According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, wrestling is the sixth most popular sport by participation in national high schools. While participation has continued to grow since the 1980s, a common problem for many coaches is keeping athletes motivated. National wrestling and coaching icon Dan Gable notes that motivation is the "energy source that sustains successful wrestling programs." One way to motivate wrestlers is to teach skills through games rather than repetitive drills without context.
Sumo Wrestling
The 2007 book "Coaching Youth Wrestling" states that one of the best games to teach young wrestlers about balance and coordination is sumo wrestling. In this game, two wrestlers of a similar weight attempt to force one another outside of an 8-foot-diameter circle. By not being able to attack the legs of the opponent with their hands, wrestlers learn about side-stepping and using an opponent's forward momentum against them.
Last Man Standing
For wrestlers at the high school level and beyond, last man standing is a game that teaches physical endurance and tenacity when faced with a bigger, stronger and faster opponent. The game begins with the two lightest wrestlers on the team facing off in standing position in the middle of the mat. The wrestlers begin a match as normal and wrestle until one of them scores a takedown. The losing wrestler then leaves the mat while the winner remains and faces the next person up on the team by weight. The wrestling is continuous and as long as the wrestler in the middle of the mat takes down his opponent, he remains. Wrestlers continue to cycle through the lineup, repeating from the bottom once the heaviest wrestlers are taken down.
Situational Advantage
The physical actions in a live wrestling match happen very quickly and it can be hard to convey that immediacy when an athlete is practicing a drill. To help simulate a live situation better, play a game in which wrestlers pair off and one of them has a situational advantage over the other. For instance, have one wrestler begin on his knees deep in a double leg takedown or have one wrestler on his stomach and the other beginning with a half-nelson. When you blow the whistle, give the wrestlers 20 seconds to play out the situation. The wrestler with the advantage has a high chance of completing the move and boosting his confidence, while the disadvantaged wrestler will improve his ability to think quickly and execute necessary defensive skills.
Mat Wars
A fun game that helps build team unity is mat wars. Select two wrestlers to be team captains and have them alternate selecting members for their team from the remaining wrestlers. After teams are selected, have them line up against opposite sides of the wrestling mat and stand on their knees. When the whistle blows, all of the wrestlers move toward the center of the mat on their knees and attempt to the wrestlers from the opposing team. The game continues until one team is completely defeated. This drill also teaches wrestlers to fight as hard as they can from being pinned and improves their chances of breaking free from a difficult hold in a real match.
References
- "Coaching Youth Wrestling"; American Sport Education Program; 1992
- "Coaching Wrestling Effectively"; Dan Gable; 1999
- National Wrestling Coaches Association: Wrestling Facts
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