Gutwrench:
Nice post. Hand fighting/wrist control one of the fundamental aspects that is very often missed, most usually at kids/jr hi level so time spent at hs level is a must.
one other technique that i've used in the past is to shoot the same takedown from near (head tie), intermediate (arm tie/hand fight) and far distances (full arm length). Wrestlers need to know how distance affects the shot and to compensate.
another item is to drill 'mean'. not cheap, but solid aggressive attack that dominates. too many kids get caught up in the 'pretty' and not the ultimate goal, to put the other kid down on the mat - ergo the lack of finishing skills. if wrestlers understand that, at least at this level, wrestling is no longer recreational but martial then you can instill that 'attack' mode.
speed, strength, skill (technique) and 'mean' (aggressive pace)...similar to joe's above.
every kid wants to win but it's the kid who absolutely can't stomach the thought of losing (not as a bad sport, but as commitment)who will win when it's close. that's why you drill as hard as you do...to push the kids to and slightly beyond what they thought they could do - showing them that wrestling is ultimately a matter of will when all things are equal...and THAT'S what prepares them for life....
thanks for the soapbox...but this stuff is special to me.
Tim Shea
Asst Coach
Spring Hill
