By: John Klessinger, Head Wrestling Coach – South River HS (MD) Dear High School Athlete, I am going to discuss the valuable lessons we learn from playing high school sports and how you should approach […]
Set the Tone as a Dictator or a Leader with Bill Johnson – Norton Community HS (KS)
Watch as Coach discusses a quote from Dr. Haim Ginott which suggests that as a coach you are the decisive element for athletes and you have tremendous power and responsibility that impacts their lives. He […]
Constant Pressure with Nick Mitchell – Grand View Univ.
Watch as Coach explains that it is key not to let your opponent rest. Coach wants wrestlers to be heavy and apply chest pressure. Keep pressure on the opponent’s head and do not let them […]
Changing Weight-Cutting Tactics with Chris Pendleton – Oregon State Univ.
Wrestlers are stubborn by nature. Coach believes that as a group, weight-cutting tactics must change to help keep retention rate high.
Creating and Sustaining a Winning Culture
By: John Klessinger, Head Wrestling Coach – South River HS (MD) Recently, I made a talk to some fellow educators on culture in sport. I aimed to provide the audience with the methods to build […]
Arm Bar Tilt with Brian Beasley – Chattooga HS (GA)
Watch as Coach explains and demonstrates with a wrestler this arm bar tilt. The initial movement is a tight-waist, far-ankle drive forward. Instead of digging for the elbow tilt, take the free arm and knife […]
What’s Important Now with Alan Stein, Jr.
Alan discusses mental awareness and stresses the importance in today’s environment with all the distractions to stay focused. He uses the acronym W.I.N. which stands for “What’s Important Now” and recommends that everyone ask themselves […]
Clearing a Collar Tie Drill with Brian Antonelli – Blair Academy
Watch as Coach explains and demonstrates how to clear a collar tie. Pull your neck, pop to create a little bit of space, get the hand back in and then get to your shot. If […]
A Common Mistake People in Authority Make with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Dr. Dorpfeld discusses a mistake that people in authority make when dealing with issues of behavior and choices of athletes. It is important to focus on the behaviors that need attention and not on attacking […]
Single Leg Trip Finish with Nathan Tomasello – Cliff Keen Wrestling Club
Watch as Coach explains that in a single leg when you cannot finish, try to dump the opponent and if they don’t go down, pick up the foot. Coach pulls the foot down and out […]
Basic Leg Lace with Brandon Slay – Pennsylvania RTC
Watch as Coach explains and demonstrates a basic leg lace. It important to have forward pressure, dropping the shoulder beneath the opponent’s rear, getting off the knees, and pressing forward. Attach the hands above the […]
Girl’s Wrestling: Building Awareness with Damon Parker – Washburn Rural HS (KS)
Watch as Coach explains that when starting a girl’s wrestling program, building awareness is key. You must find ways to communicate directly with the girls as individuals or in groups. Coach approached nontraditional groups such […]
Get the Parents on Your Side with Heath Eslinger – A Better Way Athletics
A problem without a prescription will continue to be a problem. Make sure not to place the parents in opposition. As a leader, the coach needs to get the parents running in the same direction. […]
Underhook Fundamentals with Nathan Tomasello – Cliff Keen Wrestling Club
Watch as Nathan explains and demonstrates underhook techniques. He feels that underhooks are the best control ties a wrestler can have. Underhooks can control movement and lead to many different attacks. From a collar tie […]
Wrist Roll with Seth Ecker – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach explains and demonstrates this wrist roll technique. When your opponent makes contact, grab the wrist while keeping the elbow in and hand supinated with the palm up. Rotate the arm and pull […]
Athlete Skill Evaluation Tool
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics A coach’s skill evaluation tool should include all the technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of performance they consider to be […]
Encourage Your Athletes to Think Transition with Dave Malecek – UW-La Crosse
Watch as Coach explains that he encourages his athletes to think transition when it is time to finish. This helps prevent the opponent from knowing what you are doing and is a key word for […]
Double Leg Post Setup with Max Wessell – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach explains how he executes the double leg post set up off an opponent’s collar tie. He does not re-collar tie but comes over the arm and wraps at the elbow and pinches. […]
The Importance of Communication with Heath Eslinger – A Better Way Athletics
Watch as Coach explains the benefits of knowing your values and being able to communicate them consistently and effectively. Being able to connect and communicate will decrease the intensity of parent-coach relationships.
Practice Key with Mark Branch – Univ. of Wyoming
Watch as Coach explains how he keeps a practice key that has all the drills, finishes, warmups, and conditioning exercises that he has used in practice over the years. He constantly updates the key based […]
Ways to Get Your Wrestling Facilities Upgraded with Chip Lowery – Coppell HS (TX)
Watch as Coach explains that it is important to be a part of the solution early on to improve your facilities and coaching staff. Your wrestling room is your most important asset, and you need […]
Single Leg Step-Punch-Kick Finish with Austin DeVoe – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach explains and demonstrates this single leg step-punch-kick finish. On the single sweep, use the trail leg to drive and with the arms coming in front of the chest then drive the leg […]
Visualization Works Magic
By: Mike Chapman Originally Published in: Wrestling Tough Provided by: Human Kinetics Many world-class athletes have used visualization in their preparation. As a young boy in Waterloo, Iowa, Dan Gable discovered that the power of […]
Pitt Stand-Up with Dave Crowell – Nazareth Area High School (PA)
Watch as Coach explains and demonstrates the Pitt Stand-Up from the bottom position. Push back with the arms lifting the outside foot and moving it out to the side while pivoting to a stand-up position. […]
How to Successfully Launch a Culture with Brian Smith – University of Missouri
Watch as Coach explains that getting others to lead is the key to launching a successful program. As a coach you cannot do it all and when you start to develop leadership you must trust […]
Being Liked vs. Being Respected
By: John Klessinger Originally Published in: A Coach’s Manual BEING LIKED V. BEING RESPECTED “I firmly believe that respect is a lot more important and a lot greater than popularity.” – Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, […]
Culture and Leadership with Chet Scott – Built to Lead
Watch as Coach Chet Scott explores the concepts of culture and leadership, emphasizing that leadership is whatever you define it to be. He begins with his team by having his players write their own definitions […]
Ohio Women’s Wrestling with Brian Nicola and Vanessa Oswalt – Olentangy Orange HS
Watch as Brian Nicola and Vanessa Oswalt discuss girls wrestling teams and the rise of women’s wrestling popularity. She states that the goals of the Ohio Girls Wrestling Task Force are to educate coaches and […]
Cradles with Sammy Sasso – Ohio State Univ.
Watch as Sammy Sasso discusses different types of cradles and how to escape when you are in a tough spot. He demonstrates how to come back from an opponent locking your leg or your ankle.
Crackdowns with J Jaggers – Ohio State Univ.
Watch as Coach J Jaggers explains how to execute a crackdown offensively. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing your hips during the crackdown. While part of your back may be exposed to your opponent, this […]