad in that he is doing well and wanting to get better on his own and I thank God in that I've grown as a coach and parent and am not so narrow minded as not to listen to the wisdom of those who have went before me and know what is BEST and that have posted to this effect on this forum. I was that way as wrestler also-I listened twice as hard to coaching and soaked it up like a sponge.

Sorry to rant about myself, ..but I am willing to put myself and my personal experience out there if I honestly feel it can help others and appreciate so much to be able to give back a little of what this sport and many coaches/ teammates parents have done for me. Am I passionate about this sport ? YOU BET !!

I guess what I am mostly trying to say is that- to 1)those new to this sport or even to 2)prideful ol' wrestler knuckle head Dads --to just PLEASE, RELAX--let them have fun as they start out in this great sport because kids are smarter than we think and they naturally want to do well and please us and I adamently feel that this particular sport which pits man vs man and involves the raising of the hand will help your young man immensely if they continue in it. ..It did me !!
signed,...from the heart

Buying a card doesn't give you the right to have a state tournament to participate in. So you are off base saying "making them pay but leaving them out." The card has nothing to do with the state tournament so lets leave that out of the argument. The joke is this. Someday your son is in college and talk turns to wrestling. "Yeah, I wrestled." "How did you do?" "Well I won state when I was six!" Resounding laughter. You buy him a card and he has an opportunity to compete just like everyone else. If you qualify and pay for entry into the state tournament that is additional to buying a card.

I just hate to see all of this energy on this topic when the problems that need to be addressed are being shunned. How do we get more kids to wrestle in high school? How do we get more kids to wrestle in FS and GR? How do we get adults to stop stealing from clubs? Those are some real problems that need some time and energy spent solving them.

Sure we can conduct a study just as John has outlined but to what end? Someone needs to propose a 6U State Tournament or series in conjuction with Novice, just like in Missouri and Oklahoma. The season would start in January and end at the end of February so those that want a longer season can continue just as they can today.

" At the end of the day NO ONE cares if you won state when you were six years old."

"Honestly, being a 6U State Champ is really just a joke. More for the dads and moms not for the kids. Heck many of them will not even remember wrestling before they were 8 years old."

"The joke is this. Someday your son is in college and talk turns to wrestling. "Yeah, I wrestled." "How did you do?" "Well I won state whe I was six!" Resounding laughter. "

"I don't believe I have called anyone's son a joke. I am saying that 6U wrestling needing all of this focus is a joke."

Mr. Cokely

I'm curious why you have such harsh words for 6u state champions?

Shawn Bloomfield

Van fam7 thank you, you just proved my point , if your 6 year old can make it through a 64 man bracket with 6 to 7 matches then why cant he compeat with 8 year olds his same weight? And rember when you answer dont tell me its unfair becus he/she is only 6 and they are 8. I havent heard a good reason yet.

well hey i do agree with you on that last part. I am ok with a shorter season and for those that are good enough to continue. those other problems are things that might need attention solving. thats probably not my area. however right now 6 and under is my area. wrestling is a tough sport. its not for every kid. thats why you lose kids when they get older. they know they will not be competative and find other things to do. I would rather have 200 competative kids wrestling than have 200 competative and 200 fish. I feel like I am talking to a brick wall. I am actually agreeing with some of your thoughts but some of you will not even think about the 6 and unders. I just dont think thats right.

everyone is entitled to their opinion. my son also has an opinion. he has asked ever since last year in ottawa when he gets to wrestle at state. as he has gotten better and better he asks every week when is state. he just turned 7. he has put his novice tournaments in. first year he wrestled 5 novice tournaments. last year he wrestled 3 novice and 2 opens. this year i told him he can wrestle in whatever tournaments he wants. some of you are right. its a long season. we have already taken a 2 week break and are now getting ready for the end of the season. he will be playing baseball all summer and no wrestling except maybe the winfield camp. so thats what he wants to do. he has his right and thats all i am asking for.

bockman what is not right?????????

as to you oz. the real answer is at 6-8 there is a major difference in that age. now as freshman they have all those years that they have wrestled and are able to compete with the upper classmen. maybe some of the lighter weights at age 6 can compete but most of them are not able to. ask any of the coaches and there are a few kids that can compete with the 8 year olds but majority there is no way. Im done. somebody else can talk to this brick wall.

the problem is you guys want your kid to go to state. bottom line is your kids have the same chance as every one els. There are only 16 spots for each weight ,that leavs alot of kids wishing & hopeing not just the 6 & unders who ( dont have a chance aginst 8 year olds) in your minds.

ok here is the deal. my son wrestles at 6 and under 58lbs. he is one of the better kids at that age. there is no way he can compete with those 8 year olds in that weight. he practices against one every day and its not even close. at that age there is a major difference. you are right in one thing. they have the chance to move up and wrestle 8 year olds but majority of them will not be able to compete with those 8 year olds. a few will. Like i said i dont have all the answers but i just want my son to have the chance. he is also very good in basketball. heck he may not even wrestle after this year. you know how kids are they change their minds all the time. at the same time im not going to force him to do anything. he will make those decisions on his own.

I know what your sayin but you have to understand people have been tryin to get there kid the advantige since day 1, from b-day deadlines to lets have 6 & under state.and i think if you asked high school wrestlers that started at 6 years old if they wish they had 6 & u state for them, 99% would say who cares.and the 1% would just walk away. So ask yourself is it for the kids or mom & dad????

like i said my son is the one that keeps asking about when he gets to wrestle at state. I dont wrestle for him. i also dont tell him he cant play basketball when he wants to do that to. I understand some of the reasoning but i just dont feel that its equal from 6 and under all the way up to the hs level. those are my thoughts. i will always stand behind my thoughts and im done now. its someone elses turn to speak up and if not then i can live on.

go get em bloomey. let me know if I can help you with anything but I think I have put alot of time and effort into supporting this. i dont hide anything. this is an open chat and i have given my feelings. I am relatively new to all this so its a learning process for me. I cant help whats happened in the past. All I can do is help the future and I think the 6 and unders are as important as anyone else. others dont agree. thats ok. at the end of the day i can sit down with my 5 kids and laugh and play. guess thats more important than arguing with people that just will not listen. cokely thank your for the arguements. no hard feelings you have your opinion and I have mine. I know you do alot of good things for wrestling and hope you continue. hopefully I will be around for along time seeing that my youngest is 3. hope i can meet you someday and sit down and talk about wrestling. i do not dis-like you but we just have a difference in opinion on this topic. im sure we would agree on alot of other things. oz. i have the same feelings toward you and good luck to both of you. im done with all this for now.

Bockman, what is wrong with simply telling your son that your first few years is to have fun and get familiar with the rules and fundamental basics of the sport ????

He is one year away so give him something to look forward to. Just tell him that next year he'll get his shot so just keep learning and listen to your coaches so you'll be ready when you get your shot and have a better chance to do well.

It really seems like the younger the kids, .. the more vocal (the parents, and Moms not just Dads) we are. ...Is this really good? Maybe it is our need to nurture and protect, ..if in fact that is the case because they are young and we have to be right there matside going nuts yelling our head off then they certainly are not ready. Many of these kids will not have fun and WILL NOT want to continue after a while.

Mr. Hinderliter is right on in that we are an instant gratification society and thus want these results RIGHT NOW for our youth. But in reality, what we should ultimately as parents want, is to prepare our youth for tomorrow and teach them values in order for them to someday spread their wings and take flight on their own.
This sport can be of great help butmore so as they grow in it and get to the teen years and still have it to hang onto. Your youth will then be able to better understand what this sport has truly done for them as far as effort, discipline, determination to succeed, dedication to your goals,
building comraderie with your teammates and a sense of pride in feeling a part of something bigger than yourself in teamwork to accomplish those goals, & keeping up those grades to be able to be involved in sports, stay clean and to stay away from drugs, cigarettes, & alcohol because they are an athlete that wants to do well in their TEEN years.
These things parents would agree we want for our youth in their high school years and that as parents we will hopefully be able to communicate with that teen and pour the same time and energy into them and for them to want us to when that time comes as much as some of you feel your boy NEEDS to to be a State participant now. Is this a WANT or NEED ?

Again, just keep them connected and enjoying being a part of this sport and just simply a wrestler at this time as really can we really recall much of Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade ? Love your kids, Don't push too hard--their time WILL come and it will matter more then.

bockman, do your kids go to state for basketball???????? is there a 6 & under state or just 8& under maybe not any state at all! what about the other sports they play ,6 & under state ? 8 & under state ? any state at all? your tryin to win us over with guilt, your son is sooo sad he cant wrestle state, im not buyin it. My son keeps asking me when he can have a cell phone, I tell him ( WHEN YOU GET OLDER ) i dont feel bad for cus he dident get what he wanted, he'll get over it.

im not trying to win anyone over. I am just making a point that they are not getting the same as everyone else. I think the biggest thing is too many parents baby their kids at a young age and when it does get tough they quit. so like I said im done with you people. I will finish this year with my son and hope he wants to continue but I wont be mad if he doesnt. Seeing how i would have to deal with some of you as parents isnt a bad thing. by the way i never said my son was pathetic so dont even go there. I said he cannot compete with 8 year olds as a 6 year old. Guess maybe you just dont understand the difference in that age group. have a nice life.