Off-Season Wrestling - Why It Is So Important

Pre-Season Wrestling
Why It Is So Important

by Ron McAdoo



Well, it's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about wrestling. Time to decide if you really want to dedicate yourself to being the best you can be. Many of you have already done just that and have been wrestling at the clubs and tournaments all spring and summer long. You are to be commended for all of your hard work and dedication. But for those of you who did not do any spring or summer wrestling, it's still not too late to get a jump on the rest of the crowd. Now is the time to get started.

You know, there is a saying that says "the more you put into something, the more you get out of it". Well, wrestling is an excellent example of this. No one walks onto a wrestling mat and becomes an instant champion. Sure there are people out there who are athletic, strong, quick, you name it... and they may do well as a wrestler without any experience. But I think we all know that it's only a matter of time before this person runs into someone with the right amount of skill to show them that strength and speed aren't everything. Now is the time for you to develop your skill and leap ahead of those that think they can wait until the regular season starts.

This is the time of the year when the wrestlers who are dedicating themselves to having the best season possible do everything they can to step away from the crowd. Sure, you can say you'll be busting your butt in six day a week practices soon enough, why should you start sooner than you have to? Because if you really want to be better this year, now is the time to dedicate yourself. Decide, and then take action.

How much wrestling did you do in the off season? Did you join a club? Did you attend any tournaments? Did you go to a camp? If you did... congratulations, my hat's off to you and I hope you keep up the good work. If not, well then you absolutely must get started now if you want to separate yourself from the average wrestler. Clubs have started back up and so have the tournaments. If you weren't interested in Freestyle or Greco-Roman wrestling during the spring or summer, that's okay... it's Folkstyle time again. Get out there and get busy.

Clubs:

If you really want to be better this coming season then you should definitely join a local wrestling club and attend as many practices as possible. This is a great place to get back in touch with your wrestling skills, meet new friends and learn and perfect new moves. Practices are usually held only two days a week and are scheduled so they won't interfere with other activities like other school sports (yes, you can even be playing football and still make it to your club practice... it can be done.) Clubs can also be a great place to check your skills against wrestlers from other schools, maybe even some of your future opponents. This can be a great way to build your confidence as you head into the upcoming season. Check with your coach to get more information about clubs in your area and get started now.

Tournaments:

Practicing can be really tough at times and I'm sure everyone will agree that a well organized, goal oriented practice/training schedule is absolutely necessary to perfect your skills. But wrestling is all about head-to-head competition and if you can't find the time to go to club practices now, then you should at least attend the weekend pre-season tournaments. These tournaments usually give you the chance to wrestle from two to four matches in one day and there's a good chance that every match will be against someone you've never wrestled before. Now, doesn't it make sense that you will learn something and improve yourself every time you participate?

And tournaments can be a lot of fun, especially if you're there with your friends and teammates. Think of these tournaments as a way to have fun and get ready for the wrestling season all at the same time. They're often held on Sundays to ensure that it won't conflict with other fall sports. The cost is typically only $12 - $15 and you'll usually be out of there by mid-afternoon. Talk to your friends and teammates about this and generate some excitement, then plan on attending the tournaments together to have some fun and cheer each other on.

Now is the time to get ready for the upcoming season, don't wait. Anyone who truly wants to be a champion should strive to attend every pre-season tournament they can find. Remember, in order to be a champion this coming season.... you'll have to win a tournament. Doesn't it make sense then to practice being a champion by entering as many pre-season tournaments as possible? The more you enter, the better you'll get. For now, don't worry about winning or losing, just get out there and compete. Later, when the real tournaments start, you'll be glad you did. So, whether you can get into the practice room now or not, if you really want to be a champion this season, you owe it to yourself to get out there and... Enter as many tournaments as you can!

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