Blane,

I think many of our tournaments have gotten so large that we are losing the wrestling fan. So with that in mind here are some ideas that might help your tournament fan base.

Keep your tournament reasonable in size for your facility and time frame. It is annoying to bounce between two gyms or sitting so long at the tournament that your butt is flat for the next two weeks.

I would suggest whatever format you use (brackets or pools) find away to team score the meet. Have that team score visable and update at all times. Getting them into what the team is doing keeps them from leaving as soon as their little Billy wrestles, and sells more concessions.

Supply fans with a program that has team lineups that are current and a means to understand the scoring system that you are using. Also, in the program create a way for the fan to track the scoring on their own. With a little creativity you can make a program that has interesting features and is marketable.

Have a full blown concession stand and clearly marked clean restrooms, so that the fan does not have to leave the area for either. The concession stand is also a great way of making money for your parents or booster club.


Finally, farm out all of these things to parents, faculty members, and students in your community. Doing so generates interest in your program. Anyway, you are the coach and you don't have time to be doing those things yourself.

Gary Ulmer