I have a question about coaching philosophy, and I would like to hear the pros and cons to this question from other coaches. If your wrestler is far better than their opponent in a tournament, do you have them a) pin their opponent as soon as they have the chance, or b) practice their full arsenal of moves until they get either a technical fall or a pin when the score is close to a technical fall? I know what my philosophy is on this subject, but would like to hear what other coaches think.

PIN - unless there is 2 or 3 day weigh-ins and they need to lose a pound or 2 for the other weigh-ins. After getting a good sweat going - run or exercise the rest off - also reduces the chances for injury by pinning and getting on and off the mat.

I have watched guys run up the score in this manner and get injured "practicing moves" and not be able to continue and or finish a tournament or match - when they could have gotten off with a pin earlier.

PIN

I have also witnessed one of our kids losing 11-0 at kids state and in the 3rd period their coach put their guy down on bottom and he wanted down. This was the only position our guy was not in the previous 2 periods. You guessed it and our guy got the pin and the fans and coaches went wild.

I say work to the PIN but if you are wanting mat time or to get something out of the match then work a pinning combination that you have been learning or trying to perfect.
But always remeber, the whole purpose of stepping on the mat is to get off the mat with a win or to leave EVERYTHING you have out there on it if you take the loss.
It stinks when someone gets lucky on you.

Pin- Save your energy for the more challenging matches.

PIN - unless its a wrestler that both you as a coach and your wrestler knows will benifit from the mat time. I have a wrestler who sees alot of the same kids and a couple of the coaches and I have talked and my wrestler works pining combo that he is still working on instead of the quick pin. I think there is a fine line between "practicing moves" and almost unsportsman like showing off.

I tell my kids that tournaments (kids tournaments) are a great place to try new moves and expand your horizons.You should approach each tournament with the attitude that it's just practice for your end of the season goal. If were wining a match in an convincing manner I'll cut a kid and we'll take him down with a different takedown. Or I may have him do moves we've been working on. I've seen kids have this blow up in there face and I've been the guy who got beat at a regional beacuse I took someone for granted. Anything can happen on the mat. You may think I'm wrong but is it any different when your at a college dual and your team needs points to win and you take a guy down multiple times to gain a tech fall. You see this at every level of wrestling and it sucks to be the recipiant but it's the mat time that makes our wrestlers better. You also have to consider the fact that the individual getting beat is also getting mat time and that will also make him better.

I let the wrestler decide. If it starts to look humilating I tell my wresler to pin the kid. If it is state or qualifer or national tournament I tell them to pin as soon as possible.

This time of year you pin. No chances. However, early in the year I think you need mat time. But, it needs to be done right - do not humilate the other kid. It does not help either of the wrestlers if one pins the other in 10 or 15 seconds. You can tell when one wrestler just totally out classes the other. A quick pin will just discourage the other kid from ever wrestling again, and we need to grow the sport not decrease it. And, your kid can learn to get the tech fall in a manner where it looks like the other kid is fighting his way off his back. Its also a good time to try new moves, work things they are unfamiliar with like the cross body. It can backfire, 3 years ago at Paola I heard a dad tell a kid in my son's bracket that his grandma was there to watch him. He obviously was not very good. I told my son not to pin him. It was a 3 way tie for 1st, since the other 2 pinned this kid, my son got 3rd. Still would not change a thing and neither would my son.

CLASS ACT !!!!

I have seen kids actually let another kid off his back when they could have just pinned them which I think is just rubbing it in. I do believe and have had my son work in the areas that he needed to improve most when he has had a comfortable lead in a match. There is nothing wrong with more mat time it can be benefit to both wrestlers but if you have a kid on there back finish them off.

Letting a wrestler off their back, straight to the neutral position is defined as unsportsmanlike conduct. The match should be stopped and an unsportsmanlike point awarded to the wrestler who was on his back. One point for the escape also.

But I have seen many kids roll their opponent back to there belly when it is very clear that they could pin them if they so chose to.

In theory it seems like a good idea, but like many theories it doesn't often play out well in the real world. Most often when I have seen this happen during a match it comes across as showboating. It seems the wrestler, and more often the coach, is letting the world know that not only can they pin their opponent at any time, but they also have a vast arsenal of moves that everyone should be in awe of.

Having said that, I am guilty of not allowing my son to utilize certain moves during a match if I feel the match will be one sided.

Which is better for the kid getting pinned in 10 seconds or telling him he lasted 2 or 3 periods with a very good wrestler. Most coaches know when their kid is being played with and should give encouragement after their loss, what do you say when when the match only lasts a few seconds with a quick pin. Neither wrestler learned anything.

In both cases if you got pinned or pinned someone quickley - both can improve. The ultimate goal in wrestling is the pin.
The quick pin does not happen that often. If it happens all the time - just drive a little further from home.
I do not think it is the "better" wrestlers responsibility to help his opponent during a match. I think that is why we have practices. Just my opinion. When I have a athlete who gets pinned in 20 seconds - I tell them that is what they need to work
towards. Get on and off the mat and do not any unnecessary risks.

Pin and go to the next match.

I had an undersized heavy years back, he was facing a kid (Jeff Boyle of Norton) that he had a snowballs chance with. I gave him a minute to pin Boyle or roll over. Needless to say Boyle destroyed him in a matter of about 30 seconds. My guy came off the mat and let me know he decided to take it on Boyle that day. We had a good laugh.