When my 9-year-old son Chase decided he wanted to join a youth wrestling club for the first time, I didn’t know what to expect. Here are four things I quickly learned...
# 1. The training schedule will dominate your week.
Kids on Chase’s youth wrestling team were expected to practice two and half hours a day, four times a week. Other teams practice up five days a week. Being a wrestling dad equated to a lot of driving and sitting around a gym.
A typical practice meet includes an intense workout of drills and practice matches. Kids definitely get a great workout during this time.
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| photo: John Sachs / Flickr |
Unlike baseball, there are most definitely tears in wrestling.
Wrestling can hurt. Heads get banged, faces hit the floor, and egos sometimes get bruised, but if your child likes competition, it will be both exhilarating and exhausting for them.
#2. Tournaments will consume your weekends.
Say goodbye to your weekends when you register your son or daughter in youth wrestling. You will now be expected to spend six to eight hours in a high school gymnasium most Saturdays to see your child wrestle a few matches that last only a few minutes each.
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| photo: Paul Dineen / flickr |
Settle in. We're going to be here a while.
I was surprised at just how big this sport is. Typical tournaments had three or more matches going simultaneously with referees, scorekeepers, and coaches gathered around each mat. The bleachers are filled to the brim with parents and wrestlers waiting and preparing for their upcoming bouts.
Wrestling tournaments can be accurately described as “hours of boredom interrupted with moments of extreme excitement.” I recommend this post by Becca on MyCrazyGoodLife.com where she describes a typical tournament day for parents and includes a few survival tips for these long days. (Her best tip: bring a cushion.)
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| photo: Dave L / flickr |
Walking into a crowded gymnasium before a tournament presents quite the sight.
Your child will get put in a division where he’ll be paired up with other wrestlers in his weight class and experience level. Some tournaments have a rookie division that is intended for first-year wrestlers. This is a sport big on medals and trophies and chances are your kid will collect quite a few, even if they don’t win a lot of matches.
Is it worth it? I think so. I love hearing my son talk about his tournament results with friends and family, and as a dad I can’t help but feel a sense of pride after each successful wrestling tournament.
#3. It’s more expensive than you think.
You might assume wrestling would come with a low cost. It’s basically one kid wrestling another kid, right? The truth is that it might be more costly than you think. Each club or camp charges a fee to join each season, then at minimum your son or daughter is going to need a pair of wrestling shoes, a singlet (custom to your team,) protective headgear, and a gym bag.
Additionally, your team may offer spirit gear such as shirts, shorts, or training clothes with your team’s name on it. These may not be required to participate, but every other kid on the team is going to have them -- so you might want to figure these into your budget as well.
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| photo: John Sachs / flickr |
Youth wrestling. It's kind of like Pokémon for parents.
To join a team and enter tournaments, you’re required to purchase a USA Wrestling membership card for your wrestler. This provides insurance coverage to everyone involved. Each tournament your child competes in will require a separate entry fee as well.
These costs add up fast and can be prohibitive for some families to join the sport. Much of the cost may be due at the beginning of wrestling season, so it’s more palatable to look at the total cost spread over the entire season. When I did this, I found the total cost of wrestling was less than bi-weekly karate lessons taken over the same period of time.
You could expect to spend anywhere from $250 to $500 a year to support your youth wrestler. Wrestling was more expensive than I anticipated, but for the amount of hours of training a youth wrestler receives, I consider it a good value.
#4. Your child’s nutritional needs change dramatically.
Wrestlers are highly aware of their weight. To achieve their desired weight and maintain strength, wrestlers typically follow a healthy diet plan. If your typical dinner is a trip to McDonald’s drive-thru for a few Happy Meals, you’re going to need to make a few adjustments.
Keep your kitchen stocked with fruit. Figure out how to cook baked potatoes. Learn how to prepare a healthy meal for your future champion.
Also, hygiene becomes important. Wrestlers finish practices covered in sweat belonging to them and every opponent they wrestled that day. It is a must that they shower before going to bed. Our coach made all kids promise to bathe after practices to stop the spread of bacteria and wrestling-borne illnesses. Regular bathing is already a good habit to get your child into anyway, you just have to plan accordingly on practice days.
The Low Down
Youth wrestling may come with a few surprises, but as most wrestling dads and moms will tell you, it’s highly rewarding for both kids and parents. Amanda on QuadCity Mom’s Blog says youth wrestlers “learn techniques and strategies, sportsmanship, self-confidence, discipline, and it’s great exercise.“ Read her post about becoming a reluctant wrestling mom.
Wrestling is more than a bunch of boys rolling around in a gym. It is a sport that encourages activity, proper hygiene and healthy eating. It is rewarding for both kids and parents. Kids build confidence and agility, while parents can experience the pride and joy of seeing their child’s progress as a wrestler.
Do you have stories about being a wrestling dad? Leave me a comment below!
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