Building a Quailty Program

[CoachW33]

Alright so we've heard what makes a great wrestler/coach, what about an overall program. What does it take to build a relatively weak program into a program with quality wrestlers year in and year out? A program that is contending for championships and sending kids to the Conseco regularly? A program that is a class act and respected throughout the wrestling community?

Any thought or opinions?

[MattM]

This isn't the perfect formula but from what I've seen in program throughout the state and and heard from coaches this has been the biggest factor in making it an easier road to sustain a quality program.  Obviously a team may just fall into a special group of athletic guys who pick things up fast but that is a one or two season thing.  But for long term sucess that last more than a season or two you are looking at factors like:

1. Dedicated, caring, and knowledgeable coaches who are willing to work at the youth level (elementary especially) and will be there more than just a season.  Guide the program in the right direction from the start and not having the coaching turn around to deal with is a key factor in developing consistant groups of well trained wrestlers.  

2. Finding ways to bring in numbers early so younger kids are atleast exposed to the sport and make sure its an enjoyable experiance so they will come back.  The more numbers early the more depth you will have later on.

3. Having all levels of coaches on the same relitive page.  If everyone knows what the overall result should look like when the kids are upperclassmen then its easier to see what the youth and middle school coaches need to work on to get them to that level.

4. Find way to develop a wrestling culture on the team and with your parents.  Get kids want to learn about the history of the sport. So kids will talk about wrestling outside of the room, they will care more about it as a sport, and their buddies will here more about it too.   Get kids to care about the team aspect of the sport.  So kids will be more willing to help each other improve rather than look out for only themselves.  Get parents to see how the sport will help their child in multiple ways.  This will help parents encourage participation, be more willing to volunteer themselves, and be more willing to take kids to spring and summer events.  The goal is to make the kids want to work on their own to improve and encourage others to do the same.  Instead of the coach always being the voice they hear attempting to drag them along and make them work.

Unfortunately, these are all things that will take time to reap the rewards at the high school level.  In the mean time the HS and MS coaches need to figure out what can be done to keep the program getting team and individual recognition.  Changing things in the practice room is one thigns but also things like getting positive press and better attendence buy young kids and the wrestlers peers  at home meets.  The  enthusiasm need to be there even in low times so the youth coming up  and their parents have something they want to still be a part of down the road.  

The other down side is a lot of areas do not have the extra coaches to start and keep running a program of that size.  Seek out what help you can get.  Train what help you can from the youth parents that seem interested.  And more than anything develop a of pride in the sport and community with your high school wrestlers.  So when they leave the sport they not only will say good things about wrestling but will be more willing  it continue to grow in your area.

Believe me I don't have all the answers because  our program is just now starting to work on improving all of these items ourselves.

[rdrodd1]

Well said MattM