For those who missed my post on the Mill Valley tournament, my wife has the flu, so I don't have a bed to sleep in.

Anyway, I witnessed something yesterday that compelled me to write this today. Now, this is from a coaches viewpoint, so it may be one sided.

The story goes something like this. A gentleman (according to someone I spoke with later, his wife was the true instigator, but I can't say for sure because I didn't hear her), started yelling at a coach to get down in front. He was obviously distraught that his view of the mat was being blocked. The coach then took a knee but the man kept on ranting about the coach not having any consideration for others. The coach and the man in the stands then exchanged words for a good minute or two, and they weren't exactly polite words.

Here is my point of this post. All good coaches know that they need to kneel, squat, sit, or crouch when they are down by the mats so that spectators (moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandpas, grandmas, cousins, etc.) can see their wrestler on the mat. All good coaches also know that it is their responsibility to be by the side of the mat when one of their wrestlers is competing. I have been involved with coaching kid's wrestling for ten years now, and I know from experience that you have to be on the move quite a bit to ensure that your child is prepared to wrestle, is at the right mat at the right time, has a coach in his/her corner when it starts. Although I am only in my early 40's, I can tell you that kneeling, squatting, sitting (hard surface) and crouching, can take their toll after 6 or 7 hours. But, that is not the point I am trying to make. Good coaches try to be considerate of the spectators so that they can see their wrestler on the mat. Sometimes, because of the amount of time that they spend on their feet trying to make sure that your wrestler is in the right place at the right time, they forget that they are on their feet and not in the appropriate lower silhouette posture. Try to cut them a break, and realize that they are just trying to do their job.

i saw one of the best ideas yesterday at the mill valley tourney. they reserved the front row for coaches and wrestlers. now if the everyone would have obliged, this would have worked out perfectly, however most of the time when i went to sit, and get out of the line of view, there were families spread from aisle to aisle. if everyone would just remember why we are there, THE KIDS, move one row up, and let the kids, and coaches take care of everything on the floor, it would be a better experience for everyone.

Josh,

I have tried for a few years now to get spectators out of that front row. After all, it is typically the absolute worst seat in the gym.

I will continue to reserve it for coaches and wrestlers.

I think if it becomes something that all places do, we will be able to monitor what type of traffic is standing or kneeling on the side of the mat, making it difficult for all others to see.

I hope many other venues follow suit.


Jeff Broadbent - Mill Valley Wrestling Club

Winfield has done this for some time, and they enforce it pretty much, I always enjoyed their tournament for things like this.

I love the idea of the 1st row for coaches and wrestlers.
Something else...
IF a club was to put TWO chairs in each corner then I know they would be put to good use. I can say that after a lot of hours of being matside that I want to stand and take it easy on the old knees. BUT I would much rather sit lol!
This would also help only 2 coaches per corner and you would know who those people are.
I have very rarely even seen a coach not take advantage of a chair in the corner.
Save the front row for wrestlers and coaches!
Put chairs in each corner!
Have a small group of people keeping other people away from matside.
Wow! Everyone gets to have a clear view!!
JMO

another great idea, the tourneys we go to in missouri usually have the chairs. however they usually have such small gyms you don't see the benefit. i defenitely agree with you blt. two chairs and reserve the front row, if all tourneaments would try this is would catch on and take care of alot of problems. thanks again jeff for running such a good tournament.

Had to bump this topic after Linn County tourney yesterday. I wish I could count the times they asked those around the mat to take a knee. I should have taken a picture from the stands of mat #5. You could see about 1/4 of the mat most of the day. If you were lucky, the wrestlers were on that part of the mat.

When my kid was wrestling I got up to stand on the stairs to watch/tape. But believe it or not we also watch other kids matches so should we stand on the stairs all day?

I got onto my husband and our head coach already who were two of the culprits, I could give a description of some who were standing there most of the day but I won't...

Sorry, but yesterday was a long day of watching the backs of a lot of people.

where would you put the chairs when the younger kids are shareing one mat split in squares.

Parents have no business on the floor or mat side. You can film and take pictures from the stands. I think clubs need to enforce this. Clubs also need to enforce keeping the kids off of the floor if they are not warming up. 5 matches max. Now on the flip side...only two coaches per corner and they should try to keep the view unobstructed for spectators. Why do we make it harder than it needs to be?

Perhaps because, too many of OUR people feel that they are "entitled" to be on the floor!

I like how the flyers always say "Coaches Passes 1 per 5 kids, no exceptions" yet every tournament I have been too, allows ANYONE to buy a floor pass. I understand they are $25 bucks to the hosting location, but come on, half the people on the floor DONT need to be there at that time.

I know that if were able to stay in the stands and still photograph my kid I'd be happy to. When I stay in the stands (which I do 90% because my child has asked me to), I have to pace to see the action on the mat because of people on the floor won't stay sitting or at least still. In an ideal world, it would be great to have a dedicated area to warm up. At JOC, they have the large end where they line up to march in that would be perfect, but they don't use it that way. Whomever can figure out the solution to too many people matside should be a millionaire.