Wrestling is one of the three most popular winter sports for high school boys, along with basketball and swimming. As with other decisions surrounding how teens spend their time, parents and educators are interested in the effects wrestling has on these young athletes. These effects range from short-term conditioning to habits that last well into adulthood.
Physical Conditioning
Wrestling is an extremely rigorous sport, burning as many calories in a six-minute match as basketball players burn in an entire game. Over the course of a season, a wrestler can expect to improve his cardiovascular condition, build muscular strength and endurance, and become more flexible, fast and coordinated. However, unless the wrestler continues to train after the last match of the season, many of these benefits will fade soon afterward.
Aggression
A number of studies seem to imply a relationship between participating in wrestling and aggression. However, fight sport research by Michael Trulson and others indicates that this is most likely a correlative relationship, not a causative one. This means that. although wrestling draws aggressive people, it's unlikely to make people aggressive. Furthermore, Trulson's work indicates that the physical outlet and improved confidence from participating in fight sports can help aggressive people control those tendencies.
Habit Building
The teen years -- the years in which most boys are involved with wrestling -- are also the years in which people build many of the habits that follow them into adulthood. Teens who wrestle are more likely to develop positive fitness habits, competitive spirit and a strong work ethic due to their participation in the sport. However, this can also be said of involvement in most high-school sports.
Cutting Weight
The rules of wrestling give an advantage to lighter wrestlers. According to a Vanderbilt University study, 75 percent of wrestlers reported using extreme weight loss methods because of their involvement in wrestling. These methods ranged from fasting and fluid restriction to working out in rubber "sauna suits" to induced vomiting. Short-term effects of these methods include reduced performance, poor concentration, organ function problems and even death. In the long term, teens who practice extreme weight loss techniques are at an elevated risk of suffering from eating disorders as adults.
References
- Andy Brick; Wrestling Coach; Hillsboro, Ore
- "Effects of Tae Kwon Do Training on At-Risk Youth"; Dr. Michael Trulson; Texas A&M University; 1985
- Vanderbilt University: Weight Issues in Wrestling
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