Sean:

I do think a system like that would be the best for this age group. I thought it was great for my son in first grade to just wrestle in four novice tournaments. I personally think it is better for the majority of the kids and probably the parents new to wrestling too. I know it was for my family.

I just don't think it is going back to anything like that. This age group participation in our state has grown too much in the last several years. They feel very strongly if they are participating in all the other open tournaments that they have the right to participate in the State series.

I would not have entered my son in the State series at that age because I know he was not ready for it. I do not enter him now even as a 14 year old in some national events because I do not think he is quite ready for some of them and I do not want him to get discouraged and quit the sport. If Coach McCarthy were to tell me not to enter him in a certain tournament because you do not feel he is ready, I would certainly listen to you and not enter him. I trust your advice for him as a wrestler.

I agree with you that I think it is a mistake to get your child too involved in competition at an early age. I agree with those who say there is a strong risk of burnout and dropping out of wrestling due to starting competition too soon. I just think that parents have to make that choice as to when is the right time to start them in competition.

I also think if this is our State Body's main concern for not having 6&U in the State tournament series, then it needs to seriously consider whether it should be allowed at any open tournament competitions during the season too and instead just allow this age group to compete in the less competitive novice environment. A system that would just reward participation, not keep score, raise both hands at the end and give the same ribbons to all participants at the end of the tournament.