All,
Anybody think 2 practices a day is good for the wrestlers in high school? I read Wichita south had implemented 2 sessions for varsity wrestlers. I think it could only make those kids better. Any thoughts?

I think it doesn't matter much how many practices you have rather what you do with the time you have. I have seen people work all day and do nothing and seen state championship teams that were on the mat 90 minutes a day. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat but the guy with the most minutes of manutia doesn't always win.

well said!! If they practice so long that they are practicing half speed and how not to do things, it is more harmful than helpful.

i agree. that much practice is not necessary if you get in work hard and get out. i have seen schools that practice from 330 til 430 produce state champions

I really think the thing that most young coaches take the longest to figure out is how to stage their practices by the time of year so as to peak before the state tournament. I know I didn't really have a handle on that until late in my career. I really believe that anyone who has to go longer than an hour and a few minutes in the last three weeks of the season is chasing it a bit and not catching up. I think the length of your practice schedule is very much dependent on the time of the year and if you have done your conditioning early in the year and have it on maintance at the end of the year. If you have done that then you can have short intense and really fun practices right before the big tourney's. Kids will have their weight where it should be, they'll be confident and they won't be washed out at the biggest meets, the ones that really matter.

practices should be based on the wrestlers progress and how they feel. if you have 2 hour practices and they are always tired that is not good. but if you can gauge it on how they feel and their work in the mat room, it is much easier

It's all what you are trying to do and when you are trying to do it. If you are still teaching a lot of new things and it is late January then I think you are chasing it and will find yourself in long practice times drilling moves that are not going to be routine when it matters. I think it is all a matter of knowing when the hay should be in the barn you know.