FAQ

If you have suggestions for additions or changes to the F.A.Q. below, please contact us.

 

Q. What equipment will my child need?

A1. In practices, most wrestlers wear a t-shirt and shorts but some enjoy practicing in their singlets. You will need a pair of wrestling shoes, a head gear, a hair cover (if you have long hair), and a mouth piece if you have braces.

Do not purchase shoes with Velcro or zippers. Also do not buy headgear that has Velcro. The reason not to buy equipment with Velcro is that in time it loses its ability to stay fastened. We do not want to have to stop a match to have to re-strap shoes or a headgear. Zippers on wrestling shoes are abrasive and they can cut, creating an open wound. If a mouth piece is used, it must cover the upper and lower teeth. In youth competition here in GA, you can compete in a t-shirt and shorts. However, it is highly recommended that you use a singlet.  In high school age competition, you must have a singlet or a National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) approved shirt & shorts.

A2. For Folk-style wrestling, the style of wrestling you see in high school and in men’s college wrestling, any color singlet will work.  In Folk-style matches, one wrestler will wear a red ankle band and the opposing wrestler will wear a green ankle band.  The purpose of the bands is for awarding points.  Typically, score boards have red as the visiting team (Visitor) and green for the home team (Home).  In individual tournaments, the referee will often give the red band to the wrestler having a red singlet and the green band to the wrestler having the blue singlet.

A3. For International styles: Freestyle (FS) & Greco Roman (GR) events, the style you see in the Olympics and in the World Games and in women’s college wrestling, you must have two singlets: a red one and a blue one.  On the FS/GR brackets, you will be indicated which color singlet to wear.  Your opponent will wear the opposite color.  The purpose of the two different color singlets is for awarding points.  Typically, red will be the “Visitor” and blue will be “Home”.

 

Q. Who will my son wrestle?

A. In practices he will wrestle with the kids closest to his weight/ability. In tournaments he will wrestle within his age group and usually within +/- 5lbs of his weight.

 

Q. Will he get hurt?

A. Yes. Wrestling is not a gentle sport. He will be banged up and bruised on occasion. This is normal. The coaching staff attempts to do everything possible to prevent serious injuries.

 

Q. Will my child get Cauliflower Ears: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauliflower_ear?

A. The headgear that is required works to prevent Cauliflower Ear. All wrestlers are encouraged to wear them at all times in practice. Click here for more information.

 

Q. What should I expect from the first season?

A. Your child should return home from practice very tired. The coaches attempt to teach all the boys various techniques and moves each week. If he has time to practice them at home, he will benefit greatly. Learning some moves takes practicing. Learning the sport takes a lifetime.

 

Q. How will my child do in the tournaments?

A. Often first year wrestlers will not win too many matches. Some of them will, but many have to work hard to earn their first victory. Most anyone can learn the technique of wrestling but to actually apply moves in a match can only be learned from competing or wrestling a live match. The more competition you have the quicker you will learn.

 

Q. What are the “Open Tournaments” like?

A. The weigh-in for an “Open Tournament” on a Saturday is usually from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. for 10 years old and younger and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for 11 to 14 year olds. Some “Open Tournaments” have a Friday night weigh-in as well. Wrestlers are due on the mats to begin competition usually at 30 minutes after weigh-ins. Brackets are 8-man, 16-man, or 32-man brackets. If a bracket has 6 or less wrestlers, they will be placed in a 6 man-Round Robin Bracket.  If there are just two wrestlers in a bracket, the winner will be the best 2 out of 3 matches.  Wrestlers sometimes have an extended wait between matches. Your child may also have matches almost back to back depending on the size of your child’s bracket, the size of the tournament, or if you have entered your child in two weight classes. The coach will be able to tell you how many matches there will be after the weigh-ins (some brackets include byes). During this time spectators are required to be in the stands. We try to sit together as a team. Usually only coaches and wrestlers are allowed near the mats. Good tournaments have plenty of room in the stands, and the matches are run quickly and smoothly.

 

Q. What are the “Beginner’s Tournaments” like?

A. See the Beginners Tournament Standards 2012-0821 and the TGA OPEN & BEGINNERS’ TOURNAMENT PPROCEDURES. 

 

Q. What are the “M.S. Dual  Tournaments” like?

A. See the TGA M.S. DUAL TOURNAMENT PPROCEDURES. 

 

Q. Does wrestling teach or promote aggressive or violent behavior?

A. Aggressiveness, yes; but violence, absolutely not! Wrestling is often referred to as the toughest sport, and in many ways it is. However, it is certainly not violent, nor does it lead to unruly or destructive behavior.

One of the factors that make wrestling so different from most other sports is that wrestling involves head-to-head competition. Each wrestler’s efforts work in direct opposition from each other as in a tug-of-war contest. Success in wrestling requires the ability to attack, as well as the ability to stop your opponent’s attack. The same factors apply with boxing and martial arts, but an attack in wrestling is nonviolent.

Wrestling does not permit opponents to strike one another, and imposes strict penalties or disqualification for violent behavior. In essence, wrestling is unique in the fact that it can be very aggressive without being violent. The objective is not to destroy or harm one’s opponent, but to out-maneuver them and to gain control.

 

Q. Is wrestling a “Dangerous” Sport?

A. There is a common misperception among the non-wrestling public that wrestling is a very dangerous sport. Perhaps it’s the aggressive nature of the sport, association with “Pro Wrestling”, or perhaps the fear of the unknown. Several studies have been conducted in recent years that show wrestling to be safer than many more common sports including football, ice hockey and gymnastics. Most notable in these reports, is wrestling’s low percentage of serious, permanent, and life-threatening injury in relation to other sports. A quote from USA Wrestling’s Club Organizing Guide has the following to say about Risk of Injury: “Wrestling is a contact sport and injuries will occur. As would be expected, wrestling has more injuries than tennis and swimming, but most wrestling injuries are minor, consisting of sprains and strains. Wrestling has fewer serious injuries than football, basketball or ice hockey. There is a lesser chance of getting seriously hurt when wrestling than when riding in a car, skateboarding or riding a dirt bike.”

 

Q. What is the parent’s role?

A. Wrestling can be relatively demanding, not only for the wrestler, but also for the parent. Wrestling clubs typically hold practice sessions two, and sometimes three times per week, in the evening, after the high school practice is over. Many open tournaments during the school wrestling season are held on Saturdays, which conflict with other family plans, but at a minimum may require a good deal of preparation, driving and patience. Some tournaments are a good distance from home, and usually require an early start. There are other responsibilities as well, ranging from fund raising activities to helping with tournaments or participating in other team activities. The parent’s role, however, extends beyond such tasks. Matches and practice sessions offer new and unique learning opportunities for young athletes. Involved parents spot these opportunities and make the most of them.

Most importantly, kids need support and encouragement. They need to be able to take claim to something positive about themselves that they can build from in developing self-confidence. Parents can facilitate this process by identifying and reinforcing strengths while helping their child to see past their weaknesses. Your positive reinforcement as a perceptive and caring parent can be the single most significant influence in your child’s athletic development and personal growth.

Be supportive no matter what. Be aware that conflicting advice and criticism work against the coach’s efforts and only serve to confuse and cause you child to be unmotivated. If you feel you have the experience and ability to contribute to the team as a coach, volunteer your services through the proper channels.

Get involved. Your club needs your help and support. Attend parent and club meetings to find out how you can help. And most importantly, show your child that you care by attending as many meets and tournaments as possible.

 

Q. What are the rules?

A. The rules vary depending on the style of wrestling: Folk-style (interscholastic) or International style (Freestyle or Greco Roman) and the age of the competition.

FILA (International Federation of Associated Wrestling) set the rules for International wrestling.  You can find these rules at http://www.fila-wrestling.com or at https://unitedworldwrestling.org.  In the US, USA Wrestling (USAW) modifies these rules based on ages of the wrestler.  You can find these rules at themat.com or at http://www.teamusa.org/usa-wrestling.

In the US, our colleges for men’s wrestling and in high school wrestling participate in Folk-style Wrestling.  For men’s college wrestling, the NCAA sets the rules.  You can find these rules at ncaapublications.com.  For high school wrestlers, the rules are set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (N.F.H.S.).  You can find these rules at nfhs.org.  In youth Folk-style wrestling, younger than high school students, we use the NFHS rules with some modification, mostly shortening the time in each period of wrestling and the number of points to receive a “Technical Fall.”

In the US, our colleges for women’s wrestling are competing in Freestyle and in Folk-style wrestling.  The colleges participating in the Women’s College Wrestling Association (WCWA) compete in Freestyle wrestling while colleges participating in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) are competing in Folk-style using NCAA rules.

Click the links below to see videos by John Smith illustrating the NCAA rules on college wrestling:

• Wrestling 101 (August 3, 2010): Takedowns, Referee’s Position, Escape, Reversal, Scoring, Locked Hands:

• Wrestling 101 (August 3, 2010): Pin/Fall, Out of Bounds, Illegal Moves, Injury Timeouts, Match & Dual Meet Scoring:

• Wrestling 101 (August 3, 2010): Control, Stalling, Potentially Dangerous, Stalemate:

 

If there is a question you have that is not answered here, please send us an email and we will be happy to answer it.