Why?

After watching this Dan Gable video and just hearing him say 3/4th of a million wresters are lost in America from grade school to high school. WOW What are we as a wrestling community doing wrong? Is wrestling not exciting enough? Is it the hurry up and wait each weekend that draws families away? Is it lack of good coaching? Is it the "wussification" of American youth/American society in general? Is it losing weight stereotype attached to wrestling? I know it's summer and there are only die hards on the form but I am interested to hear from you.

http://www.flowrestling.org/coverage/247677-Iowa-vs-Oklahoma-State/video/635452-Dan-Gable-is-on-fire

I think it is a combination of a little of all those plus throw in a little bad parenting (directly and indirectly) it leads to kids leaving the sport.

I think we could all think of kids that left wrestling for each one of those reason you stated.

I also think there is no "fun" in wrestling. I don't mean that in a bad way, just look (what I assume is) at the majority of programs:

Practice 3 nights a week if not more, weigh in on Friday wrestle and travel most of Saturday. It is a sacrifice that we ask our kids to make. There isn't mush spending the night, going ot the movies, going to the mall, going skating. The schedule just doesn't allow it.

To help with that I encourage parent to schedule the tournaments they want to go to. Give the kids time off and let thme do these things. I had a rule for several years that I would go for 3 weeks them no matter what I was off for a week. It didn't hurt my boy in the long run. I also used to started tournament later than some did. Just things I did and everyone has their own take, but the main thing is control and moderation.

Kids still need to be Kids.

Part of it is the weight loss issue. Cutting weight is not a stereotype it is still a very big reality that these kids see week in and week out.

Great question that is really hard to answer. So far I have had three boys wrestle and only one is currently competing. The oldest wrestled from 8-10 years of age and just graduated from high school without stepping on the mat again. The second just completed his 11th year and will be a Junior next year. The third wrestled three years and took last year off (not sure if he will go again).

From these three scenarios, I can honestly say the the difference in their mentality for the sport has been the key. You have to be tough, serious, driven, and accept the fact that this is the toughest thing you can do at a young age.

There are many reasons why kids don't stick with wrestling (other and easier sports/activities to choose from, family financial hardship, not having a mean bone in your body, poor parenting, etc.) I have seen some kids over the years that I thought would never wrestle in high school because they just weren't very good. Those wrestlers have continued on into high school and have turned into pretty good wrestlers. Why did they stick it out? I think it has something to do with their internal makeup, their mentality toward the sport. It takes a special kid to continue doing one of the toughest sports that they can compete in.

I believe that a lot of kids quit when they get older is for the same reason most sports end up losing kids in older ages , they picked one or two sports to focus on. NOT all kids quit wrestling do to weight or all the other reasons.

We need to quit dwelling on the bad and start building on the good.If we keep saying all the bad, then thats will be just another excuse for people.

Not saying we shouldn't work on our weekneses just build on our strengths.

I switched clubs this year and with the switch I quit hearing the negative and started hearing all the positive things my son does. And you can tell the difference in his attitude in practice.

Keep our children having fun. Our head coach is the best head coach in the state. Through out the year he gave awards( Socks etc.)
And he got the kids together in the middle of the mat and told the bad and he told the good. The good always out weighed the bad.

Make sure when you pick a club that has a great leader without a great leader you will fail.ALWAYS

I feel our club has a great leader and in turn he has alot of great coaches that follow. They make it fun, if it wasn't a little fun the room would be empty

I am with you on this Jerry. We have changed clubs a 2 times. It is just like any thing else,some times every thing fits just right,some times not.The team you pick must like the kid and the kid must like the team.

Charles Bradford

Jerry, who is the best coach in the state?

First state your name. Then I will answer. Besides you saw him tonight.

Attrition - it happens in many youth activities

Some related data......

Sports participation trending numbers:

Baseball - decrease for 4 straight years
Basketball - decrease for 9 years
Cross Country - increase for 9 years
Football - decrease for 4 years
Golf - decrease
Gymnastics - 265 participants 10 years ago, 142 last year
Soccer - increase
Softball - decrease 3 years
Swimming - increase
Track - slight increase
Volleyball - decrease for 10 years
Wrestling - slight increase

Numbers for the past 10 years.....

Basketball boys - down 9.8%
Basketball girls - down 12.2%
Football 8 man - down 4.8%
Golf boys - down 19.3%
Gymnastics - down 46.5%
Volleyball - down 8%


Baseball - up 6.6%
Cross Country boys - up 24%
Cross Country girls - up 17.7%
Football 11 man - up 1.1%
Golf girls - up 7.3%
Soccer boys - up 16%
Soccer girls - up 29%
Softball - up 2.8%
Swimming boys - up 38.3%
Swimming girls - up 18.8%
Tennis boys - up 21.4%
Tennis girls - up 11%
Track boys - up 10.7%
Track girls - up 8.3%
Wrestling - up 9%

http://www.nfhs.org/Participation/SportSearch.aspx