Right number of matches

[255]

When I was in high school the average state placing kid got around 40 matches during the season. There were weekend USA tournaments through the season too if you wanted but as a varsity guy, I had enough to deal with. I guy on my team was a sometimes varsity guy but wrestlered every Saturday USA tournament that did not conflict with team schedule. Sometime if we had a morning dual he would go USA in the afternoon. That dude had a little over a hundred matches during th season.

In off season we had freestyle, Greco and sombo. I would get about 50 to 70 matches not including nationals or sombo. Over 5 years (8th thru 12th) I averaged about 120 matches. (Placed every year at state and went to college) Come August/ September I was spent.

Now I see kids getting over 200 a year. 65 in season for some and ungodly numbers of freestyle/Greco. There are little guys (7 to 13) getting 200. I feel that's way too many. At some point it becomes a negative return. I see so many really good middle and elementary wrestlers who never see a high school mat. Parents and some coaches push so hard it becomes like doing chores. Some of the best high school guys I have seen seem to play other sports and stay around that 100 to 120 mark.
To me, 100 to 120 is about right for a committed kid. Personally I think even high school dedicated wrestlers should at 2 other sports.

I would like t hear from some of you. What do you think is the right number of matches for a kid on average? No judgment and I know that it depends on the kid.
I have a state champ on my team who only had about 89 matches the year before his first title. I have had 200 match kids who did ok.
What do you think?

 

[Jaybird319]

There is no "right" number. All thou I like to think that number should increase as a child grows older. Amount of matches should be decide by responsible parents first and foremost. Parents it's ok to say "NO" to competitions.

Level of competition during practices vs meets could be used as a barometer. Thats to say what's the difference between a kid in Folk that has 50+ matches but really only had 15-20 competitive vs. strong practice partners and only getting 12-20 matches in season. One can see this at all levels of wrestling. Parents should be looking for small improvements over a 5-10 yr period. Stance one year, penetration step one year, elevation another year, hand control, motion, etc etc. All slowly but steady coming together by start of HS.

Wrestling has always been about the grind, this.. the mental part that starts day one. It involves building up and breaking down a child over and over. Coaches and parents must know when to push and to back off. Remember other sports give the body and mind a recharge of sorts. People would do well to remember this.

 

[WEH8ST8HAWK]

There are elite k-2 kids in our club that have wrestled 120 matches this year. It is different for every kid. Pay attention to your kid and ask questions. Make decisions on when to push and when not to based on your experiences with your kid. No one knows your kid better than you.

 

[255]

These are great. Keep them coming.