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 […]
Reading Your Opponent’s “Tells” From the Top Position with Chris Pendleton – Oregon State Univ.
Watch as Coach Chris Pendleton explains and demonstrates reading your opponent’s “tells” from the top position. When the opponent is in the referee’s position you can read the tell on what the opponent is going […]
Clearing Ties with Bryan Snyder – Univ. of Nebraska
Watch as Coach Bryan Snyder discusses and demonstrates clearing ties. You can use a 2-on-1 to clear a collar tie but make sure not to move away from the opponent and move into them. Another […]
Nagging Injury: Turf Toe with Sam Buscher – Ohio State Univ.
Watch as Sam Buscher explains that turf toe is a nagging injury that can be frustrating for all involved. He recommends inserting a carbon fiber plate in the bottom of a wrestler’s shoe which will […]
Focus Set-Up Drill with Mark Branch – Univ. of Wyoming
Watch as Coach Mark Branch explains, and wrestlers demonstrate this focus set-up drill. Coach will call out the cues (single and double) to one wrestler and he must react quickly as there is not enough […]
What Does it Take to Hold Someone Accountable? with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Watch as Stephen Mackey explains that it takes expectation, equipping, and encouragement to teach students and athletes to be accountable. You can have a very high standard but if you don’t teach them how to […]
Developing a Thriving Culture
By: John Klessinger – South River High School (MD) Being a successful organization is all about developing a thriving culture. An organization without a positive culture may thrive in the short term but hardly ever […]
Shoulder Bouncing with J Jaggers – Ohio State Univ.
Watch as Coach J Jaggers explains the shoulder bouncing motion to use for a go-behind in a short offense as a way to score. Your right side is going to slam almost to the shoulder […]
Down Block Go-Behind vs. a Single with Austin DeVoe – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach Austin DeVoe explains and demonstrates this ‘down block go-behind’ drill vs. a single. This a great drill to do at the end of practices as it replicates the end of a match. […]
Countering a Front Headlock with Dave Crowell – Nazareth Area High School (PA)
Watch as Coach Dave 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 […]
Passing Elbows & Clubbing/Chopping Hand Fighting Drills with Mike Poeta – Univ. of Illinois
Watch as Coach Mike Poeta explains and demonstrates hand fighting drills they use to warmup. The Passing Elbows Drill involves the opponent having a collar tie and switching from side to side. Coach explains how […]
Culture: Everything is Contagious with Keith Gavin – Univ. of Pittsburgh
Watch as Coach Keith Gavin discusses culture and how everything is contagious, both good and bad. If your team leaders are hard workers and goal-oriented, then the others will follow. The same is true if […]
You Have Served and Served Well
By: Adam Sarancik Author of: Coaching Champions for Life There are very few certainties in life. In coaching, one of those certainties is that no matter the season, no matter the league, no matter the […]
How to Beat Ankle Rides with Bryan Snyder – Univ. of Nebraska
Watch as Coach Bryan Snyder explains and demonstrates how to beat the ankle ride with the hand and back hook with the leg. With the hand ankle ride, you must sit out and change around […]
Don’t Be An Isolationist with Chip Lowery – Coppell HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Chip Lowery explains that it is important not to be on an island and an isolationist. He suggests that you should be involved with the department and not just focus on your […]
Start Mechanics (Top Position) with Dalton Jensen – Univ. of Nebraska at Kearney
Watch as Coach Dalton Jensen explains and demonstrates mechanical techniques that can benefit a wrestler in the top position. The focus from the top is to prevent the opponent from getting to his feet by […]
Mental Health Approach with Kevin Ward – Army West Point
Watch as Coach Kevin Ward explains how he communicates with his wrestlers concerning mental health issues. He thinks it is key that coaches model what they want their athletes to be. Conversations on mental health […]
Stressors in Coaching
By: Roselee Jencke OAM Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics One of the first things you must accept when you become a coach is that it is anything but […]
Coaches Must Reflect Their Team Standards with Steve Garland – Univ. of Virginia
Watch as Coach Steve Garland explains that coaches must have a standard and live it out themselves. If you want your team to have integrity and do things the right way, then you must be […]
Mule Kick Ankle Pick with Marcus Hoehn – Thoroughbred Wrestling Academy
Watch as Coach Marcus Hoehn explains, and wrestlers demonstrate the Mule Kick Ankle Pick. The goal is to force the opponent’s head down and feet out by getting the hip in front and breaking the […]
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 […]