Novice tournaments

I had a discussion over the weekend about novice tournaments. The question was would kids still show up to tournaments if clubs decided not to hand out medals at these tournaments and drop the entry fees down to say 5.00 per kid. Its more about the mat time then it is for the medals right. This would also get those kids that probably shouldn't be wrestling novice to enter in the open tournaments as well. I just remember when I was a kid I didn't have the choice. It was all open and we still only paid 5.00 per kid. medals were small and pretty cheap but I didn't care. All I wanted to was wrestle. So what are everyones thoughts on this.

A medal cost $1-2 for most of these events.

A club would never be able to make any money at $5 after paying facility fees and trying to turn a small profit which is what is used to support clubs, recondition mats or purchase mats ect.

I understand your point but most of the tournaments are packed in our area. JOCO, Bonner Springs, Olathe NW,& Louisburg all closed their events as they were full these are all open/novice events. (I am glad they do close them)

They all run outstanding events but several of the hosts would tell you they need more fan seating areas.

On the novice issue my personal opinion is the entry should be 1-2 year wrestlers no exceptions, if you have a track profile with more years then you are out of the event without a refund.

Nobody does this except Derby Novice Championships and I have seen over the years issues reported with that as well.

I truly understand there are kids that don't get it and parents don't want a kid to go 0-2...but I know what Beeson will call that!