News and Events
Guest article: 5 Tips for Surviving Youth Wrestling Tournaments
By Steve McCardell
Over the years, I spent
plenty of cold winter days at youth wrestling tournaments, and plenty of
drawn-out weekends at high school wrestling tourneys. As if the wrestling
matches themselves weren't tough enough, making sure you had everything you
needed to pass the time was always a challenge.
In the hope that my experience could help someone else, here are my tips on
surviving youth wrestling tournaments.
First: keep a pair of nail clippers in your wrestling bag. The tournaments
are long enough already, and don't need to get held up by refs sending kids
to the side to get their nails clipped before the first match.
Second: avoid bleacher butt by keeping one pillow in the wrestling bag for
every butt that's going to be in those bleachers all day. These can double
as a cushy place for your head if you find somewhere to take a snooze. (Just
don't sleep through a match!) Also, get up and move around -- this keeps the
blood moving and helps to stave off that bleacher pain.
Third: put your name on all of your wrestling equipment. There's so much
floating around, you don't need to risk losing yours. We used to find shoes
and headgear all the time beneath the bleachers.
Fourth: bring healthy, energy snacks. Most tournaments sell junk food, and
you hardly want to encourage surges and drops of energy during the day,
which is what injections of sugar do for you. And you don't want to feel
lethargic because of greasy burgers and fries.
This is especially important for high school wrestlers who are trying to
watch their weight. Roller-coast blood sugar levels cause hunger and can
lead to weight gain.
Fifth: bring something to pass the time. There's a lot of time between
matches. Books, homework, even Gameboys (with earphones) are good ways to
enjoy yourself or to be productive along the way. (Mom or Dad might be able
to even get some work done.)
For the wrestler at any tournament, practice is the main way to prepare for
tournaments. But by following these tips, you can make it through the down
time and enjoy the experience just a little more.
Steve McCardell spent several years in youth wrestling before making varsity
for the high school wrestling team 4 years straight. He was coached in high
school by Pat Milkovich of the famous Milkovich wrestling family and
believes that the wrestling shot taught by Pat was key to his and his team's
success. Steve teaches this wrestling shot in his e-book, "Just One Step,"
online at http://www.wrestlingtechniquebook.com
Upcoming Events:
Date: October 2009
Delaware River Wrestling League Meeting at Rider University
Date: February 2010
Delaware River Wrestling League Tournament.
Location: South Brunswick HS
Foot speed in wrestling
can be an advantage, but keep in mind, it doesn't necessarily make or break
your chances of winning. The good wrestlers, whether they are fast or slow,
will adjust their strategy to accommodate their strengths and weaknesses.