Things to do Before the First Practice!
High School Wrestling Coach's Fall Check List
by the Three Amigos
Before you get started note that while the more you do, the better your program will be, everything doesn't have to be done by the coaches. Rather, get other people such as students, teachers, administrators, managers, parents, fans, seniors or captains to do them. They will not only feel a sense of accomplishment, but will become your most avid fans. Coaches tend to try to do it all because it takes time to train people to do these tasks. Therefore, do as much of the training before the season starts, as time is at a premium once the season begins!
Underlined topics are linked to related articles. If you have any suggestions for this checklist, e-mail them to Wrestling Assistant. Now is a good time to purchase and study the coaching items listed in our Coaches Store.
It's SHOWTIME, guys! Roll up your sleeves and let's get to work!
Administrative Duties
- Check the equipment ordered for the team.
- Read the new rule book from cover to cover underlining or highlighting items of interest.
- Become familiar with your state's weight certification rules, procedures and deadlines.
- Finalize your schedule including Team Meeting, physical, weight certification, etc.
- Discuss with your athletic director any fund raising activities you plan to conduct. Ideas can be found at: Top Ten Ideas - Sales - Auctions - Donations - Lift-a-thon - Carwash-a-thon - Corporate Sponsor
Publicity
Personnel
- Seek dependable Managers and Statisticians/Scorekeepers and train them if necessary.
- Have a coaches meeting with your assistants prior to the first practice to delegate Responsibilities, discuss schedule, determine policies, etc.
- If you are fortunate enough to have a feeder program, conduct two, Preseason Coaches Meetings for all the coaches in your town including assistants, freshmen, middle/junior high school, recreation, PAL or club coaches. Be sure to offer refreshments at both meetings. If you don't have a feeder program, we have only one suggestion: start one!
Team Issues
- Encourage and support participation of your wrestlers in Fall Sports.
- Conduct a Running Program and weight training program for those students not out for a Fall sport
- Check wrestlers' weight, height and body fat a couple of weeks after the start of school and then again in late October. By doing this every couple months it will give you an idea of who is growing and what their real "off-season" weight is.
- Check on grades early in semester to stress its importance and see who needs help.
- Make a copy of every wrestler's class schedule. This will allow you to know where to contact the athlete if needed and to have a grasp of his schedule and teachers.
- Make a list of returning wrestlers and pencil them into approximate weight classes to identify potential gaps in the line-up.
- Make a list of potential (new) wrestlers coming into the program from the middle school team, gym classes or from other sports teams.
- Have face-to-face contact with all new and returning wrestlers. See Join Us! for recruiting ideas.
Practice Planning
- Make reference lists of all your daily warm-up, conditioning and technique drills.
- Make three lists of your technique:
- BASIC: this technique should be covered within the first couple days of practice and includes everything a beginning wrestler should know such as drop step, switch, far ankle-tight waist, half nelson, etc.
- BREAD & BUTTER: this technique should be covered by the first scrimmage and includes your team's signature moves such as inside stand-up, single leg, nearside cradle, etc.
- ADVANCED: some of this you may not teach each year due to differences in skill and experience among team members for example foot sweeps, granby, etc.
- Make detailed plans for the practices leading up to your first scrimmage.
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