Kids wrestling

A game plan in kids wrestling?  Yes! After all the drills and conditioning, learning this move and that move, the youth wrestler needs a plan. On the whistle he or she should know exactly how to attack first, and continuously. This forces the opponent to be on the defensive from the start. Being in great shape physically also allows the wrestler to control the pace of the match.

If the opponent is stronger, the concentration should be on technique. Properly executed moves will almost always win out over strength alone. One thing to remember though, never should a wrestler try to run something that hasn’t been perfected in practice. Some good coaching on continuation wrestling is also very important. Changing from one move to another instinctively when one move fails is paramount to wrestling success. Risky and unperfected moves should probably only be used in the last few seconds of a match when points are needed.

Attitude and sportsmanship in kids wrestling go hand in hand when it comes to development of a youth wrestler. Youngsters should learn to never overreact to calls by the official or what the fans may be yelling. Important also is that the wrestler should never be afraid to lose. Fear of losing causes the wrestler to react rather than act and this gives the edge to the opponent. Win or lose one thing should be stressed, always respect your opponent!

Going back to conditioning if you would like more information and a guide please visit: Ultimate Wrestling Strength

Important in Kids Wrestling is proper position or stance. Movement drills and level change from the stance should be part of every practice session. I see youth wrestlers doing what I call the dive all the time. Stance will be good, movement excellent, then shoot without changing levels. Just dive in head first. A good stance, head even or lower than the opponent, never cross the feet, quick level change, shoot in a continuous motion. Putting that all together so it happens effortlessly for the youth wrestler takes a lot of practice.

Being in range is another key factor of the takedown. Never shoot a leg from farther than a arms length away. Tapping the opponents forehead is one way some more experienced wrestlers gage their distance. Once the proper angle is achieved, and the shot is open, as the wrestler is changing levels the trailing foot should come up to near even with leading foot. This one step action will allow the wrestler to drive thru the opponent. The result is a more powerful and controlled takedown. Setting up the takedown in this manner also reduces the effectiveness of any counter moves.

In Kids Wrestling the basic moves and conditioning are whats most important. More complex moves should be carefully explained, then demonstrated and practiced over and over. To keep the session interesting and fun most clubs play games during and at the end of practice. Games that integrate wrestling moves and further the conditioning and muscle memory of the young wrestler. Beginning strength training is also a consideration at this point. For some expert advice on the subject you can check out this site: Ultimate Wrestling Strength

From ULTIMATE WRESTLING STRENGTH

Posted by steve preston on 25 April 2010 filed in General, Wrestling Tips.

Many times great wrestlers start off at a young age. More years of repetition can make the difference unless you are amazingly gifted… a natural.

The problem is the strength and conditioning methods that are used with Youth wrestlers…

A youth wrestler is a young athlete who is at a different stage in their overall growth and maturation in life.

For this reason they need strength and conditioning exercises that are appropriate for their seemingly indestructable, yet delicate bodies.

If you’re thinking about training youth wrestlers in the 6-12 age range, you might want to consider the following 10 exercises in their program. They are examples from the Youth Offseason Strength program found in my Ultimate Wrestling Strength program.

1. Stability Ball Wall Squats – You need a big stability ball for these but not too big. Place it against the wall and have your wrestler stand with their low-back/hips area against the ball. The feet are placed shoulder width apart or slightly wider. They descend slowly and stand back up. I like this exercise because they are interested in the ball and they focus while doing it. Weight can be used simply by holding dumbbells but probably isn’t necessary. I like them because they don’t overload the spine which is contraindicated at their young stage in development.

2. Plank – Youth wrestlers love Planks. They are a great way to challenge young wrestlers to hold a static contraction while relaxing the face. This is a method that I’ve always taught wrestlers at any age. It helps them recruit more muscle fibers while training, and has a direct carry-over benefit to wrestling when you are tied up with your opponent. These are done by having them get on the forearms and toes, body straight. Tell them to try to bring their belly-button in towards their spine. Breathe easy no matter how difficult they become.

3. Pushups with feet on a Stability Ball – Here’s another exercise that you need a stability ball for. It is great for taking the Pushup to the next level without having to overload their joints. The feet will be elevated higher than head level with the toes on top of the ball. Have them lower in 3 seconds and explode as fast as possible to the top with each rep.

4. Reverse Wood Chop with Medicine Ball – This is an exercise that can be done at any level with any wrestlers. Just make sure the Medicine Ball is light enough so that they are using perfect form. When done correctly, the Reverse Wood Chop with a Medicine Ball is a wrestling-specific exercise. It recruits the Internal Obliques primarily. By developing this core muscle you will find better coordination and speed during takedowns and takedown defense as well as overall mat speed. They are done by assuming a shoulder width stance with both hands holding the Medicine Ball outside outside the left ankle. They look straight ahead and bring the ball over the opposite shoulder until extended.

5. Dumbbell Sumo Deadlifts – At a young age you must teach form before function. I like this exercise because it teaches the young wrestler a proper movement pattern for learning the Barbell version when they enter their teenage years. They hold the dumbbells at arms length in front with a straddle stance. Palms should be facing in. Keep eyes straight ahead and push the butt back as you lower the dumbbells. Teach them to act as if they are going to sit back in a chair without being able to use their hands.

6. One Leg Good Mornings – One leg exercises are great for wrestlers due to the activation of stabilizing muscles. This helps with injury prevention as well as performance-enhancement. It also helps introduce them to developing the Posterior Chain muscles. Perform by clasping the hands behind the head. Pick one foot off the floor. Bend at the hip forward in a slow, controlled fashion. When a stretch is reached, ’squeeze’ the leg and hips to raise back up.

7. Superman – Safe development of the mid back area is so important for wrestlers. Think about all the pushups wrestlers do in their careers. That is a lot of Chest, Shoulder and Triceps training. But what about the Antagonistic muscles… the muscles of the Mid Back? They often get neglected. Muscular imbalances are the key reason we have injuries with athletes. It is important to have young wrestlers train the mid back area along with all of the Pushups. The Superman is performed by lying face down on the mat in a Superman position. They raise their torso up from the mat while keeping the lower body against the mat. Teach them to pause at the top and lower slowly.

8. Seated Russian Twist with Medicine Ball – Here’s another medicine ball exercise that I really like for youth wrestlers. It is another easy to teach exercise that has a direct carry over to the mat. I also like it as an injury-prevention exercise. Sit on the mat with knees bent, heels on mat, and both hands clenching the Medicine Ball at waist level. Keep the body and head straight while rapidly alternating the hands from side to side, touching the Medicine Ball down on the mat on each side.

9. DB Lunge – This is a great wrestler’s exercise as well. Since it mimics the step taken for takedowns and recruits stabilizing muscles it is a no-brainer. Also, it helps develop the Quadriceps and Hamstrings without putting stress on the Spine. Perform forward lunge with dumbbells at side by stepping forward until back knee is just off the mat. Push back up and repeat on same leg for required reps.

10. Stability Ball Pikes – Once again, we’re back with a Stability Ball (Can you tell I like these for training Youth wrestlers?) Get into a Pushup position with hands on the floor and feet on top of the Stability Ball. Keep the legs straight while bending at the waist to a piked position. Slowly extend back out to the starting position and repeat. These are awesome for getting serious involvement of the entire core.

Ultimate Wrestling Strength

I recently ran across something quite interesting while searching kids wrestling sites. It is called PCR, or Pre Competition Routine. I actually think this may be more important for the youth wrestler than the older more experienced athlete. Now, we are not talking about superstition here, like wearing the same unwashed socks for the entire season, or maybe walking backwards into the wrestling venue.

PCR is more about routine, and probably begins the day before a competition with the food and nutrition intake of the young wrestler. Ever notice how many kids are on the toilet or bent over the toilet on tournament day ? Finding the right combination of food and drink can at least reduce the rumblings. It is nerves, of course, that are the real culprit here, but a fixed routine and being well prepared can help a lot.

Now, a routine just before a match is a little difficult to maintain because of the uncertainty of exactly when the group is being called up. Simple things can help though like always keeping your gear stored in the same place before and between matches. Ever see the panicked look on a parents face when they cannot find their childs headgear ?

What about waiting at the mat ? Some sort of warmup exercise should be part of the pre-match routine at this point. If you have been to these kids’ wrestling tournaments, you know space is very limited, but any type of exercise is good.

Once the wrestler checks in and gets his or her assignment. Here’s what I think should happen: The youth wrestler runs to the center of the mat, grabs the ankle band, then runs back to the edge of the mat in front of the coach, then the wrestler should “take a knee”, put on the ankle band, jump up, “high five” the coach and sprint back to their starting position on the mat, at this point they maintain a perfect wrestling stance and are ready to attack.

I think that what may seem like an insignificant routine does a number of things:

1.) I believe it exudes confidence
2.) Orients the wrestler to the coach
3.) Provides the opportunity for last second advice from the coach.

Be it this routine or some variation of this routine, it gives a youth wrestler something to call their own and starts the match off with the same level of intensity each time.

Please leave a comment of your thoughts on this subject and some of the routines that you have observed.

By Chuck Berger
Although wrestling is not the most popular or most glamorous sport there is, it builds character among many other things.

Wrestling is a sport that also helps improve one’s speed and agility, as well as builds strength and stamina. There is no better way to get in shape than to get out there on the mat with someone that is the same weight as you are and wrestle around with them for 6 minutes.

Like anything in life, to be good at something takes a lot of hard work, and wrestling is no different. And all the hard work that you put into it will pay off, because there is no greater feeling of accomplishment when you wrestle someone and walk off the mat a winner. I know because I wrestled for 6 years and I’m a better person today for doing it.

Unfortunately, these days when a team loses no matter what the sport, there is a lot of finger pointing, someone blaming someone else for their team losing. Since wrestling is a one on one sport, if you lose the only person you can blame is yourself.

Wrestling builds character, so if your looking for away to help your kids build character and build their self esteem, I highly recommend that you get them involved with wrestling. Not only will it help them in those areas, but later on in life they will look back and be glad that they were a part of something that gives one a feeling of accomplishment and personal achievement.

Like wrestling, in business there is no greater feeling then getting involved with a top notch legitimate business that offers a product that people use everyday for years to come and help other people reach their financial goals with that business. http://www.bergersbillions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Berger

Chuck Berger – EzineArticles Expert Author