Sometimes I don't think it is so bad to have people at matside especially later in the day durning the semi-finals, third place and final matches. The reason I feel that way is because it makes it more exciting for them in watching the wrestlers that they are interested in. They normally will stay there only for a few matches around the match that their wrestler is in. As long as they are sitting and out of the wrestlers way and not obstructing the view for most of the seated area, I don't think it is too bad. No one should stand in front of the seated areas by matside. I think it is okay to make noise and offer encouragement but people should avoid coaching their wrestler. Most of the time, I doubt that the wrestlers hear you anyway with that headgear on and all the other gym noise taking place. Noise is a part of most action sports.

I think anything we can do to make it more exciting and enjoyable for the spectators including grandparents, parents and teammates is good for the sport because it increases fan and participant interest in the sport. The more general interest we have, the more the sport participation and ultimately our college programs will grow. I think it is like any sport, the closer you are to the action, the more exciting the experience is for you. Coach Rees, my experience has been that kids don't really sit and watch that much from the stands. A lot of times they are playing with their electronic games or are roaming around the complex somewhere outside the gym. It is rare to see a winning or losing wrestler come back to the stands to receive acknowledgment from his teammates after a match.

I know people in the first few rows complain often about it but they are in for a long day in those seats because people are going to be coming in and out of the gym all day. The tournaments are just too long for most people to sit those seats for the entire day. I have had my view blocked before by people in front of me in the stands too.

I have never been involved in managing a tournament so I could be dead wrong about this but I sure do feel more supportive and into it during my son's final matches if I'm sitting at matside.


I know it is probably almost impossible to allow people around the mats during the first half of the meet when the gyms are packed and there are so many people in the gym. But later in the day when the gym is clearing out, I like it when you can get matside as long as you do not obstruct the action and are sitting. It is often a long day and it is good to get out of those stands. Anymore if it is a big enough facility I try to stay out of them as much as possible, not at matside but around the complex.