I know most kids wrestling programs are run by parents and interested former wrestlers who want to help kids.

Do your High School Coaches oversee and/or advise the Kids program?

Does your High School coach show any interest at all in your kids program or even acknowledge the kids program exists?

Just curious,
Bob Steele

Ark City has one of, if not the best High School Coaches around for supporting the kids program. I am the head coach for the kids program and there is not a day that goes by that I don't talk to our High School coach. It does help that he has a nine year old in the program, but he makes at least one appearance a week in the room. Every kid in our program knows who he is and I would bet that he could identify everyone of the kids by name.

While he is watching practice I will ask, in front of the kids, how he would prefer we finish a certain move. I might ask what other finishes he knows of or likes, and he in return lets us know. We do not hold practice on Home Dual nights and encourage the wrestlers to attend.

We support him and he supports us. That is the way it should be.

thats how the connection between the 2 programs should be. unfortunely not all schools are like that.

Our club feeds 3-4 high schools. We work very closely with the coaches from Lansing, Leavenworth and Imac. We talk to each of the head coaches to make sure that what we are teaching feeds into the technique they want the kids to use in high school.

They work with us so we can use their rooms for practices and they help us get facilities for camps during the summer. We are very fortunate to have 3 great high school coaches that support our kids club and work very closely with us!

Shawn Budke
Leavenworth County Spartans

It's not just the school's responsibility to be like that. It's also the club and it's directors responsibility to establish those types of relationships. The door swings both ways. If a club is not supporting the high school program and coach, in many different ways, then expect the same in return.

exactly so when the kids program does and tries and its met with resistance then it is easy to see who not involved. is that correct mr. fan2

When a kids club makes yearly cash donations to the HS program and when your tournament comes around and you ask for support (set up, weigh ins, table workers, etc) and the coach says nothing to the HS kids until the Thursday before...
That door isnt swinging at all!

Schroeder are you insinuating that Campus coaches aren't involved with your club?

not saying coaches?? find me and we can discuss.

you can send me a pm.

the contact that is made between the 2 clubs is to the "head" coache. Like i said we have tried and have been welcomed by backed by some of the coaches. But in the end the fnal decesion rest with the one in charge. That is where the reluctance and lack of support is...at the top. Thx for the hard work out of the assistant's.

Well that sure clears it up. Thanks Scott.

Our club and school seem to work well together. In fact the club kids are involved at the opening of every home dual. They come out on the mat and read the wrestling creed with the high school wrestlers and line up to cheer the boys on as they are introduced. It is great to see the younger kids looking up to the high school wrestlers. We also do fund raising together if possible. I know the high school coach even attended a kids club super bowl party. I believe that our high school coach looks at the club as a part of his wrestling team and knows that if you have a strong club you will have great potential coming into his high school program.

I have been in our wrestling program for 4 years now, and I honestly have no idea who our high school coach is...I know a few of the high school wrestlers, but that is only because they start wrestling with us after their season ends. It doesn't help when I don't hear good things about the head high school coach either though...

But again, why have you not been to your high school duals and tournments?

it is also helpful to have a coach that is accepting that females are also interested in wrestling & works with them when they are on the team. HS coaches!! Times are changing & it is time to accept that they are wanting & willing to do the work. The coach also needs to make the effort not just on a chosen few to have them come in once in a while. he needs to come into the room & get to know the kids & get involved as well. I have kids in both hs & kids club. I would love to see him get involved. We have a very good kids club coach this year & would like to see him stick around. he does good work. we also have a great coordinator too!