How involved are you in the development of your Jr. High wrestlers? Watch as coach Nick Williams discusses letting top tier 8th graders practice with the high school wrestlers and helping organize duels.
Selling Vision
By: Alan Stein, Jr. Originally Published in: Raise Your Game I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a “million-dollar idea.” The phrase implies that all you have to do is come up with an […]
Hand Fighting for Points with Mark Branch – Univ. of Wyoming
Watch as Coach Mark Branch explains, and demonstrates with wrestlers, hand fighting for points. There are three ways to score points: snap the opponent’s head down and put their hands on the mat, lock the […]
Eating Early in the Morning and Late at Night with Joey Boyens – ekin Nutrition
Watch as Joey Boyens explains that most wrestlers are at 3 to 4 percent body fat and that workouts with no gas (food) in their tanks will burn as much muscle as fat and your […]
Stance and Motion Drill with Dave Malecek – UW-La Crosse
Watch as Coach Dave Malecek explains, and wrestlers demonstrate this stance and motion drill. It is important to have a purpose with your drills with emphasis on practicing the way you want to perform. The […]
Developing a Group Into a Team
By: Dr. Colleen M. Hacker Originally Published in: Achieving Excellence Provided by: Human Kinetics One of the main points from this chapter is that groups and teams are formed through intentional actions; they don’t just […]
Double Thighs Drill with Brian Smith – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach Brian Smith explains, and wrestlers demonstrate the Double Thighs Drill. It is important to lock the knees in and use pressure, forcing the opponent’s weight on his hands. If you can keep […]
The Basics Really Work with Alan Stein, Jr.
Watch as Alan Stein, Jr. explains that in today’s world, it is popular to keep chasing what is hot, new, flashy and to ignore what is basic. This is a mistake, as the basics do […]
Develop a Team Mantra with Tervel Dlagnev – Univ. of Nebraska
Watch as Coach Tervel Dlagnev explains that the most valuable thing you can do from the coach’s corner is to lower the wrestlers’ stress levels and remind them to be tough. This is what the […]
My Take on Leadership
By: John Klessinger Originally Published in: A Coach’s Manual Provided by: Championship Productions “If you expect people to follow you, you have to be willing to be the first to get dirty.” – John Klessinger […]
Inside Ties Drill with Matt Azevedo – Drexel Univ.
Watch as Coach Matt Azevedo explains the Inside Ties Drill that helps create motion on the feet and faking. This is an inside drill with both hands to the inside with three areas of control: […]
High Crotch Defense: Bump and Stuff with Austin DeVoe – Colorado School of Mines
Watch as Coach Austin DeVoe explains and demonstrates this bump and stuff move vs. a high crotch. The same defensive technique can be used vs. a sweep single.
Metabolism Is Like a Campfire with Joey Boyens – ekin Nutrition
Watch as Joey Boyens explains that your wrestlers should be 5% body fat and 5% above their wrestling weight. If the wrestlers have to come down in weight then there is leeway in doing so […]
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 – Univ. 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 […]
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.
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.
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, […]
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 […]