"I didn't wrestle and am not really sure about this sport for my child."

"My child is in XX grade, is it too late to get started in the sport?"

"When is practice, and do I need to supervise my child?"

"I'm not sure my child is ready to compete in sports."

"How much does it cost?"

"What does the wrestler wear to practice?"

"How do I care for the singlet/unitard/uniform?"

"Does my wrestler need to 'make weight' or 'cut weight' to compete?"

"If my child quit wrestling, can he or she come back?"

"How involved do parents have to be?"

"I didn't wrestle and am not really sure about this sport for my child."

You are not alone.  Many of our wrestler's parents had never even seen a wrestling match (well, maybe except pro-wrestling on TV - which is NOT related!!!) before their child joined the team.

The wrestling club applauds your efforts in letting your child try something new, not only to him or her but to you as well.  We recommend taking the time to read some of the guides listed in the "Parents" section of this website to help familiarize yourself with wrestling and to help your child have a fun experience with his or her new sport.

If you have never seen a wrestling practice, then you are missing out.  It is a great chance for the kids to play while working out their extra energy.  The activities are extremely varied - including learning wrestling moves, playing games, live wrestling with teammates, exercising, competing in drills, and much more.  Everyone is smiling, giggling, or laughing most of the time.  The children don't even realize they are learning concentration, experiencing teamwork, getting in shape, growing stronger, gaining balance, improving their self-esteem, toning their reflexes, and energizing their creative skills.  They just know they are making great friends and having lots of fun!

"My child is in XX grade, is it too late to get started in the sport?"

Absolutely not.  It is never too late to start wrestling, and many wrestlers do start as late as high school. 

Our coaches will work with each wrestler so that he or she learns the basic moves at her or her own pace.

The East Troy Youth Wrestling Club welcomes children to join at any time also.  Stop by any practice for more information on how to join the team.

"When is practice, and do I need to supervise my child?"

Main practice is held on Mondays and Wednesday from 5:30-7:30, from December through March.  Attendance is not required at every practice, and younger children are welcome to leave earlier if 2 hour practices are a bit long for their personal energy levels.  Optional extra practices for those children seeking extra time on the mat are also offered periodically on Fridays, primarily for experienced children who wish to have extra practice.

During practice the children may be split into age or experience related groups in order to focus on learning new skills appropriate for their experience levels.

For safety and space reasons, parents are not allowed in the wrestling room during practice.  Feel free to run errands during this time, or socialize with other parents in the hallways if you wish.  Short parent meetings are held periodically in the cafeteria during practices also.

Attendance at every practice is not required, and feel free to have your child attend when you can.  Children with perfect attendance do get a special attendance award at the end of the season.

"I'm not sure my child is ready to compete in sports."

Often the sport of wrestling is misunderstood, and it is the fear that a child will be overwhelmed by competition that keeps people from letting their child try out the sport.

Competition in our club is strictly voluntary.  If your child is not ready to compete, or does not favor competitions, then he or she is welcome to just enjoy practices and other club activities.  And your child may choose to only compete in certain tournaments, and not others.

Often even first year wrestlers can benefit from competition.  In youth wrestling children are matched up by their weight and their experience level - NOT by just their age like in many other sports.  So a beginner at any age will be paired up with other beginners, giving each child a chance to gain confidence and experience at his or her own pace.  Once the first match has been completed, the nerves that we all have when we try something new settle, and are often replaced with excitement for the next match. 

The coaches are happy to talk with you at any time about the readiness or enthusiasm of your child for competition.   The coaches believe each child is an individual, and the goal of the club is to make sure the child is enjoying the sport and having fun with his experiences and choices.

Youth tournaments are generally held on Saturday or some Sunday mornings.  All tournaments are optional, and competing is up to you and your child.

Often multiple tournaments are available on the same weekends.  Before the beginning of the season the coaches decide which tournaments they will attend, and your child has an option of participating in those tournaments with other members of the club if he or she wishes.  Some children may prefer not to enter tournaments at all during the year, or they prefer to attend other area tournaments.

"How much does it cost?"

We continue to have one of the lowest fees in Wisconsin, covering 4 months of club practices and activities.

Please see the "Membership Details" menu options for more details on fees and equipment.  The club works hard to keep costs low, and does not encourage parents to spend a large amount of money on the sport just in case your child decides not to stick with it long term.  We do encourage equipment exchanges and recycling, so some equipment will be available for a discount periodically.

No child will be turned away due to financial difficulties.  If your child wants to wrestle, please contact us about financial aid.

"What does the wrestler wear to practice?"

Each wrestler must be clean, have trimmed fingernails, and be wearing athletic shorts/sweatpants, t-shirt, and clean socks. 

Each wrestler must wear headgear, which can be purchased used or at any sporting goods store.  Most children will fit into adult headgear, although children under 60 lbs may benefit from using Youth sized headgear.

Wrestling shoes, singlets, and mouthguards are optional (but highly recommended for children with braces or orthodontic devices).

Jewelry, watches, jeans, street shoes, and bare feet are prohibited on the mats.

Many tournaments will allow children to compete in shorts, a t-shirt, and socks instead of a wrestling singlet and wrestling shoes.  Check with the tournament staff before entering your child to find out their specific requirements.  Children are allowed to wear t-shirts under their singlet also if they wish.

"How do I care for the singlet/unitard/uniform?"

Singlets (and wresters!) should be washed after every use to ensure that the wrestlers stay clean and safe from skin infections.  Singlets can be washed in the washer.  A gentle cycle will increase the longevity of the singlet, but is not required.

*Do NOT place singlets in the DRYER*.  Instead. place your singlet on a hanger to air dry.

Shoes can be washed periodically also, and most headgear can be wiped down periodically.

"Does my wrestler need to 'make weight' or 'cut weight' to compete?"

Absolutely not - this is completely discouraged.  One of the greatest aspects of wrestling is that it is a venue for all sizes and shapes.  If you feel this even might be an issue with your child at any time please notify the head coach immediately.

Most youth tournaments create custom wrestling brackets by age, skill level, and weight after all the children are weighed in.   This is very different than you may see at the high school and collegiate levels, where weight classes are stationary.  One exception to this is the state meet, where the child does need to qualify at the same weight for both the regional meet and state meet if he or she progresses to state.

Because of weight loss safety concerns over the past decade, even high schools and colleges have taken serious strides towards discouraging the old practice of dangerous 'weight cutting'.  In high school children are scientifically tested at the beginning of the season and only allowed to participate in the sport if they are at a healthy weight and hydration level.  They will be forbidden to continue participating if they lose an unsafe amount of weight over a measured period of time.  All wrestlers are now encouraged to prepare and enrich their bodies with proper nutrition and hydration at all times.

"If my child quit wrestling, can he or she come back?"

YES!  The club welcomes back any wrestler at any time.  Some techniques will need to be relearned, and old peers may be at a higher experience level when your child returns.  As long as your child understands these things, he or she should be able to assimilate back into the team with no problems.

"How involved do parents have to be?"

Transporting your child to and from practice is an excellent start.  Attending tournaments is also very helpful.

The success of our team does depend on volunteers, especially at the East Troy Youth Wrestling Club tournament held on one Saturday in January from around 8am until about 3pm.  You do not need any experience to help out with this tournament, and it is run so efficiently you will be surprised at how easy it is to help out on just this one day.

If you do not know alot about wrestling but would like to learn more, ask the coach if there are any resources that he could share with you.  Attend a few high school varsity wrestling meets with friends to find out how they work.  Read some of the resources under "Parents" and "Links" to learn about scoring.  If you'd like to learn with your child, consider a DVD learning program for children & beginners, such as the "Wrestling By The Numbers" series.  If you get involved, you might find out how much fun you missed by not wrestling as a child!