Before The Season Starts
Improve Everyday
Weekly Updates on KWK’s Progress Throughout the Season
November 27, 2023
Before the Season Starts
I guess I should start with what this whole blogging will be about! I’m hoping to give a fun breakdown every week of what we are doing and how the kids are doing. Over the season I’ll try to highlight some stories, practice plans and event highlights from the kids. I’m hoping you will all enjoy a little breakdown each week and share it with friends.
What Should I Expect As a Parent In My First Wrestling Season?
You are going to have questions!
So many questions!
Like a lot. And I want to encourage you to reach to a few sources, first is myself, you can call me, or email me (kwkcoach@gmail.com). You can ask a fellow parent! They have been through it and the best way to get to know one of the other parents is to ask, “is coach crazy?” Another great resource is our parents group on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/661857052081817). The website, the KWK Update emails, Instagram, any of these sources have information for you. But sometimes it’s easier to just reach out to coach. And that’s totally fine!
Some questions you probably never thought you’d ask! Things like; does my son really have to wear a leotard? Will my daughter have ears like a gremlin after wrestling? And, do I have to restrict my growing child's food intake in order to participate?
First of all, its called a singlet, and it is an athletic attire worn by wrestlers everywhere. But, no I do not require your son or daughter to wear one. There are even specialized two piece uniforms as well. My rule is, they can wear anything that identifies them as an athlete for our team. If it has a logo I would appreciate they wear it! Now, I will say this about a two piece, its kind of gross! You wear a singlet and take the straps down after the match, put a new dry shirt on. If you’re wearing a two piece shirt, your athlete walks around all day wearing the same sweaty shirt and its pretty gross.
As for the ears question, headgear works. It’s important to note that ANY headgear works. No amount of money changes whether or not they work. Find a pair online and wear them!
And athletes need good fuel! Kids should eat healthy. Use your best judgment. But I have NEVER asked kids to “make weight”. They step on the scale and wrestle. They are too young to worry about weight maintenance at this time. However, I do encourage a healthy diet. Just because you aren’t making weight each week doesn’t mean you should stuff your face with cookies. This year we are talking to a nutritionist to help parents decide how to fuel their kids. Not for weight maintenance but to build a healthy relationship with food.
How to Deal With Losing?
At every level in wrestling, losing is a part of our sport. It doesn’t matter if you are the 35lbs 6 year old or the 285lbs DI College Recruit, the scoreboard is the same. You win and lose on the mat. Kids go out on the mat by themselves, they compete as hard as they can and sometimes they come up short. The referee will literally take the hand of the winner and raise it up and sometimes, because that’s not enough of a display, hold down the loser's hand. I always imagine when an official does this to a small kid they are also saying “no!”
Even if your munchkin gets their hand held down, that’s ok. But let’s break down why.
Wrestling is not about being perfect or winning every match. Its about being the best version of yourself. Working harder than you ever thought possible. Trying to achieve a goal you thought impossible. And if you can look in the mirror and honestly tell yourself you tried your hardest then that’s the only thing that is important.
Our sport boils itself down to 1 person on a specific day. We have (2) Sectional Championships, (1) State Championship, (1) Youth New England Championship and if you are really ambitious Nationals. At every level in each weight class there is only 1 champion. 1 person wins. And the further you go more and more athletes try and “fail”. Does that make them losers? By definition I guess. You lost. That’s a reality. But, you’re never a loser for trying. If the goal was to be the best version of yourself, then you succeeded. And the effort in trying is a reward.
The car ride home is the hardest. After a rough day in the office its difficult to find the magic words that can bring your kids back. They can be short with you, angry about the results, disappointed in themselves. But to you and to those who matter, they don’t care about that. And it’s not just our smallest athletes who struggle with this. It’s everyone. Every parent, at every level. The Harvard Wrestling Coach Jay Weiss was asked what advice he gives parents after their kids lose. He said he uses one phrase:
“I love to watch you compete.”
It’s simple and perfect. It’s exactly what you should say because it’s the truth. No one in their right mind goes to bed soundly because a 9 year old won a youth sporting event. But, watching them do what they love, and enjoying that journey for them is what it is all about! If you find yourself wondering what in the world do I say, I promise, they may not stop the tears, but these are in fact the right words.
So Who Is Coaching My Kid?
I don’t have kids. Someday hopefully sure, but at the time of writing this I do not. Even still you’ll hear me and the other coaches say something pretty consistently, “MY KIDS”.
Most of the other coaches do have kids of their own.
But, when we refer to “my kids” we’re referring to YOUR kids. I hope you don’t mind us saying this but we love your kids. We really do. All coaches start coaching because they love the sport. But we keep coaching because working with our team is the best. Watching a kid go out on the mat and execute something you taught them and have them accomplish something great, that’s an amazing feeling. That is why I keep doing this. Helping your kids be better, and watching the impact this sport has on their development.
I hope you realize that while they are on the team, they are under our tutelage and a small part of their development as a person is from the work we do. We take it very seriously.
Our coaches are certified through USA Wrestling with yearly background checks and SafeSport Certifications. This year we are introducing the “Teal” Certification for coaching girls.
You can trust that these coaches have the very best interest in mind for your son or daughter. We love the sport and we recognize the huge impact it can have on the kids.
What Competitions Must I Attend?
Technically, none. I mean honestly you don’t HAVE to go. It’s not like some poor kid is going to get run over by the defense because the left tackle didn’t show up. It’s an individual sport in a team atmosphere.
The season is built to ramp up however, so I suggest going to as much as you can. Try to make each practice and event. But if you can’t then no worries.
At the end of the season we have the State Tournament Series, Sectionals, States, and New Englands. I suggest EVERYONE participates. The other major event is obviously our Kryptonite Wrestling Tournament. It’s an awesome event that people should attend and as a parent help the program out by volunteering.
I Didn’t Answer Your Question:
I didn’t get to them all. Or even the ones you cared about. But honestly, reach out to me. I’m very approachable, I think. And I will try my very best to answer every question and work with any parent who is trying to understand!