After reading these posts, I have come to the conclusion that alot of "us" don't want burn out for our kids, yet we think they should not only participate in folkstyle but freestyle/greco. I am not sure how alot expect to keep burn out from happening. I DO know with my children that what we have done has worked for us. We have not participated in freestyle/greco in the past. I always thought and still do, that it is good to take a break and let the kids decide if they would like to play baseball, swim, or just be a kid in the summer months. We have them attend wrestling camps during the summer and have participated in the Sunflower Games. Plus, our club doesn't have a freestyle/greco program, but that is NOT an issue for me. Keeping my children interested in wrestling is.
The adding of the 6 & Under to the State Tournament has always been a hotly debated issue. After looking at the numbers decline more and more every year in the 16 & under age group and the numbers increase for 6 & under, I think it's time for the little ones to get receive their place at State. I think it can be accomplished quite easily by using Jr.High (or Middle School) weight classes for the 14 & Under kids and using the High School weight classes for the 16 & under kids. That could give that age group more competition and it would certainly have alot more full 16 man brackets. They have been wrestling those weights all season 4 more weeks should not matter.
As for volunteering at the State tournament, I have worked as table help, and I can honestly say that I think if they would have a table workers meeting the night of weigh-in or the morning before wrestling gets started that might eliminate some of the problems. Some people have never ran clocks like that or any other kind before and some may have never even seen a bout sheet much less tried to do one.
Things are getting complicated due to lack of communication. Whether it is input from the parents and kids to their club director's or the club director's to their district director's or maybe even going on higher up. I do know alot of "us" see problems, but how many of "us" see solutions? Or for that matter, listen to any?