ManInTheArena

Wrestling -- One of the Best Sports for Growth and Teaching Life Lessons

Here is some general information on the sport of wrestling:

Wrestling is the Fairest Sport:

Kids will wrestle other kids of approximately the same age and weight.

In Youth Wrestling, the age categories are 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 10; 11 and 12. Ages for tournaments are generally determined by the child's age as of 1/1 of a given year. Weight classes are five pounds apart (an example would be the 50 pound weight class: this would include kids from 46 pounds to 50 pounds). This allows both small kids and big kids to wrestle only kids their own size. Finally, some tournaments only allow first year wrestlers to participate, others called novice tournaments, only allow first and second year wrestlers and there are other tournaments that are open to anyone. In sum, the sport makes effort in both tournaments and dual meets to set up kids to wrestle each other that are approximately the same weight, age and the same level of experience.

Likewise, Middle and High School wrestling has weight classes for the students.  The Middle School Team is limited to 7th, 8th and 9th graders and has 18 weight classes whereas High School wrestling is limited to 9, 10th, 11th and 12th graders and has 14 weight classes.  Ninth graders have the option at the beginning of the season to wrestle Middle School or High School.

Wrestling Can Teach Life Lessons:

Wrestling is a tough sport. We hope that our program and this sport will allow the kids to learn determination, persistence, toughness, how to deal with a loss (i.e. how to fail) and how to set goals. Above all, the kids should have a lot of fun. There is no greater feeling than winning a big trophy in wrestling that you (and you alone) earned!!!! For more information on how wrestling can teach life lessons, see Forbes Magazine, "Why Wrestlers Make the Best Employees" dated July 31, 2012 as well as our Facebook page which collects articles on the importance of wrestling in teaching kids real world values.

Wrestling Can Make Your Child Stronger:

Wrestling is a demanding sport using all of the muscle groups. Through our program, your kid will build physical strength and, perhaps more importantly, confidence (mental strength) in himself.

Needed Wrestling Equipment/Other Costs

Wrestling requires very little equipment compared to other sports and is relatively inexpensive.

Singlet. We will provide signets to all kids that will look alike. These singlets will need to be returned at the end of the year to the Association.

Wrestling Shoes. You must buy your child a pair of wrestling shoes prior to the first practice. They can be bought online, at Sewickley Sporting Goods Store, Dicks or Saul's.   As a program, we will try to collect wrestling shoes so we can provide them to kids in the future. If your son grows out of his shoes, we would appreciate you donating these shoes to the program.

Head Gear. You may choose to buy your child head gear to protect your child's ears. At this age, the headgear is generally optional, however, some tournaments will require headgear.

Other Costs. You will have to pay a small fee for tournaments that you choose to enter your child in. We strongly encourage you to enter these tournaments and provide your child with as much wrestling experience as possible. The more wrestling experience a child has the better the child will be in the sport.