Making A Living Through Wrestling

i agree wih the coward im also from SD and its way more than true my coash i dont think is even paid at all

i agree with ben also our caoches are way underpaid i live in SD and my coach doesnt make any pretty penny at all

i think that you should do it for the love of the sport not the cash

We all love wrestling and we take care of each other. I wish Coaches got paid so they did not have to coach on the side and have full time jobs. The video below is Cael talking about our sport cookie that we hope brings something to our sport that the world around us would never consider.

Check it!

I believe this is a good thing, there is nothing wrong with getting paid for running a club if your passion is wrestling. I don't know why people would get upset about this, maybe the people that are upset about this are the ones that do not have a passion for what they are doing.

How many people in the WORLD really get to make money doing something they love. Musicians is the first that comes to my mind. If you can find a way to make a living doing something you truly love then I say go for it, and those who are upset can "kick rocks." I have stated before that the wrestling community is becoming over saturated with clubs and camps, so kudos to those who have a proven systems and can make a living......

People forget that volunteering time costs people money. Traditionally, in other sports like football and baseball, there is an abundance of knowledge where father's can easily step in and volunteer time. Wrestling is a little different, in that you almost need dedicated coaches who are not necessarily fathers, and who can teach wrestling consistantly in the program. Those types of individuals should be compensated for their time.

Everything certainly depends on the expectations, and level of commitment. It's a lot to ask someone to attend and run all practices, and also attend tournaments (including post-season). It's like a second job.

what do most clubs charge per month and how many hours are they working? club costs really vary.

This is America, making money is good. I am not by nature a greedy person but I would love to be able to make more money from the wrestling part of my job. The ability to make money in the sport is one of the things that could help the sport grow. Let the market bear what it will and dont let the love of money override your love of the sport and all will be OK.

u were paying only 50 or a hundred a month? sounds like u got a good deal...i have always charged 50 an hour for privates and when i had a club i charged 500 a quarter..about 125 a month...

some of us we only put on this earth to wrestle...if your good enough to make a living of wrestling then you should.. it beat being some tool at a desk job..

Our local club has trouble keeping coaches. For this reason! My husband and I finally found a knowledgeable and wonderful coach that was affiliated with a local gym. We have paid him $50 per month to condition our kid and during season we pay him $100 per month. Right now, during baseball season, my son needed extra batting time. We pay a batting coach (a kid just out of college who played his whole life up through college) $100 per week during the season. And yes, the coaches lives are put on hold. They generally work a full time job during the day and then come and work with our kids. I know my kid has been at the gym until as late as 9:30 at night. But these coaches do it because they love it. Generally, thank God, their spouses understand their passions. Thank God, these people are their for our kids!

This sport has the most under paid coaching saleries. Than we have people cry that they get paid at all. This is why we lose so many greats and why so many move on to other things to make a living. How good would your Kid be if he had a good coach that only had to coach to make a living?

I agree.... if you have learned alot from the sport of wrestling, and feel that you would make a good club coach or school coach, you should do it. I have been volunteering the past 7 years with 2 high schools in Burlington County NJ, since graduating from Lock Haven University. Wrestling is what actually got me into college, and I was able to learn alot about the sport. This upcoming year, though, I am going to look for a paid position as an assistant coach. I agree that if people can make money with wrestling, the honest way, they should be able to do so.

I have no problem if another person can make money from wrestling.

The *problem* with making money is that you always want more. We have all watched this with the commercialization of karate & Tae Kwon Do. What began as a cottage industry has grown into corporate commercialism. Can anyone say "Tiger Schulmann"?
Where the main thrust is to get MORE students, MORE money and it becomes a vicious cycle.Before you know it, we will be paying a fee so our kid can take the "Double Leg exam"
I hope it never comes to that.

While my wife understands my passion for the sport, she wouldn't mind if I brought home more money for the amount of time I put into it. If coaches were paid for every hour they spend away from home for the sport, we'd all be millionaires. Of the summer, I'll already be gone 6 weeks of it for wrestling and how much will I make off of it? Zero.

It's okay if you promise to make a little bit of money, work obscene hours, swear that you do it for the love of the sport, and give most of what you make back to the sport. If you can do all that, it's okay to make a million from wrestling.

I am guessing that most of these people that are running these clubs, do love the sport. It is always a dream to be able to make money doing something that you love. With the way the economy is now, I do not see a problem with someone making a living running a club.

I am sure every coach would do it for free, but with the time "we" spend away from family and the money we shell out for expenses.....why not reap the benefits - (money and the growth of our athletes.)

Of course its ok to make some money. The biggest problem with wrestling camps are parents often shell out $300-$700 for a kid to spend two weeks learning a style that their everyday coach is not teaching. If you are only drilling that style two weeks out of the year those skills are sure to diminish. The point is, do your homework before throwing some $$$ at some wrestling name in our sport and ensure you get ROI by choosing a camp/clinic style that is similar to what he or she will be drilling the majority of the year.

I've been a Wrestling Coach for 19 years at our High School and I usually charge a small amount to cover the liability with insurance, mat tape, etc. Coaches are giving their vast knowledge of the sport and in most cases are spending time away from their family so I feel its a good thing on both ends.If I could get paid for what I love ( WRESTLING), my wife says I'd be happy with a cot in the corner of the wrestling room. Watching kids grow into productive Men and Women is what its all about!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you do what you love, doesn't hurt to get paid for it :)

THANKS FLO!!!!!!!!

To quote the Joker from "The Dark Knight"..."If you're good at something, never do it for free."

What a great way to make a living! Doing something you love.

I see clubs as only beneficial to the sport of wrestling. There is nothing wrong with earning a living. Clubs were not available when I wrestled and I am thankful to all who taught and aspired me with menial pay during my career. My son has benefited from our local club and it has inspired him. Priceless!

I am a NJ high school coach and volunteer club coach i commend the efforts of those club coaches.If it wasnt for the extra mat time and skill they teach many of the better wrestlers would stay average.In NJ wrestling is a year round commitment and extremely competitive.To have a successful team here as a coach you want your wrestlers at clubs to gain experience,compete with others out side your room,learn from great coaches, and to progress.Coaching is the more of a rewarding profession rather than a profit profession.Club coaches make some profit but lets not forget about the the money they must spend just to keep the doors open at the club such as insurance,rent/bills for the facility,etc.These coaches sometimes make little to none extra profit. They provide a space for the kids to come better themselves because of the love of the sport.As a former NJ wrestler i am thankful that i had club coaches. They provided more advanced technique,extra workouts, after hours help, and good workout partners. It wasnt about the money it was about helping wrestlers get better I would have never had the success i had in wrestling if not for the effort and time they provided. As a result i continued wrestling in college and earned a degree.Making a living doing something you love is what its all about.If people think its about the money then its obvious they no nothing about the coaching profession.The way the sport has progressed it needs club coaches to provide off season training for the increased number of events as well as in season training to help wrestlers to be competive. All the coaches i know club,high school, college, or youth do it for the love of the sport and to help the future wrestlers become better.

Hits to BeUndefeated.com have quadrupled because of this blog. Cael and I say thanks to FLO by creating a 20% discount for FLO Users.

Use the Discount Code - FLO - during checkout at http://www.BeUndefeated.com and get 20% off from Now until the end of May. We will donate 20% of all sales from this code to FLO Wrestling!!! Supporting FLO supports Wrestling!!

If people are willing to pay price $x to have their kids join a club, then who cares? Club coaches are just fulfilling a need in the market. If they were making too much then it would be corrected.

Maybe putting up a forums section will make you money?

If nothing else a person should be compensated for their time especially if they are good enough to be paid for it. After you add in the fact that they're teaching a skill and sharing knowledge that took them decades to develop then I feel that it is a fair deal. A wrestling club is no different than your local Tae Kwon Do club. Wrestling is an ART. However, the difference is with wrestling you actually learn something useful. Like in every other sport God forbid we water wrestling down with volunteer "Dad" coaches that only think of their own kids' development. God Bless the club owners and everything they have to offer. Not saying that anything is wrong with volunteering time because of a persons passion, but for those who live for this sport they should be compensated.

Nothing wrong with it. Just like running a gym if you like to work out. Most people go into a "profession" because they find it interesting and because of that they tend to do well. If you can provide a good service and enjoy it, so much the better.

People will always have a problem with what someone else does. That is just how this world is. If you are doing something you ABSOLUTELY LOVE and your getting paid, why not? I know many people who make a living off of running a club team. These individuals spend their entire time with that club team(s).

Wrong spelling on DeMeo

Frank is right, he has never trashed another coach behind their back

I agree with most of the posters on here. My brothers play highly competitive baseball and they pay coaches and trainers. My niece takes dance lessons and they pay for that. My nephew pays for his soccer coaches. I am thankful that the club my son is in has a quality coaching staff that volunteers their time and work and does a great job. I wouldn't be opposed to them keeping a little of the fees associated with running the team. They work hard and spend countless hours on the mat away from their families. We are very lucky that in our sport so many coaches do volunteer. I think its because we know the lasting impression wrestling can have on a young man throughout his life.

Frank Popolizio about 9 hours ago.
I am as passionate as they come in the sport. Perhaps i'm over the top in trying to get people fired up. I'm sorry if i made anyone feel guilty. That's not the goal. I devote every moment toward it and the people associated with it.

However, I feel confident in saying you may not know me as well as you think. I don't bad mouth coaches. If i have a problem i'll say it straight and don't mince words. You may not like what i say, but i'm trying to make change. Sometimes that's not comfortable. I never claim to be doing pro bono work. However, some is and some isn't. How much did it cost you to see Brands, or Tom Ryan next week or Za in June = $0.00
franky pop is the man!!!

every person who puts forth an effort to help people in coaching o wht ever they do is entitled to try and make a living if they are good at it wrestling needs these clubs they are no diffrent than baseball clubs or dance clubs these people offer there time.

I think it is a good thing. People like Ken Chertow or Sean Bormet are great promoters of the sport of wrestling. The more people promoting and making money in the sport the better wrestling will be. You could include flowrestling in that as well. I say good for them if they are able to offer a service that people are willing to pay for.

If you can make a buck doing what you love, and helping someone better themselves in sport/life, more power to you.

Find a win-win. Make a living if you can... our collegiate coaches do. What's wrong with that? They're growing the sport and doing their part (many of them anyway). Most of us are the benefactors of volunteer coaches from our youth. We all need to give back.
And if you can give back and make a living which helps you give back even more then that's a win-win.
PWN (http://www.gobanana.com/pwn/default.htm) had a good letter to the editor a while back on this (on which I responded with a letter myself).

I am as passionate as they come in the sport. Perhaps i'm over the top in trying to get people fired up. I'm sorry if i made anyone feel guilty. That's not the goal. I devote every moment toward it and the people associated with it.

However, I feel confident in saying you may not know me as well as you think. I don't bad mouth coaches. If i have a problem i'll say it straight and don't mince words. You may not like what i say, but i'm trying to make change. Sometimes that's not comfortable. I never claim to be doing pro bono work. However, some is and some isn't. How much did it cost you to see Brands, or Tom Ryan next week or Zadick in June = $0.00

Wrestling has a poor mans mentality. 30 years of blood sweat and tears to become an expert at your craft and your expected to teach for free. Most professors love their subject they teach but they get paid to teach it. I think because its a scholastic sport where you don't have to pay to wrestle is where the mentality starts.

BJJ and TKD or Karate or any other martial art you have to pay to begin. so in order to learn to get better, its already in your mindset that you have to pay. Thats why BJJ gurus get paid $200 an hour or more and 10,000 a clinic or more for mma guys. some guys that have way less skill than a good wrestler but they are in a sport that is marketed well and doesn't have a poor man's mentality. You devalue yourself when you give it away for free. Now i'm not saying don't teach or show technique ever unless your are getting paid, but if its a clinic or camp, by all means or get a sponsor to pay the cover fee. Once we raise our value, it will be easier to ask a sponsor such as nike, or addidas, or a local business for more money to support getting better. for now they see as people that do it for the love of the sport not money, so we don't need money

Great topic. There's no crime in making money per se. It a credit to our sport that so many people have donated so much time to it, but "a worker deserves his wages," if I may quote the bible. There's another, "do not muzzle an ox while he is plowing."
Coaches working for schools have been getting paid for it for years. Do we fault them? No, so why do we fault anyone else? Sure, free coaching makes wrestling available to everyone, and that's a good thing. But people need to eat, so coaches need to get paid doing something. If they get paid to coach, I'm happy for them as long as they do a good job. I just hope people don't exclude those who can't afford to pay. Kids that have lived through the adversity of poverty can make great wrestlers.

i'm a high school coach in NY. Every week i get 27 emails from chertow and a dozen from popolizio. i don't mind making money...just don't act like you aren't the journeyman way is to guilt you into going to an event, as if you are a bad person if you dont support frank. he will talk horribly about you to other coaches if you aren't involved. he badmouths a lot of great coaches and people. and he acts like his events are completely pro bono

if you want to make money- do it. don't act like you are doing us a favor as you dig into our pockets. don't act like we are bad people if we don't want to come...and don't bad mouth others who aren't on board with what you do

How much do you pay the dance instructor? How much do you pay the gymnastics Coach?
Wrestling is not little league baseball, where the Coachs know just enough to play the game (as volunteers)
Why can't a club guy run it just like the gymnastics gym does? Why is this really wrong?
How many of our wives are happy we do so much, and give such great amounts of time, all for nothing but the gratification of seeing kids get better? Some volunteerism is good - but if your volunteering more than 1-3 hours a week - maybe you should be paid for it, and then you might do it longer and do it better....We live in America baby....not Cuba

I started a camp to try and make a little extra scratch and it is growing a little. http://www.choosetop.com (what good is this thread without another shameless plug) :)

I try and be fair priced and provide a good product. I think there is a difference between making money from great products or services (clubs, camps) and making money from extending that tournament to 3 days so you can get the extra hotel commission. Or a week long camp with a wrestling hero all over the brochures who you see for an hour and get 32 seconds of individual instruction from.

DONE!!! Use the Discount Code - FLO - during checkout at http://www.BeUndefeated.com and get 20% off from Now until the end of May. We will donate 20% of all sales from this code to FLO Wrestling!!! Supporting FLO supports Wrestling!!

SPORT Cookies will be available within the next week so get ready!!!!
Thanks for all ya'lls input. It is very encouraging!!

First of all, there's a lot of things you can do to make a living. I don't6 believe that there's many people that would choose a sport like wrestling, just to make money. That's one awesome thing about the sport of wrestling, is it's a pure sport. Many people are involved in wrestling because they love the sport and what it does for individuals in life. I think it's nice, if your fortunate enough to make a living doing it, and that's just an added bonus if you can make enough money, doing what you love to do.

If anything, I think money helps the sport of wrestling. Just like any other sport, by having enough money, more capable and knowledgeable people can influence the sport of wrestling by getting paid to coach or to wrestle internationally and still take care of a family.
I definitely think it's a good thing when people are able to make enough money in wrestling to do it full time, instead of after work, or just on weekends, and desperate to find facilities to their your athletes.

Let's face it. People capitalize on their abilities in all aspects of life. Fact of the matter is, whatever a coach gets paid for running a summer program prabably barely covers the expenses that come out of his/her pocket during the year. Schools do not quite reimburse everything to coaches when they travel to sites and tournaments during the summer or school year. Taking the skills you have and marketing them is no different than what they do with karate. When you look at it, karate is a huge rip off. There is nothing you can do with karate skills that will either get you a scholarship or win you a state title in high school. Yet, they manage to rip people for 50-70 a month. At least someone offering wrestling skills is giving something that carries over somewhere in high school or college. I do agree that providing a quality product is still the most important thing when it comes to asking for money for services. I am sure my fiance would like me to be reimbursed for all the time I spend away from her and the kids. Also, if someone does not want to pay the price someone is asking, they do not need to participate.

Hell, you don't even see our wrestlers doing that and that's the problem. Most in our sport are looking for the free handout and aren't willing to spend a dime on anything, whether it be through clothing sales, tickets or even donations. Why aren't our legends making money off of their autographs like others sports legends are doing? Because if they even charged $5, kids and parents in our sport wouldn't buy it and would ridicule the individual for trying to make a living off of our sport. However, they'll justify buying an autographed baseball or football off the internet or at some sports show.

When it comes to wrestling, a lot of supposed fans are some of the most ungrateful people I've ever met, when it comes to opening up their wallets to support someone trying to make a living off the sport. That's why our stands are empty, that's why our coaches aren't paid what they should be and why our best athletes can't wrestle much beyond a 4yr cycle.
People need to wake up and get out of the stone ages in our sport.

Defiantly OK to make money, but like any business you need to provide a quality product, Frank P has shown that (passion), Ken Chertow has shown that and J Robertson has also shown that (among many others).

Some top college coaching stars I think short change wrestling’s youth with these cameo 3-5 day summer technique camps that shows a kid 25 moves, 95% he’ll never remember, but parents hear the big name and figure it will help little Johnny because he is not very good and after 3 days, little Johnny will not be any better for it, well less $300+.
I really think these top clubs, should get together for a major club dual, it could be a money maker for all clubs and great number of matches for all the kids.
Thanks Flo, you are bringing this sport to another level, kicking and screaming, but another level!

I think people who criticize those who earn a living in wrestling are really a victim of their own generations. The baby boomer's are always looking for the free stuff. They are cheap! Yard sales on the weekends, discount isle at the grocery store, its ingrained in their livelihood. When the baby-boomers look for wrestling training they approach it no different than anything else.

Wrestling fans/parents are also blue-collar for the most part. This also factors in to being cheap.
Personally, being a coach myself, I must say that however much money someone is making running a wrestling club IT IS NOT ENOUGH! Really, most deserve double what they make.

WHAT A GREAT QUESTION. NOW ALL THOSE SUMMER BASKETBALL LEAGUES WITH THE FAMOUS "YOUTH" COACHES MAKE A TON OF MONEY BY GETTING A PIECE OF THE ACTION. if you think they do not you are clueless about it. Now wrestling is not quite there because there is no pro league like the NBA which really has
no farm system like baseball. The farm system for the NFL is college.

I have no problem with wrestling coaches making a living as long as they are teaching appropriate moves for the skill level of kids they are teaching. i am actually surprised that there is not more one on one coaching like a baseball hitting or pitching coach.

OK for putting your product up on Flowrestling. That's how we can all benefit. Let's go a step further and make some arrangement to have discounts or bulk pricing or something financially rewarding for all of us Flowrestling fans to benefit from if we order by a certain date etc., (I already ordered , but may order again if the deal is sweet!!!) Talk with Joe and Martin and make something happen.....and good luck in your pursuits.

If I had the business sense that some of the guys I have seen on flo I would quit my job and work within wrestling right now, it makes me proud to see these guys making it work, back in the day it was all usually for free and these guys have figured out how to feed the little ones and coach, god bless you it is what the sport needs, more brains and less meat heads. I would love to see there business model and replicate it because i love the sport and teaching wrestling. These clubs will advance the sport and drive it into the future. Best to you all and our sport!

Making a way to work for your sport. The goal should be to work FOR the sport you are passionate about. Success in reaching this goal depends on a lot of extraneous factors, but there are consistencies among the success stories as well. The initial step should be to find an existing problem/opportunity related to the sport. You will recognize these problems/opportunities as you begin to navigate from the core of the sport to its outlying support areas. Once you find that, you have to come up with an innovative way to solve the problem. Lastly, actually do it...execute. This is naturally the part most people give up on. Good Luck out there...unless your competing against me

We train part-time in season and full-time in the off-season with USA Cobra Montana in Townsend. The coaches speak VERY highly of Coach Sprague. In fact MT Cobra wrestlers try to get out to OR at least a couple times a year to train. I hope to be able to get my son up there to train soon.

Good luck B.J.. I wish you and Cael all the luck in the world. I will be on your site asap. I think we should all remember that "caveat emptor" or buyer beware, applies to us when we seek out coaches, camps, clinics etc. As in all forms of commerce, there will be good and bad "deals" and practices out there. It is up to us to find what works best for our specific situation. Good luck to those of you trying to make a living. I wish you much success.

I think you have a great product. My son is a youth wrestler and has been hounding me to purchase a sports drink for him to try. He has been upset with me for not allowing him to drink these drinks that he sees all of his buddies drink. Monster, etc. He is only 10. However we have come to an agreement that i will purchase a specialized drink just for him. UNDEFEATED! He loves that it is a special drink created by himself, and he gets to name it. I hope this works out for you. I would recommend having displays at regional and national events.

My name is B.J. Thomas, I am a Chemist, a Wrestler, a Dad and the founder of Undefeated Sport Nutrition. I had developed a few products for another company I used to work for that were perfect for wrestlers. I tried for years to get the company to market towards wrestling. I even set them up to be the presenter of the Hodge Trophy. They wanted nothing to do with wrestling because they said there was no money in it and the market was too small. Frustrated and determined, I sought after Cael Sanderson and suggested that we make all natural foods for wrestlers. My dream has come true, We have both spent a bunch of $ but we are doing what we set out to. go to http://www.BeUndefeated.com You will see that it is geared towards wrestlers. People keep telling us to broaden our market but I want to prove that there is a market, that wrestlers are savvy, not cheap and that it is possible to do what you love, support our sport and make a living at the same time.

How cool would it be to have a west coast training center sponsored by Undefeated? Some day:) To give you some perspective about a wrestler verses other type of athlete, most would want to get paid for an endorsement, Cael has put his own money in with mine. You may think that I am exploiting this forum for some free advertising, in a way I am, but the truth of the matter is, I am trying to make a living selling nutrition products to wrestlers while maintaining my love for the sport and the need to give back to the sport that made me who I am today. My coaches through the years would have done anything for me, including spending the little money they had to help me. It was a happy day to send them a few tubs of Undefeated on the house. After all, they helped me build it.
Wrestling Coaches are some of the greatest to ever walk the Earth and they deserve every penny they could possibly earn building all of us into men!!

If I was making a living running a club and coaching, my wife wouldn't be so upset when I open our school room up all summer for free. It is in the back of my head though to have a place to train all year long. Why not I pay $230 a month for my daughter to go to a gymnastics center 3 days a week.

I feel everyones time is worth something. I feel if you dont place some monetary value on it people will look at it and say " if its free it cant be worth much". I have lived in North Carolina where there are a few self proclaimed wrestling coach gurus. From the head Guru , and i quote from a newspaper article in the Greensboro News and Record article on this youth club, " I can take a marshmellow with legs and turn him into a champion" end quote. These people fleece people out of a couple thousand dollars a year for an inferior product because people dont know any better. Then you go to a state like Oregon and learn from a Hall Of Fame coach that has a 30 year history of coaching outstanding wrestlers numerous youth national champions and Fargo All-Americans and Champions , and has a resume of kids that have grown up in his program that would make for one hell of an all-star team. The man forgot more about wrestling then the NC people know, and he only charges 75 bucks a month for 6 practices a week with practices averaging 3 hrs a practice. Some people are able to make a living off other peoples ignorance, and some people chose to give great value and a superior product because of a burning passion to teach and coach. Thank You Marc Sprague!! if you are looking for a learning experience that will impact you for life, the cost is minimal, the experience unforgettable. Cobra Wrestling Systems, Cobra All Stars.

If you devote yourself to the sport, and set up a business designed to make a living off of your coaching skills, what's wrong with that? Sure, you can scholarship needy kids, and still make out okay. You're not going to get rich, but if you're good at it, you will probably make a good living. It's America, for God's sake.

when i see a kid wearing a bret metcalf iowa wrestling singlet in school on a kid whos never wrestled before then your statement is correct but this obviosley will never happen therefore i think your wrong

when i see a kid wearing a bret metcalf iowa wrestling singlet in school on a kid whos never wrestled before then your statement is correct but this obviosley will never happen therefore i think your wrong

i think some people love it and would love to do it but they do not want to put that toll and $ shortage on there family. family first

funny thing, this is excactly my plan after i graduate. i want to get a masters degree in physical education and become a gym teacher/wrestling coach for some high school, at the same time start an athletic club. it's not because of the money, god knows teachers don't make that much, it's about the love for the sport. i would miss it way to much if i chose to do otherwise.

Liability, Planning, Insurance, Training, Hiring, Firing, Recruiting, Marketing, Financing, Competition,Dreaming, Exploring, Studying, Practicing,, AND Sharing. If we who are successful do not know how to give back and to share, then it is not worth going into the Wrestling Business. Go work for a Collection Agency so you can have everyone you contact, send $ to you. (Nothing against collection agencies....they are just doing their job.)
Thanks for the opportunity to VENT!!

People have always made wrestling different than other sports when it comes to money. As a coach, I have given away countless pairs of wrestling shoes, kicked in for kids to go to clubs and tournaments, as well as coached kids for free whenever I can. Every other sport charges for everything, but wrestling always feels guilty when we make money off of our own. I personally know a few club coaches around Albany, NY and although some are making a living, they are not doing it in a greedy way. For example, I know Frank Popolizio from Journeymen gives back whenever he can to kids, coaches, and clinicians. He will never exclude a kid for financial reasons. There is always a way to make it work. I once worked a tournament for Frank and he literally took all of the money that was left over and split the cash amongst the table help then took everyone out to luch on his own dime. Wrestling needs more business people to help the sport grow. As far as making a living from wrestling, more power to anyone who can pull it off.

But how about when conflicts of interest emerge, to the detriment of our sport, all in the name of money?

making a living is fundamental, making money is very important and returning part of the money to improve your programs is a great option.
Love is great, and also very important, specially when you work with a modality such as wrestling, but keep love to your relatives and your family, without professionalism you will go nowhere. The best scenario is to combine love and resources, and then you will have the perfect job.

is this san diego guy r.etarded your not here to advirtise this is why wrestling is argueably commercial now look at you. and honestly it should be because you geniunely love the sport of wrestling and you want to pass that on but if you dedicate your whole entire life to it then i understand you have to make a living but aiming to go into wrestling because you see profit is just sick.

No your right it shouldn't be about the money but unfortunately in the world we live in everything costs money... renting facilities buying mats insurance hiring help all costs money so I would think to run a successful club its also gotta be a money maker...

about 600 houses in this community.... not sure how many people would be interested in a wrestling club.
but for my son's and my sake, it sounds exciting. If I can get a low cost to use the clubhouse and start w a couple kids, and each year gain a couple more wrestlers, it might eventually be a good size club.

Wow. I was just driving home to our gated community and was thinking how cool it would be to start my own club in our community. My son is 4 and will start wrestling w/in a year or two. We would not have to commute 20-30 minutes to someone else's club. And I was thinking..... would I make money off of it? am i allowed to make money off of it? should I use any extra money to help any kids financially (ie. travel to tournaments) that need it? So when I saw this topic when I got home, I said Wow. I look forward to reading opinions. Thanks Joe. Great topic - for me.

I'd have to agree. I've always been close to this issue because I've worked in the media, and for the past 12-13 years, been working in some way, shape or form, in the wrestling-specific media. People gripe about Rev or InterMat's Premium Service, when that content is less than $3 a month. "Why do we have to pay, all the other sports are free?" That's not exactly the case. You can see all the coverage given to other sports, but sites like rivals.com still have a following with even more news in those respective sports (like football and basketball recruiting).

Do people expect wrestling to have part-time commitment when fans want full-time effort? It's about leveraging our time and your time. Would people want Flowrestling to be one or two people doing it on the side or are they happy that Joe works on the site full time (among others)?
We seem too fickle and too entitled with those who "make a living" in our sport. Do people complain about writers for the NBA making a living off basketball, or AAU basketball coaches making a living off basketball? What about select soccer teams and their membership fees and costs?
The same people who complain about people making money off wrestling are the same ones who try to slip in side doors at high school gyms to avoid paying the minimal fee to watch a dual or tournament.
People can blame the economy all they want, but when memberships on other sports sites are solid, wrestling never gets more. People expect people to do this out of the goodness of their hearts with no incentive. I love the sport of wrestling, it's been my passion and my life for a long, long time. Do people just think JoeFlo or Mike Finn or myself should "just do this" while being a slave to the 40-hour work week? Sure we have some perks, but honestly, the time spent in promoting wrestling (or those on the club coaching level -- the time teaching and promoting their product) far outweighs a "per hour" salary.
Good topic Joe.

thats ridiculous...ok say you love it and dont want to get paid...then you would be living in a box and not be able to do what you love...

I never understood why people are so cheap in our sport. Always looking for the free clinic or free tickets or free anything to do with wrestling. and moan about spending any kind of money on our sport. You know why those other sports do so well? Its because their fans will spend money on the sport. They buy jerseys, shirts, shorts, autographs, shoes, hats, etc.

If our supposed fans would fix this issue, a lot of our struggles wouldn't exist.

I think it is a great thing. Why should you not work doing something you Love while providing an opportunity for kids to wrestle. I am trying to make a living selling Drinks and cookies to wrestlers so they can be better. I need to put food on the table for my family and I hope to be in a position one day to propel Wrestling even further into the spotlight. Wrestlers should support Wrestling and everyone that is making the sport better. I have coached for 15 years for free, loved every minute of it, I can't tell you how great it is to step into a room full of wrestlers and be able to give them something they need that comes from the heart. Money is a necessary for the essentials in live. No one should ever put another down for making an honest living.

I think that if you can do what you love, and make a living at it, then you have something most of us would love to have.