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Thursday, November 23
Handbook
Welcome to MEDFORD YOUTH WRESTLING CLUB'S website version our "HANDBOOK FOR WRESTLERS AND PARENTS". This page contains the same information contained in our printed handbook. Updated for the 2006-2007 season.
Topics covered in this handbook include:
Our Philosophy
Facts about our club
Practices
The Club Newsletter
Membership Requirements
Age & Weight Groups
What to wear at practices
Club singlets
Headgear Policy
Footwear Policy
Marking all personal equipment
Spectator Policy
First aid and blood spills
What wrestling is all about
Information about wrestling tournaments
Your role as a parent
Wrestling resources
This handbook was developed as an informational resource for our wrestlers and their parents. It will hopefully answer many of the questions often asked about club wrestling, and will help make your wrestling experience more rewarding, meaningful, and less confusing.
This guide is also to emphasize what the club's expectations are of our wrestlers and their parents.
The Medford Youth Wrestling Club should not be considered a baby-sitting or recreational activity. Its purpose is to introduce elementary school-aged youngsters to the sport of wrestling in a competitive but fun environment, and to foster a young wrestler's potential through serious commitment.
Parents should be aware that when they sign up a youngster in the club, they are welcome to become involved in the operation of the club, and are encouraged to attend any club board meetings. All parents are expected to help with our annual wrestling tournament and participate in any special projects the club needs to undertake in order to provide the best possible opportunities for the wrestlers.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Medford Youth Wrestling Club has adopted as it's primary philosophy, "Kids come first - winning comes second"
The Medford Youth Wrestling Club is primarily geared to provide Medford's elementary school-aged youngsters an opportunity to participate in and learn the fundamentals of collegiate-style wrestling in a positive and fun environment.
The program strives to provide opportunities for youngsters to learn sportsmanship, set goals, build confidence and self-esteem, develop physically and emotionally, work and cooperate with others, and to test himself or herself in organized competition.
The club also strives to offer Medford's youth an alternative to the more traditional sports offered in our community, especially for those youngsters seeking or geared more towards individual rather than team competition.
The club's ultimate goal is to help raise the awareness and participation in the sport of wrestling in Medford. This is accomplished by developing and promoting a basic understanding and appreciation of wrestling on the part of both parents and youngsters, and to prepare both for the next levels of wrestling in Medford's middle and high school programs.
ABOUT OUR CLUB
The Medford Youth Wrestling Club is a non-profit organization run by volunteer coaches (all coaching staff is subject to a background check) under the direction of a board of directors composed of parents, coaches, and other interested individuals in the community. The club receives no public funding. The club is funded by a portion of each member's registration fee, proceeds generated from hosting our annual wrestling tournament, and other various fund raising activities as may be deemed necessary by it's members. Donations are always welcome.
Medford Youth Wrestling Club is one of nearly a dozen such clubs in southern Oregon and nearly a hundred throughout Oregon. The club is sanctioned by USA Wrestling, the official sanctioning body of amateur wrestling in the United States, and is a member of the Oregon Wrestling Association.
PRACTICES
Practices are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the North Medford High School wrestling room beginning in October 2006 and continuing until the end of January or first part of February 2007.
TOURNAMENTS
Sanctioned tournaments are scheduled throughout Oregon most weekends during the season, with many of them here in southern Oregon. Competing in these tournaments is optional. Parents and wrestlers decide which, where, and how many tournaments they wish to compete in. Parents and wrestlers may also compete on their own in other tournaments in Oregon as well as in other states, provided they have their USA Wrestling membership card with them. More information about tournaments will be discussed later. Each family will receive an Oregon Wrestling Tournament schedule poster at the start of the season. The schedule is also posted on the Oregon Wrestling Report website on the Internet.
CLUB NEWSLETTERS
Club newsletters are published as time allows and distributed at club practices. This newsletter may include practice schedules, detailed information about upcoming tournaments, information about wrestling clinics, and various other wrestling topics and events.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to any youngster age 6 through 16 (except those attending high school). Even though the club utilizes the facilities of North Medford High School, membership is not limited to those attending Medford Public Schools. Because Medford's middle schools have excellent wrestling programs already established for 7th and 8th graders, the club's emphasis is geared more towards grades 1 through 6. Older wrestlers are encouraged to take advantage of the club for getting ready for their school's wrestling seasons or the opportunity to compete in additional competition. The club's annual membership fee for the 2006-2007season is $50.00 per wrestler, $45.00 for second wrestler, and $35.00 for each additional wrestler in the same family (non-refundable). This covers a wrestler's USA Wrestling membership card, secondary medical insurance coverage, a personal subscription to USA Wrestling magazine, and a portion of the club's operating expenses. By joining the club, parents commit themselves to help with our annual 1-day wrestling tournament November, 2006.
2004-2005 AGE/WEIGHT GROUPS
Pee Wee - Too young for Bantams (Wrestlers younger than 6 years of age must have head coach approval)
Bantam (7-8 yr olds) Born in 1999-2000
40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 75+ (15 lb max diff.)
Midget (9-10 yr olds) Born in 1997-1998
50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 87, 95, 103, 112, 120, 120+ (20 lb max diff.)
Novice (11-12 yr olds) Born in 1995-1996
60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 112, 120, 130, 140, 140+ (25 lb max diff.)
Schoolboy (13-14 yr olds) Born in 1993-1994
70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140, 150, 160, 160+ (30 lb max diff.)
Cadet (15-16 yr olds) Born in 1991-1992
83.5, 88, 94.5, 103.5, 112, 121, 132, 143, 154, 167, 182.5, 209, 209-242
WHAT TO WEAR AT PRACTICES
Proper attire for practices: T-shirts, shorts, and preferably wrestling shoes. Some wrestlers prefer to purchase their own wrestling singlets to wear at practices. All clothing worn on the mat must be clean, free of rivets, buckles, or any sharp objects that may damage the wrestling mat. Remove all watches and jewelry.
CLUB SINGLETS
Prior to each wrestler's first tournament, wrestlers are issued a club singlet for wearing in tournament competition only - not at practices. Club singlets are issued on a loan basis and must be returned to the club when a wrestler is done wrestling for the season. Club singlets remain the property of the club and must be returned in good condition or the member will be billed for $40.00 -- the replacement cost. Wrestlers will not be permitted to keep their singlets until the next season.
HEADGEAR
Headgear to protect the ears is not required at this level of wrestling but is recommended for wrestlers over 100 pounds, wrestle more than three times a week, or whose ears are sensitive to the rigors of wrestling. As headgear is required in middle and senior high wrestling, it's not a bad idea to get used to wearing headgear at this level of wrestling.
FOOTWEAR
One of the conditions for using NMHS'S wrestling room is that we limit access to the mat and restrict street shoes to the spectator's area. Wrestling shoes are recommended for wrestlers and coaches, but most clean soft-soled shoes (or stocking feet) that won't leave marks or otherwise damage the mats may be acceptable. Everyone must wipe off the soles of their shoes before walking on the mats. A towel or rug will be located at the wrestling room entrance for cleaning shoes. Wrestling shoes are available at most large sporting goods stores in southern Oregon.
MARK ALL PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
Be sure to mark your personal belongings and wrestling equipment with your name and/or phone number. It's quite common for people to accidentally pick up someone else's personal property by mistake at the end of practice.
SPECTATORS
Spectators are restricted to the area behind the yellow line only!
This helps keep street shoes from tracking dirt onto the mat, and also makes for a safer and roomier area for the wrestlers. As acoustics are poor in the wrestling room, spectators and wrestlers are asked to keep their voices down.
FIRST AID AND BLOOD SPILLS
A first aid kit, roll of paper towels, and disinfectant is located near the wrestling room entrance at all practices. Wrestlers and coaches are expected to take care of bleeding injuries immediately and clean up any blood on the mat.
WHAT WRESTLING'S ALL ABOUT
The following synopsis covers the collegiate or folk-style of wrestling, which we coach during our regular season. Wrestling is a fun sport to watch. Two athletes square off in the middle of a mat and "have at it". Eleven year olds and under get three 1-minute rounds to pin each other, twelve to sixteen year olds get 3 minute-and-a-half rounds. If no one gets pinned during the match, the winner is determined by whoever scored the most points during the match. Points are scored by successfully completing wrestling moves that get their opponent closer to a pin. An athlete wins by a pin, which is achieved by holding both of his opponent's shoulders to the mat for two seconds. A pin ends a match. A "technical fall" also ends the bout. It occurs when a wrestler gets a 10-point advantage over his opponent. To make the score easy to see, the athletes are designated as either green or red (this is evident by their colored ankle band). The scoreboard shows both green and red numbers: the score in green is representative of the wrestler wearing the green ankle band and the score in red is representative of the wrestler wearing the red ankle band.
Points are scored as follows
Takedown- 2 points
This occurs when a wrestler takes his opponent from a neutral position (both standing up) to the mat and gains control by getting behind and on top of him.
Reversal - 2 points
A reversal occurs when an athlete who is down goes from the bottom to the top position.
Escape- 1 point
If an athlete is in the bottom position and gets away from his opponent's control, he escapes.
Near Fall- 2 or 3 points
Sometimes an athlete will put his opponent on his back and almost pin him. That is called a near fall and is worth 2 or 3 points. It is a 2-point near fall when he holds his opponents back greater than 45 degrees to the mat for 2 to 4 seconds. It is worth 3 points when he holds him for 5 or more seconds. You can see the official counting the seconds with his arm when there is a pinning situation. Only the athlete in the top position can score these near fall points.
Stalling- 1 or 2 points
Stalling is not allowed. It is defined as avoiding wrestling by not attempting to score. The first offense is a warning. Second and third offense, 1 point (added to the opponent's score). Fourth offense, 2 points. Fifth offense, disqualification.
Illegal Holds- 1 or 2 points
An athlete can score points if his opponent does something illegal. Some holds are barred completely, but anything that is "potentially dangerous" is stopped by the official. Illegal holds are penalized just like stalling, except there is no warning.
Miscellaneous
As mentioned earlier, a match is broken into three periods of one or one-and-a-half minutes. In the first period, both athletes start standing. In the second period, the wrestler who wins a coin flip may start in the top, bottom, or standing position, or may defer the decision to his opponent. In the final period, the other wrestler may choose the top, bottom, or standing position.
When the athletes go out-of-bounds, the official blows the whistle and stops the action. He starts them again in the center. No scoring can occur out of bounds.
WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS
There are nearly 100 youth wrestling clubs in Oregon, many of which host wrestling tournaments each year - a number of them right here in southern Oregon. Wrestlers and their families may choose which and how many tournaments they wish to participate in. Competition in these tournaments is optional. Wrestlers may also compete on their own at other tournaments scheduled in Oregon and elsewhere in the United States provided they have their USA Wrestling membership card with them. These cards will be issued to each wrestler shortly after they've registered, and prior to a wrestler's first tournament. It's a good idea to make a photocopy of this card and a wrestler's birth certificate in case the card gets lost.
Tournaments are usually held on Saturdays. They can last 4 to 6 hours, and can involve as many as 200 to 400 participants. Depending on the state schedule, which can change from year to year, the club may compete in as many as ten or more tournaments a season, some of which can be as far as several hours away.
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Wrestlers compete only against wrestlers of their own age and weight. Tournament competition is organized by age and weight. The age breakdowns are as follows: Pee Wees (5-6), Bantams (7-8), Midgets (9-10), Novices (11-12), Schoolboys (13-14), and Cadets (15-16). (Note: Not all tournaments have matches for Pee Wees)
Each parent is responsible for getting wrestlers to and from tournaments. Tournament entry fees vary from $10 - $15. A car-pooling rotation arrangement between parents is often set up. Food and snacks are the responsibility of each wrestler. Most tournaments feature a concession stand and some offer breakfasts at the tournament site. Many wrestlers and families will have breakfast at a restaurant after weigh-ins but before the team warms-up.
The club prefers that club wrestlers and their families sit together as a group at tournaments. We also ask that wrestlers wear their club singlets at tournaments to provide unity and help the coaches easily pick them out from the hundreds of other wrestlers.
Registration and weigh-ins for most tournaments are from 7 - 9 a.m., with wrestling starting at 10:00 a.m. Most tournaments run until mid or late afternoon.
Most tournaments are double elimination. Some are 4-man brackets, while others may be 8-man, or even open to an unlimited number of competitors. Four-man brackets are common with 8 and under age groups, and eight-man brackets are most common for older age groups. There is usually a 30 - 60 minute period before the tournament begins, when wrestlers can warm up and locate their bracket sheet if the tournament posts them before each round.
Wrestlers typically wrestle two to four matches in any one tournament; however, it's possible in some situations to wrestle more. Tournaments are organized in rounds, allowing wrestlers sufficient time to rest between matches.
A current copy of each bracket sheet is usually posted for each round in a prominent location showing results and parings for each age and weight group. After each round, bracket sheets are updated to show parings for the following rounds. Winners continue to advance, while those who loose are typically eligible for "wrestle backs" in competition for third or fifth. Most tournaments at this level are "double elimination" which means a wrestler is eliminated from competition if he looses two matches.
BYES
Occasionally wrestlers may find themselves in a bracket with an odd number of wrestlers. In each round, at least one wrestler will not have a match, but will receive a "bye" instead. The dictionary defines a bye as: "The position of one who draws no opponent for a round in a tournament and so advances to the next round". Wrestlers shouldn't become alarmed if they receive a bye. A wrestler that gets a bye in a round will move to the top of the bracket for the next round and the other wrestlers in the bracket will get byes in later rounds
TOURNAMENT MISCELLANEOUS
Most tournaments will start with brackets having the most wrestlers - not necessarily with the youngest age group. Wrestlers should listen for their age group to be called to the staging area. Some tournaments will also have a staging sign showing which group is being staged. Wrestlers should locate the staging area before the tournament starts. At the staging area, wrestlers will be paired-up with their competitors, given their bout sheet, and be assigned a mat to wrestle on.
Tournament regulations usually limit the number of coaches and/or parents allowed to view the match from the edge of the mat. Some tournaments allow only card-carrying or certified coaches at mat side.
A referee starts and stops the match, awarding points when appropriate. When the match is over, wrestlers shake hands. As a courtesy, wrestlers should shake the hand of their opponent's coach after a match before returning to his coach. In most tournaments, the winner of a match is required to sign the bout sheet before leaving the mat area. Many tournaments require the winner to drop the bout sheet of the just completed match in a bout sheet box.
AWARDS
Trophies or medals are usually awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers after all matches on their bracket sheet have been wrestled. Awards are often announced from the head table. Wrestlers are free to leave after awards are presented or if they have been eliminated from the tournament unless team activities are scheduled that require their attendance.
IF YOU'RE THE ONLY WRESTLER IN YOUR AGE/WEIGHT GROUP
Every once in a while wrestlers may enter a tournament only to find themselves one of only two people in their bracket -- or worse yet, the only wrestler in their bracket. This is especially common when a wrestler is either unusually small or large for his age. This situation is fairly common at smaller tournaments and in the Schoolboy and Cadet divisions where many in this age group may also be involved in junior and high school wrestling programs at the same time. Even though wrestlers in this situation automatically qualify for a medal without even having to wrestle, winning in this manner doesn't provide opportunity to improve wrestling skills during actual competition.
Wrestlers finding themselves alone in their bracket usually have several options open to them. First, with a parent's or coachs approval, wrestlers may be bumped up to the next weight group in their age division. Second, most tournaments will allow wrestlers in this predicament to withdraw from the tournament and get their registration fee refunded. Third, wrestlers can keep their medal but can ask their coach or parent to arrange exhibition" matches with wrestlers from other clubs who are similar in weight and/or skill level. The third arrangement is the preferred option, as it gives a wrestler the opportunity to actually compete -- which is the main reason wrestlers attend tournaments.
To avoid this situation, such wrestlers should strive to attend larger tournaments. Such wrestlers are also more likely to get more exhibition matches if they attend tournaments with their teams, as coaches from the various clubs usually know each other and can help arrange exhibition matches fairly easily.
IF YOU ARRIVE LATE AT A TOURNAMENT
In the event a wrestler arrives at a tournament after registrations and weigh-ins have closed, exhibition matches can still be arranged. Late wrestlers won't be eligible to place or earn medals, but at least can have opportunities to wrestle and gain valuable experience.
YOUR ROLE AS A PARENT
Wrestling can be relatively demanding, not only for the wrestler, but for the parent as well. Wrestling clubs typically hold practice sessions two, and some times three times per week, often after the high school team has finished practice. Most tournaments are scheduled on Saturdays, which may conflict with other family plans, but at a minimum require a good deal of preparation, driving and patience. Some state and regional tournaments that more advanced wrestlers may choose to compete in, could be 2-day events, extending through Sunday.
Tournaments are often a good distance from home, and usually require an early start. There are other responsibilities as well, ranging from fund raising activities to helping with tournaments or participating in other team activities. The parent's role extends beyond such tasks. Matches and practice sessions offer new and unique learning opportunities for young athletes. Involved parents spot these opportunities and make the most of them.
Most importantly, kids need support and encouragement. They need to be able to stake claim to something positive about themselves that they can build from in developing self-confidence. Parents can facilitate this process by identifying and reinforcing strengths while helping their child see past their weaknesses. Your positive reinforcement as a perceptive and caring parent can be the single most significant influence in your child's athletic development and personal growth.
Additional Tips:
Don't impose your ambitions or expectations on your child. Remember that wrestling is your child's activity. Improvements and progress occur at different rates for each individual. Don't judge your child's progress based on the performance of other athletes and don't push them based on what you think they should be doing.
Be supportive no matter what. There is only one question to ask your child, "Did you have fun?" If meets and practices are not fun you should not force them to participate.
Do not coach your child. Your job is to support, love and hug your child no matter what. Conflicting advice and criticism work against the coach's efforts and only serve to confuse and de-motivate your child. If you feel you have the experience and ability to contribute to the club as a coach, volunteer your services through the proper channels.
Get involved. Your club needs your help and support. Attend parent and club meetings to find out how you can help. Most importantly, show your child that you care by attending as many meets and tournaments as possible.
Acknowledge your child's fears. Their opponents appear to be much more intimidating through their eyes than through the eyes of a grown-up. Consider their perspective and don't expect them to compete with the confidence and mental toughness of a seasoned expert.
Do not criticize the official. Unless you have been there, you have no idea how challenging officiating can be. Expect that in some matches your child could lose as a result of an error on the part of an official or scorekeeper. That's life. Help your child understand that the official does their best to score the match fairly, and that it is important that we respect the ruling of the officials regardless of how we feel about the situation.
OTHER RESOURCES ON WRESTLING FOR KIDS
For those wishing to learn more about the sport of wrestling, we've identified a number of excellent books available through the Jackson County Library System that are worth checking out:
Amateur Wrestling Rules in Pictures - 796.812 Br
Wrestling For Beginners - 796.812 Ja
Parent's Guide to Kid's Wrestling - 796.812 Ma
Recreational Wrestling - 796.812 Th
An Illustrated Guide to Teaching Kids to Wrestle - 796.812 Ma
Better Wrestling For Boys - 796.812 Su
Rookie Coaches Wrestling Guide - 796.812 Th
Wrestling Basics - 796.812 Fo
There are also many excellent sites on the Internet worth checking out. One of the best is the Oregon Wrestling Report. Here you'll find information about all the kid's wrestling tournaments scheduled in Oregon, information about Oregon high school wrestling, and links to almost anything you've ever wanted to know about wrestling.
NORTH MEDFORD YOUTH WRESTLING CLUB IS SANCTIONED BY USA WRESTLING
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