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 […]
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 […]
Reflecting On Why You Coach
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics Most coaching books start with a discussion of the importance of creating a coaching philosophy and follow up with a section […]
Changeover from the Bottom Position with Dave Crowell – Nazareth Area High School (PA)
Watch as Coach Dave Crowell explains the changeover from the bottom position. The next best position from your hands and knees is a sitting position. If you can teach your wrestlers to get to a […]
The Biggest Mistake That Young Coaches Make: Brian Smith – University of Missouri
Watch as Coach Brian Smith discusses how he has evolved in his coaching career by not worrying so much about the end outcome, but to enjoy his team and the teaching process on and off […]
Where Do You Find Leaders with Jeff Janssen – Janssen Sports Leadership Center
Jeff Janssen discusses the areas of the Commitment Continuum in which you will find leaders. He urges athletic administrators to not just look at parents, coaches, or kids, but to look at themselves on the […]
Crab Ride Defense with Dakota Bauer – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach Dakota Bauer explains and demonstrates this crab ride defense. Most wrestlers in a crab position attack the hands but give up a wrist. Coach recommends not giving up the wrist but making […]
Leadership: What Type of Team Do You Want to Be? with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Robert Grasso discusses how coaches must determine with their players what type of standards and values they must set that define their teams. It is important to ask questions so that players understand why they […]
Be Careful Not to Overuse Technology in Coaching
By: Adam Sarancik From the time most children can walk and talk today, they have a technological device of some type in their hands. By the time they finish elementary school, children can code, decode, […]
Single and Double Leg Finish Drill with Tom Borrelli – Central Michigan Univ.
Watch as Coach Tom Borrelli demonstrates his teaching progression for the single and double leg finish and discusses the benefits of breaking a move up into parts that you can drill over and over until […]
Asking Questions Can Solve Problems with Jack Spates, Retired – Univ. of Oklahoma
Watch as Coach Jack Spates explains how asking your wrestlers questions can be more effective than telling them what the solution to a problem is.
Defense First, Circle the Trail Leg with Gary Mayabb – Univ. of Iowa
Watch as Coach Gary Mayabb explains and, with a wrestler, demonstrates this stance that focuses on defense first by circling the opponents trail leg and studying their lead leg and hand.
Countering a Front Headlock with Dave Crowell – Nazareth Area High School (PA)
Watch as Coach Crowell explains and demonstrates countering a front headlock. There are two ways to counter a front headlock, #1 is a Drag Out, where you grab the elbow, pull, and climb toward it. […]
Creating Confidence with J Robinson – JROB Intensive Camps
Watch as Coach Robinson explains that he believes the greatest thing you can do as a coach is to change someone’s life for the better. You have the chance to impact kids’ lives by believing […]
The Grind
By: Coach Mickey Marley Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning If you are a professional, or at the least someone who has sought out to be a champion, you probably have […]
Countering a Changeover from the Top Position with Brian Smith – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach Brian Smith explains and demonstrates countering a changeover from the top position. If you can catch the changeover, drop the shoulder, grab the thigh instead of deep waist, and still work your […]
Surround Yourself With the Right People with JohnMark Bentley – Appalachian State Univ.
Who are the people that are passionate about your program? Coach JohnMark Bentley discusses the difficulty of finding donors and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people that can help you build your […]
Understanding Different Types of Pressure with Nick Mitchell – Grand View Univ.
Do you have athletes that are slow to react off the whistle? Watch as Coach Nick Mitchell discusses the benefits of teaching your wrestlers how to interpret different types of pressure.
Quad Pod Positioning and Setup with Austin DeVoe – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach Austin DeVoe explains and demonstrates the importance of positioning in the Quad Pod. The feet should be outside of the shoulders with the knees slightly bent and the head straight up. It […]
Are You Building a Better You? with Chet Scott – Built to Lead
Watch as Chet Scott explains why it’s necessary to build a “better you” to be an effective leader. The way coaches regulate or react to a room influences the type of team they have. He […]
7 Ways to Develop Mental Toughness in Your Wrestlers
By: John Klessinger, Head Wrestling Coach – South River HS (MD) I have spent a significant part of the last 18 years answering the question – how do you develop mental toughness? I have read […]
Far Side Claw with Tyson Reiner – Golden Eagle Wrestling Club
Watch as Coach Tyson Reiner explains and, with a student-athlete, demonstrates this far side claw move. This is a first move off the whistle and coach emphasizes the proper shoulder and arm position.
Defining Commitment with Jeff Janssen – Janssen Sports Leadership Center
Jeff Janssen discusses defining commitment with your athletes and obtaining their feedback. It is important to question where they feel their commitment level is in regard to practice, social life, and acceptance of their role on […]
Helping Students-Athletes Manage Mental Health with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Coaches are usually around their athletes every day, are the first to see an athlete in distress, and have the first opportunity to help. Most people want help but have trouble asking for it. However, […]
Short Offense: Good, Better, Best Warmup Drills with Kevin Ward – Army West Point
Watch as Coach Kevin Ward explains and demonstrates the importance of snapping and applying pressure when defending against a shot. He breaks down his principles of short offense as good, better, and best. A front […]
Defending a Collar Tie with Mark Manning – Univ. of Nebraska
Watch as Coach Mark Manning explains and demonstrates defending a collar tie. He teaches pressure and if the opponent has you in a collar tie you must have a thumb lock on the opposite arm […]
Safety in Sports Includes Mental Health Care
Medical professionals agree that about 20% of high school athletes and 30% of college athletes have or will have a serious anxiety or diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment in their […]
Bottom Position Flick with Chris Pendleton – Oregon State Univ.
Watch as Coach Chris Pendleton explains, and a wrestler demonstrates timing the flick on the whistle. When in the down position, your head should be up looking at the referee’s hand. Sometimes the ref’s hand […]
Tapering and Breaks with Jack Spates – (Retired) Univ. of Oklahoma
Watch as Coach Jack Spates discusses the importance of tapering and breaks in today’s wrestling. Tapering allows the body to get refreshed and invigorated which allows for greater success.
Bottom Position: Sit Out Hip Heist Drill with Troy Nickerson – Northern Colorado Univ.
Watch as Coach Troy Nickerson explains and wrestlers demonstrate this bottom position sit out hip heist drill. The wrestlers work the move individually and then partner up.