Weight Loss Should definitely NOT be a topic of discussion for
a 6 year old 40, 43, 46, etc. If they grow - move up to next weight.
6 & UNDER STATE IS TO YOUNG PERIOD. I know I am not speaking for everyone. I have coached youth wrestling for over twenty years. I have coached 5 year olds and I have coached at the college level. I also vote at the state body meeting and I will never vote for 6 & under state. We do not need to put false expectations into these young children’s minds. A 6 & under state champ may not make it back to state for another 4 years or ever. This creates false expectations in the child and in the parents who think their kid is the toughest roughest rumbler this side of the Mississippi. My son was a pretty decent wrestler at six and under and won the majority of his matches in the two tournaments I let him pick to enter. When he graduated to 8 & under and he was all of 7 years old he was getting it handed to him pretty hard by some eight year olds. When he was eight he dealt some of the 7 year olds a whipping. I think as a whole that is the natural progression the majority of kids make. I as a coach do not want to burn out the young participants when he or she is in eighth grade. I have seen it all too often that a parent is trying to create a national/Olympic champion. Your child is not you and never will be you. So let’s stop all this nonsense for a 6 & under world champ. I have seen parents run their kids out of baseball, football, track, tennis, golf, etc. Do not live your life through your child’s eyes. I have seen parents’ way out of hand watching the six and under group and our sport doesn't need that kind of pressure put on these young people. The boys and girls will grow up at their own pace - not in your or my time frame.
THE END!
Sean - STA Kids Club
Pay Close Attention to the results of questions #4,5,6,&7 below.
ESPN Poll - SportsNation
1) Parents like those of Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters, who groom their kids to be athletes from a young age, are:
50.3% Hurting their kids
49.7% Helping their kids
2) At what age should kids start playing organized sports?
58.3% Between ages 5-7
23.4% Between ages 8-10
13.6% Before age 5
4.7% After the age of 10
3) At what age did you start playing organized sports?
49.8% Between ages 5-7
23.7% Between ages 8-10
14.5% Before age 5
12.1% After the age of 10
4) At what age should scores begin to be kept in organized games?
43.9% Between ages 8-10
35.1% Between ages 5-7
20.9% After the age of 10
5) At what age should all-star 'travel teams' be created?
40.2% Between ages 11-13
36.8% After the age of 13
19.3% Between ages 8-10
3.7% Before age 8
6) At what age should national championships begin to be held?
61.9% After the age of 13
28.0% Between ages 11-13
7.9% Between ages 8-10
2.2% Before age 8
7) If a kid is going to make it to the pros in a given sport, at what age does he need to begin specializing in that sport?
48.4% Before end of high school
28.5% Before age 13
17.4% Before age 9
5.7% Before age 5
8) At what age should the media begin televising and reporting on youth games?
84.1% High school years
8.6% Middle school years
6.3% Any age is fine
1.1% Elementary school years
9) Should kids be given physical/physiological tests to help them determine which sports they might be best tailored to play?
72.6% No
27.4% Yes
10) How important is the role of genetics in the making of an elite athlete?
52.2% Important but not critical
29.1% Very important
12.9% Not that important
5.8% Not at all important
Total Votes: 14,083
