This is the most important meeting of the year, so you need to put some time in planning it. We place great importance on this pre-season event and anyone wishing to join the squad must attend.

1. Conduct the meeting at the school the night before they have to take their physicals, not the night before the first practice. This way those kids who are undecided can make up their minds and take the physical the next day if they decide to join.
2. Hold the meeting form 7 - 8 pm so that those athletes who are participating in a fall sport can attend. Start promptly at 7 and keep it to one hour maximum.
3. Spend the first 45 minutes going over the following:
   Introduce yourself and staff members.
   Schedule including practices, scrimmages, meets, tournaments, parent's meeting, Wrestling Night, weight certification dates, etc.
   Practice procedures
   Eligibility rules
   Wrestle-off procedure
   Weight certification process
   Criteria for earning a varsity letter.
   Hygiene safeguards
   School and District rules for athletes
   Fundraising activities

If we left anything out, please e-mail us at Wrestlingasst@aol.com

The last 15 minutes you want to do something inspirational to get them excited about the season. Here's a couple of ideas:

1. Give a speech about How to Become a State Champion
2. One coach whose school never had a state champion, went to a trophy shop and bought a wrestling medallion the size of a dinner plate with a huge red, white and blue neck ribbon. At the end of the team meeting he showed a film of the classic Dan Gable vs. Larry Owings match. As the impossible happens and Owings gets his hand raised in victory, the coach shut off the film and turned on the lights. He reached into his gym bag, pulled out the medallion and said, "This is the medal given to State Champions. If you're like Owings and respect ALL your opponents, but fear NONE, this can be yours!" Well, the wrestlers all got bug-eyed and each wanted a turn trying the medal on for size. After the meeting, the coach placed the medallion in the trophy case with a sign that simply read, "Who will be the first?" Each day the wrestlers passed the medallion on their way to practice... a couple of months later the school had its first State Champ!
3. Invite a guest speaker. One coach invited an Olympic Wrestling Champion. After the meeting the wrestler was introduced to the team and he signed various t-shirts and sneakers. They then all went to the auditorium where he gave a 30-minute presentation to the general public. It was promoted as a "big" event and the entire school and community was invited.