Wrestling Blogs - Brandon Scott

Third in the three-part series

UNITY WITHIN THE COACHING STAFF
POSITIVE, POSITIVE, POSITIVE
THEY'RE KIDS, THEY WANT DISCIPLINE AND FUN!

In setting up this year's team, we wanted to make sure there was a structure in place. A structure with reasonable rules and some leeway. I've never been one of those "rules for the sake of rules" kind of person. I hated it growing up, and I vowed to make sure my wrestlers don't have that atmosphere on the team. So we made things simple, and came up with three rules:

Be Respectful
Be On Time
Be A Student Athlete

Nothing else matters. If your kids follow these three rules, you will have a disciplined team. Now the question is, what happens when any of these rules are broken.

When the rules are broken our discipline program is as follows:
Extra Opportunity Workout
Suspension from Competition
Suspension from Practice and Competition

Once again, we make things simple. We as a coaching staff, do our absolute best to communicate the rules, and possible ramifications of breaking those rules.

Attendance issues were easily addressed by adding this rule:
If you have an unexcused absence from practice you miss that week's competition(s). Simple, effective. Have the heart to follow any rules you institute. I've had to discipline some of my better wrestlers (at the cost of losing matches) because the rules were violated. However, usually one suspension does the trick.

Now, the hard part. Anyone can make rules and consequences. Now that you have a structure in place, in what way do the kids have a chance to have fun? As a coaching staff we have done a great job of varying the practices. We've split practices based on weight (one group in the wrestling room, other in the weight room/on track) and based on experience. It keeps practice fresh and they never know where they are going to start. Also, while I have a very, very clear direction in regards to developing the skills of my wrestlers, I try to vary the order in which I teach and drill technique, and when we live wrestle. My kids NEVER know what we are going to do next.

Develop your communication skills, tell your wrestlers WHY we do what we do. At the beginning of the season I made it very clear that drilling the basics, while extremely boring, they are essential to winning matches. If the wrestlers would just bear with me, the fun stuff, which is winning, would come.

Know the mood of your team. There will be days when you want them to go hard, but you can tell that your wrestlers really need a light day. Go with your gut. Also, use a day off as a motivational tool. I've given more days in half a season than I ever have in my five years of coaching COMBINED! Obviously, I haven't given that many off, but you would be surprised at how refreshed your guys will be when they return for practice.

As a coach, our job is to manage a group of young men who all have different personalities. In order for your team to reach it's potential, you, as a coach will have to motivate each wrestler in his/her own way. Some guys respond to yelling, others respond to a positive word. Do your homework, get to know your wrestlers individually and be a positive role model for them. Wrestlers respond to coaches they respect, pure and simple. I'll end with this quote:

"Winning is everything and it isn't. Love the work you do and never lose sight of your goals. Do everything possible to reach your goals, so that when you reflect, you will have no regrets."