Watch as Coach Dave Crowell explains that using a cross face/near ankle technique is the best counterattack against a high crotch. Coach Crowell teaches his wrestlers to move in the opposite direction from whatever leg […]
Our Mission Coaching/Leading/Teaching Girls with Meghan Orgeman – Alexandria Area High School (MN)
Coach Meghan Orgeman discusses the mission of coaching, leading, and teaching girls. The highlights include these key points: Socialize our girls to be imperfect within a supportive network of people who care deeply for them. […]
The Mantra of “Get Better Every Day” Applies First to Coaching
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life After 40+ years in coaching, certain things are automatic for me. One of those things is, from the moment a practice, training session, game or season […]
Single Leg: Countering a Closed Shin Whizzer with Kevin Ward – Army West Point
Watch as Coach Kevin Ward explains that one position a lot of wrestlers struggle with is attacking with a strong single, but the opponent has a really good whizzer that locks them down. He will […]
Athletes’ Stressors & Resilience with Dr. Peter Ormsby – Univ. of North Carolina at Pembroke
Watch as Dr. Peter Ormsby discusses athlete stressors and resilience. Nearly 33% of athletes report mental health symptoms which is higher than general population samples. He will explain some of the types of stressors that […]
Developing Athletes at Practice
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life “The best athletes have the most potential to be the best players.” Prior to, and possibly including 8th grade, I think all players benefit from playing […]
Turn-In Stand with Dave Crowell – Nazareth Area High School (PA)
Watch as Coach Dave Crowell explains and demonstrates this turn-in stand escape from the bottom position. He teaches his wrestlers not to explode on the whistle and get the arm away, but instead give it […]
Set-Up and Step to the Shot Drill with Mark Branch – Univ. of Wyoming
Watch as Coach Mark Branch explains and wrestlers demonstrate this set-up and step to the shot drill. The focus is on the attacker changing levels stepping in and touching with the attack hand but not […]
Fundamentals Create the Highlights with Brian Smith – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach Brian Smith explains the importance of stressing fundamentals to your wrestlers. They must understand that fundamentals are the basis of successful wrestlers at any level. The fundamentals of stance, level change, penetration […]
Ankle Picks & Options with Dalton Jensen – Univ. of Nebraska at Kearney
Watch as Coach Dalton Jensen explains and demonstrates ankle picks and different options based on the opponent’s response. He starts off in a collar tie and focuses on controlling the far side wrist. During the […]
Jump Med Ball Slam with Ben Durbin – Iowa State Univ.
Watch as Coach Ben Durbin explains, and a wrestler demonstrates this in-season upper body plyometric jump med ball slam drill. This drill helps the wrestler be more aggressive and violent with their throws. The drill […]
Nine Ways to Develop Accountability in Your Wrestling Program
By: John Klessinger, Head Wrestling Coach – South River HS (MD) Accountability is a modern-day buzzword. It is thrown around team locker rooms, business meetings, and in schools. But what is it really? I am […]
Quarter Turn Stand-Up with John Klessinger – South River High School (MD)
Watch as Coach John Klessinger explains and demonstrates the Quarter Turn Stand-Up. Off the whistle, jump 1 quarter away, being explosive and stand up to create space. Put the inside hand in the back pocket […]
Practice Developing Your Strengths with J Robinson – JROB Intensive Camps
Watch as Coach J Robinson explains his philosophy on practice and what he emphasizes on when preparing his wrestlers. The five areas of wrestling that can make up a practice session are takedowns, escapes, reversals, […]
Coaches’ Stressors & Mental Health with Dr. Peter Ormsby – Univ. of North Carolina Pembroke
Watch as Dr. Peter Ormsby discusses coaches’ stressors and mental health. He cites case studies that indicate the three main stressors are performance-related, organizational-related, and personal. Performance stressors deal with injuries to athletes and poor […]
High Crotch to the Back Leg Drill with Mike Poeta – Univ. of Illinois
Watch as Coach Mike Poeta explains and demonstrates this high crotch to the back leg drill. He emphasizes that in a live match he would never instruct a wrestler to use this but always take […]
How to Build Integrity with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Watch as Stephen Mackey explains how to build integrity in athletes through sports. He discusses three exercises that can build integrity muscle: tell the truth, make commitments count, and take 100% responsibility for your actions. […]
Setting Effective Goals
By: Colleen M. Hacker Originally Published in: Achieving Excellence Provided by: Human Kinetics Olympic athletes, like most high achievers, commonly set goals to guide and motivate performance. These elite performers would not engage in action […]
Block All Points Drill with Brian Smith – Univ. of Missouri
What as Coach Brian Smith explains, and wrestlers demonstrate this ‘block all points’ drill. After you get your opponent flat and have a wrist, do not go for a turn right away, but think about […]
The Value of Strength Training with Sam Craven – North Carolina State Univ.
Watch as Coach Sam Craven explains that a strength and conditioning program can increase the athletic potential of an athlete. Using an analogy of a race car driver and a race car, the driver may […]
Character Development: Be a Hope Dealer with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Watch as Stephen Mackey explains that in today’s world there are a lot of influences that can have a negative impact on your kids. He encourages coaches to offset this negativity by being hope dealers. […]
Elbow Pass and Stalk Drill with Kevin Ward – Army West Point
Watch as Coach Kevin Ward explains and demonstrates this elbow pass and stalk drill. This is a warmup speed drill focusing on building habits and instincts while getting the body warm. The drill starts with […]
Great Teams Don’t Happen by Accident with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Watch as Robert Grasso discusses La Jolla Country Day’s leadership programs for athletics and how developing a culture is the key for a successful team. He explains great teams don’t happen by accident and although […]
Managing Conflict
By: Teri McKeever – Former College and Olympic Swim Coach Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics If you aren’t having conflicts on a team, then the athletes and those […]
Outside Leg Stand-Up with Damion Hahn – South Dakota State Univ.
Watch as Coach Damion Hahn discusses the Outside Leg Stand-Up. Sometimes it is difficult to stand up using the inside leg because of all the weight on that side. Using the outside leg eliminates that […]
What Are We Doing to Create a Championship Culture? with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Robert Grasso asks the question, “what can we do to create a championship culture?” Every team has a culture – are you working to develop the kind of culture you want? Robert states that if […]
Give and Take in Sparring with Austin DeVoe – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach Austin DeVoe explains how to use give and take in sparring. This can be the hardest adjustment for high school wrestlers transitioning to college. Sparring does not have to be completely choreographed […]
Run the Stance Motion Drill at the End of Practice with Keith Gavin – Univ. of Pittsburgh
Watch as Coach Keith Gavin explains why he likes to run the stance motion drill at the end of practice, especially during the season. After practice the wrestlers are tired, and it is important for […]
Mental Toughness: A Skill That Can Be Developed with Dr. Colleen Hacker – Team USA / Pacific Lutheran Univ.
Watch as Dr. Colleen Hacker explains that mental toughness is a skill, and it can be developed. It is about how an individual responds to adversity, difficult situations, setbacks, and failure. Mental toughness is not […]
The Mental Side of the Game
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life With regard to athletic and sport skill development, what a player does with their mind, both on and off of the field, is at least as […]