Plan/Organize a Wrestling Banquet

A banquet is a great way to end the season and there are a number of ways to do it. Consider these two extremes:

• Low Budget - An informal, all-you-can-eat ice cream and donut party appeals to most wrestlers. Serve the "main course" of donuts and milk to fill them up a bit before bringing out the ice cream. Presenting "gag awards" that are funny but not embarrassing can mean more to them than 3-ft tall trophies. If you hold it right after school, some wrestlers who are involved in a spring sport may not be able to attend.
• High Budget - A full-blown banquet at a hall with a sit-down meal and dessert with parents, administrators, managers, and cheerleaders is the other end of the banquet possibilities.

Many possibilities exist between the two examples above. Here are some other things to consider:

1. Make a program that contains the team and individual records of the season. This can include newspaper articles, letters of congratulations, pictures, etc. It would serve as a memento or summary of the season.
2. Better yet, produce a DVD of the season's highlights, set it to music and give each team member a copy.
3. If you subscribe to the notion that coaching is all about teaching, than what better experience for the seniors than to plan and run the banquet? You will be greatly surprised at the results. That doesn't mean the coaches have nothing to do! Quite the contrary, as the seniors will need lots of guidance and everything must be approved by the coach to avoid any embarrassing moments.
4. Parents, especially parents of seniors, can do much to provide the food and desserts for the banquet. A pot luck, buffet style meal works well.
5. Once you determine who, what, when and where be sure to get it approved by your athletic director and principal.

Here's what three coaches have done:

Coach Legrider, NY - We have a pot luck then hand out varsity letters, certificates and individual awards. Every one has a good time.  Experience has taught me not to drag it out too long. An hour and a half is long enough.  I would recommend doing this as close to your season as possible.  We do ours about 3 weeks after the conclusion.

Coach Gemdy, NY - We've tried different things including going to a local BBQ/Steak Joint where we handed out awards and letters. We also had a BBQ at the coaches house. We like to have an activity prior to the dinner/banquet. We've gone rock climbing twice and once had a football game.

Coach Hikrotch, NY - Ours banquet lasts about 3 to 4 hours. We have tons of food and lots of desserts. The first hour the parents set up as the kids play dodgeball or handball. After we eat we hand out the awards including funny awards (the lightbulb award, etc) We then present all the seniors with bags that include a bunch of team stuff, plaques, blankets, shirts, photo albums of the season, etc. We end with a highlight video of the team that usually lasts about 25 minutes. Each wrestler is given a copy of the DVD.