Tell you what if you really want to help Kansas Wrestling then stop the progression of wrestling becoming a rich mans sport. Instead of the privledged few being able to afford summer programs and National Juniors, start working to make it more affordable for all kids in all programs. To me that is the biggest single thing threatening our sport in Kansas. We are beginning to look like the tennis crowd. Those with the biggest pocketbooks have by far the most opportunities. That is a very bad thing unless you are one of those privilaged few.

I couldn't agree more. First we started with the headgear requirement for all ages, then we had the attempt to have all coaches background checked. One can only imagine how much that would have cost clubs, which would have had to be passed onto it's members. Tournament entry fees continue to spiral up especially when our state fee is raised. Now we are hearing rumors of a two piece singlet requirement to prevent skin diseases. Those two piece singlets run in the neighborhood of $100.00 each. I don't know where it stops!

I can see where the cost factor would be a significant barrier for many kids in wrestling. The cost of tournaments, food, gasoline, possibly rooms at some weekend tournaments adds up. This does not even include the costs of the summer and National junior programs which I imagine could even be more since the travel costs are probably more and maybe the tournament fees too. It does not include costs for extra wrestling camps and training or strength training that many of our wrestlers go to. I am sure you are both correct that this does make it very difficult for many families. Many of families with financial difficulties have trouble even getting their kids to the events because they might be working on weekends or during the evenings.

I see it in other sports too. I do not think this problem is unique to wrestling. Extra costs are there also for sports like soccer, basketball, baseball and track & field. It seems to be the trend in our society for this one sport emphasis year round and the cost does not seem to be an obstacle for some families. You are right this makes it very difficult for a lot of families who can't afford all these extra costs to compete. The only way to include them would be to help them with these financial costs. I think our Kansas USAW group does that but I do not know to what extent. I am sure there are many in the middle income group who could also use help with these costs but who probably do not qualify and choose to just not participate.

I can speak of first hand experience about the cost of youth wrestling. I have an 8 year old who I try to take to a tournament every weekend. I estimate it costs me $40 to $50 per tournament. Entry fee is $15 give or take a few bucks.
Gate fee for family $5. Food at concession stand $15 bucks. Fuel for getting their $10. I think I'm up to 14 tournaments.
So thats at least $600 bucks. Traveled to one National tournament so add in a couple plane tickets, hotel and national tournament fee another $600 bucks. Add in Singlet, head gear, shoes, wrestling card, club fee and I'm up to $1500 this year. Its crazy, but I guess I'm one of those crazy parents that pays the fee to get my kid ahead.

My son has a friend who goes to practice, but parents won't pay the money for tournaments. So he loses out. A lot of kids get eliminated this way. Maybe they catch up in middle school. It is a money game, but what do you do?

I agree with the comment, a lot of other sports are just as money intensive and many are worse. I'm getting my daughter into tennis, and tennis is a wonderful sport. I personally play twice a week. But you nailed it when you talk about tennis as sport where only the priveledged excel. I teach my daughter tennis and get her to some group lessons. I can't afford to get her private lessons. You're talking $60 an hour. Wrestling is not so bad and who can afford that. The tennis crowd is totally different from the wrestling crowd and I've been around both. You see big pickup trucks at the wrestling tournament and the tennis tourney, its mercedes and volvos.

LOL yeah it is a really different bunch. I am really concerned about the cost of going to junior nationals and a lot of the high level clubs around that you almost have to get kids into to have a level playing field when they are in high school. I don't know what nationals costs now but it used to be a ton. Way too many coaches on that deal and they are getting a fairly free ride while the kids pay through the nose. I coached a lot of those kids who were far to poor to ever dream of doing those things. I paid for a lot of them to do those things and it almost broke me then and it was probably illegal to do it anyway but what are you going to do when a kid wants to try it and wants to be competive.