Coach Nieman Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I was a multi-sport athlete in high school, and I feel like it really helped me as a wrestler. I was just curious as to what sport coaches would most like to see their wrestlers participate in during the offseason. I feel that the most obvious answer is football, so I ask that we try to stay away from that. allyourbase 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allyourbase Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Toby Turner and I took gymnastics for a year in high school to work on our flexibility. But yes, football for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrestling119 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I know quite a few are playing soccer now. Keeps them in good running shape, but the lifting aspect that football brings isn't there. allyourbase 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novice Bat Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Cross country probably helps a lot too NavyGonzo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabio Jr. Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I did 4 years of XC...(somehow qualified for Semi State my junior year)...def was a factor in my conditioning which I think was a large aspect of my success. allyourbase 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Nieman Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 I ran track and xc as well. It is a different kind of conditioning but I know it helped me a great deal allyourbase 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LionsFan Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I played tennis in the fall and baseball in the spring. I think both really helped with my footwork on the mat. I was in the weight room on my own most of the time so even thought I didn't play football, I was still lifting and getting stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smooth34 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Long distance running and wrestling have nothing to do with each other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoachM Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Long distance running and wrestling have nothing to do with each other In that same sense neither does catching or throwing a football, kicking a soccer ball, or swinging a baseball bat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrestling119 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Long distance running and wrestling have nothing to do with each other Yeah, kids should just sit on the couch and play video games all off season since long distance running won't help at all with wrestling. allyourbase and barrydjr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabio Jr. Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Long distance running and wrestling have nothing to do with each other I know i probably should have played football but shockingly 5'1 and 120lbs doesn't make you a top pick for a coach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
concussed and confused Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 I did Judo- a sport that focuses on body position, hip work, and throws. My wrestling career would not have been what it was without a very effect head and arm based feet to back throw... allyourbase 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
base Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 My advice -- if wrestling at a high level is your utmost goal, then wrestle in the offseason and do conditioning/lifting specific to wrestling (i.e. "specialize") If it is not, then play the sports you have the most fun with. B. Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Nieman Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 Long distance running and wrestling have nothing to do with each other It helps more than flippant remarks that offer no contribution to a topic of discussion. Starting a season with any level of conditioning, be it from running, tennis, or walking up and down a golf course, is preferable to having your first day of practice be your first day working out for the season allyourbase 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smooth34 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Yeah, kids should just sit on the couch and play video games all off season since long distance running won't help at all with wrestling. Thanks for putting words in my mouth. Apparently, I said to play football, play video games, or do nothing and show up to the first practice of the season out of shape. Go do some research on long distance running and wrestling. Will it help lose some weight? Sure. Does it help you become a better wrestler. Absolutely not. It helps more than flippant remarks that offer no contribution to a topic of discussion. Next time I'll check with you before posting. I didn't realize everyone was so sensitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrestling119 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks for putting words in my mouth. Apparently, I said to play football, play video games, or do nothing and show up to the first practice of the season out of shape. Go do some research on long distance running and wrestling. Will it help lose some weight? Sure. Does it help you become a better wrestler. Absolutely not. Next time I'll check with you before posting. I didn't realize everyone was so sensitive. I think the problem stems from you not adding anything to the thread. So, before getting upset at people putting words in your mouth... put the words there yourself. You see... all we know is that you believe that long distance running and wrestling help each other in no way. Without you saying what does help, it seems fair for us to assume that you think playing video games is just as beneficial as running cross country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Nieman Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 So what you're saying is that if a wrestler came to you and said "I will either run cross country this fall, or do not sport/conditioning at all", you wouldn't tell them to stay off the couch and run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyoung Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 why not just continue to wrestle in the offseason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAJR Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks for putting words in my mouth. Apparently, I said to play football, play video games, or do nothing and show up to the first practice of the season out of shape. Go do some research on long distance running and wrestling. Will it help lose some weight? Sure. Does it help you become a better wrestler. Absolutely not. Next time I'll check with you before posting. I didn't realize everyone was so sensitive. Most CC programs include other workouts besides just running long distances. Sprints, intervals and even some weight training. Not to mention some of the mental toughness that can transfer. To say it absolutely does not help isn't accurate. Coach Nieman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Nieman Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) why not just continue to wrestle in the offseason Because at small schools like ours, if athletes picked only 1 sport to play, we'd lose at everything. I agree that wrestling in the offseason is preferable, but that isn't realistic at all schools. Hence my original question. Edited February 24, 2016 by Coach Nieman barrydjr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrestling Scholar Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 There's benefits to playing other sports instead of just specializing on one. I think your less likely to burnout by doing one sport year round. Also you get injuries from repetitive motions in the same sport. I think there's always cross over benefits that will help you in life and other sports. I played 3 in high school: football, wrestling and tennis. I enjoyed all 3 and all 3 helped me in each of the other sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TripleB Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 It's been shown over and over that focusing on one sport leads to higher injuries and burnout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 It's been shown over and over that focusing on one sport leads to higher injuries and burnout. It's also been shown that if you want to be a state champion it's better to be a one sport athlete. Streck and Parris both played football and Pruitt is a pole vaulter. I do not believe any of the other champs play another sport. #DevilsAdvocate #SadTruth Anthony Snyder and TripleB 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westforkwhite Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 X-Country is great for cardio and slow twitch muscle conditioning, but it is a far different animal from the type of endurance needed in wrestling. If you did a lot of lifting in the summer and then run X-country there is a good chance you'll lose all the gains you made in a effort to run 7-9 miles a day. Wrestling being an explosion sport, makes track (sprints) a lot better suited to wrestling (but it comes at the same time as the bulk of the off-season stuff) Soccer, gymnastics, swimming would be up towards to the top of the list but the seasons (expect for soccer) aren't very conducive for wrestlers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoachM Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) If you want to be a world level athlete you should probably play multiple sports throughout your life. This has been a big topic, most of our world team has spoke on their experiences playing other sports. The focus generally changes the older you get, I imagine most of our state champs played a variety of different sports growing up. It isn't hard to imagine why a 110-130lb kid doesn't play football, especially at larger schools, and struggles playing other sports in high school. Edited February 24, 2016 by CoachM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts