My son is a first year wrestler, and we have always taught him fairness, humbleness, and good sportsmanship. Win or lose, sportsmanship on and off the mat wins out no matter what. Here is my dilemma, a few times this season, (and this happened again at Wichita Classic) the kid who is wrestling my son starts screaming when it is clear that my son is going to take the kid to his back, the ref stooped down as if to check to make sure the kid was not hurt so my son (seeing the ref coming down to check) let up his grip just the tiniest little bit and the kid gets away either by escape or by a reversal. This "Crying Wolf" tactic, I believe, is somewhat cheap and don't know what to tell my son to do in the situation.

What should I tell him?


"Everything we do should be for the future of our children."