One of the major problems of coaching young wrestlers is getting them to learn and execute good technique. Most new wrestlers just want to wrestle. Getting them motivated about good technique is very difficult, but using a system of skill-based teams or levels can help a lot. This concept works best with recreation or youth teams. After a wrestler demonstrates a proficiency in all the skills at one level or team, he/she advances to the next one.

Don't call your teams Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Name them after famous wrestlers such as Gable, Sanderson, etc. Better yet, name them after former outstanding team members of your program such as the school's state champions or the first District Champion or the wrestler who scored the biggest upset in team history, etc. They need heroes. Give them a fact sheet about each wrestler and show them a videoclip of those wrestlers in action.

Give them a Team Book that includes much of the information that they'll need. Be sure to include a sheet that lists the skills required to get to the next level. Get the kids reading!

Below is a possible scenario for three teams called Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. The technique needs to be adjusted to your situation considering such things as the maturity of your wrestlers, their athletic ability, etc. The Terms and Movements are a vital part of the instruction and will be detailed in later articles. The games were taken from an article by Milt Sherman entitled The Games Wrestlers Play. For a larger and more detailed selection of wrestling games purchase Keith Manos' book 101 Wrestling Drills and Games

Below is a possible schedule for a 1 hour 45 minute practice that includes all three teams simultaneously. At a minimum this requires one head coach who presents all the NEW technique and three assistants who do the review and drill. Note that all three groups are together at the beginning of practiice for the warm-ups and at the end of practice for the scrimmaging, conditioning and games.