I don't want to offend anyone here, but....., the best novice coach I have ever seen is Mike Morrow from the Derby Wrestling Club. Mike is T-E-R-R-I-F-I-C! Mike teaches basics but there is something else Mike teaches that has been left out here. He teaches the kids to have F-U-N! I am not even sure if Mike coaches the novice kids anymore, but he would do things like hand out a trophy at each practice to the kid who worked the hardest, not the best kid, but the hardest working kid, that trophy traveled from one practice to another, and the kids always seemed to bring it back. I have never seen kids cheer about doing three man rolls until they were dripping sweat, but Mike found a way to do it with the kids.

I guess the point in this is, as much as the technique is important, in the early days, especially with the drop out numbers of kids as they get older, teaching the kids to love the sport, to have fun is also important, in fact, one may say the most important. It is why I like Randy's idea of only allowing certain moves. Now don't get me wrong, I think we should have winners and losers, but I think we have to most of all teach the kids to have fun.

I recall coaching a novice kid at a tournament in Hutchinson a few years ago, now understand, I have seldom ever coached a novice kid, in fact, didn't think I could. This kid, and I am really sorry I don't remember his name had never won a match, had never scored a point in a match. I start out and this little tyke is just a laughing, then all of a sudden I yell shoot ( I actually hate the yelling and noise but for these little bitty kids it is a requirement) and then suddenly the kid dives, does a forward roll, that's right a flip, and shocks the kid he is wrestling, he ends up grabbing the kid around the ankles and takes him down. The first points he has ever scored but my yelling, as well as the observation of the official on the mat, and the other coach has turned to laughing out loud hysterically. Well the kid ends up getting reversed, then gets an escape, the first 3 points ever scored in like 3 years. Then is taken down and pinned. I could have easily been disappointed but the parents, other coach, official, and yes me, was ecstatic that the kid has scored the first points of his life and was having fun. Now note on this point, the other coach, parents all, supported the kid, they as well helped make it fun for the little guy. I think this was one of the best moments in over 12 years of being involved in the sport. It ranked right up there with when Daniel Smith, who has since moved on to protect the President of the United States Helicopter won a match that was going to guarantee him placing at state. Daniel was still having fun some years later.

I think all of those basic moves are important, but none as important as the novice wrestler learning to have fun. You can wrestler 320 days a year, in highly competitive matches, and still have fun if approached in the right way when young and by parents making sure this is the main point when starting their kids out. I have learned that unfortunately as a coach, and a parent, oh if I could do so much over again. Now if anyone could remember the name of that little guy from Derby, I would appreciate it, as I think early on anyways, he certainly got it and taught me a pretty important lesson.