Watch as Coach Austin DeVoe explains ‘good’ to ‘better’ to ‘great’ when trying to circle for a go behind to score from a front headlock. The focus is on shortening the circle as you try […]
Leaders Must Look for Opportunities to Serve with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Watch as Robert Grasso explains that leaders must look for opportunities to serve. Leadership is not about power, prestige, or a title, but about looking out for others. He explains to the athletes that their […]
Coaches’ Legal Duties
By: Rainer Martens & Robin S. Vealey Originally Published in: Successful Coaching Provided by: Human Kinetics Over the past 50 years, through thousands of lawsuits, the U.S. courts have defined and continued to define your […]
What Gets Rewarded, Gets Repeated with Heath Eslinger – A Better Way Athletics
Watch as Coach Heath Eslinger explains that “what gets rewarded, gets repeated”. If celebration is only based on playing time and performance, you are missing an opportunity to help your players get better. Look for […]
The One Skill Every Wrestling Coach Should Teach with Kevin Ward – Army West Point
Watch as Coach Kevin Ward explains that the one skill every wrestling coach in high school should teach is running the pipe on a single leg. This is not a finish, but it sets up […]
Elbow Pass Technique with Nathan Tomasello – Cliff Keen Wrestling Club
Watch as Nathan Tomasello explains and demonstrates this elbow pass technique. The focus is to shove into the opponent and feel the pressure of a push back. You want to grab onto the triceps and […]
Single-Leg Snag with Lennie Zalesky (Retired) – California Baptist Univ.
Watch as Coach Lennie Zalesky explains and demonstrates the single-leg snag. If a wrestler does not have a lot of confidence on a shot or double leg shot, then this is a good alternative. Try […]
Counterattack: Cross Face/Near Ankle with Dave Crowell – Nazareth Area High School (PA)
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Social Media: Always Post About the Team with Garry Rosenfield – Coaches Inc.
Watch as Garry explains that when posting, promoting your program will never get you into trouble. It makes sense to promote your athletes and all the positives about your program and also to let everyone […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]