There has been a great deal of chat on the USAWKS Kids Forum concerning the eligibility of wrestlers participating in novice tournaments. I would appreciate it if USAWKS would take a position on this discussion. It appears that clarification is badly needed. Now…for my two cents! I know this is a very emotional topic for some. I only hope this may spark further discussion that will clarify to all who is eligible to participate in novice tournaments.
I believe that the intentions of the novice circuit are to allow beginner and intermediate wrestlers the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to succeed in this sport at a venue that is more structured towards learning and less on pure competition. In order to achieve this goal, limitations have been imposed on those who can compete in novice tournaments. I see the phrase, “This is a NOVICE tournament (only 1st and 2nd year wrestlers) NO STATE PLACERS”, on every novice tournament flyer that come in the mail. Wrestlers are also given greater leeway for rookie infractions, such as locked hands. Greater explanation is given by officials and coaches at mat side making the novice circuit very valuable to wrestler skill development. Brackets are usually round robin allowing for greater mat time than the conventional double elimination. Round robin brackets also take a little of the competitive aspect away by putting less emphasis on placement. I personally think that all novice tournaments should be a round robin format.
Our club actually uses the novice circuit as a recruiting tool when talking to new kids and parents about the sport. We have eight novice venues on our tournament schedule this year. This is sometimes hard on volunteer coaches but good for the kids. It needs to be pointed out to the parents that victories are not guaranteed. The variance in skill level and aggressiveness is often more noticeable at these tournaments than at open venues. Wrestlers often take large leaps in skill level as they develop. The growth chart of a wrestler during his first two years will often look more like a stock market chart than that of a car going from 0-60mph.
As a parent I watched my son struggle for a year while his skills were behind his peers. Each time my son came off of the mat I encouraged him by telling him what he did right and schooled him on the mistakes he made. Not once did I tell my son that he did not have a chance to beet another wrestler. In my sons first two years we attended novice tournaments and often wrestled kids that placed at major open tournaments … and he got soundly beet. Yes…I did find this frustrating. But you know what; my son is a better wrestler today because of it. In his first year he lost more matches than he won. In his second year he won more than he lost and this year he is an undefeated open tournament wrestler who has six open tournament championships under his belt. Along this journey he has developed a love for the sport. What I think has been lost in this discussion to date is that often you learn as much from your losses as you do from your victories. My son greatly appreciates the success he is experiencing because of his struggles in the past…not in spite of them. Champions are built through their experiences with adversity.
Each of us has been to novice tournaments and seen kids with blossoming skills. This success is largely attributable to the novice program. However this beginner or intermediate wrestler is often jeered at mat side by an unhappy parent or opposing coach because he has been able to achieve a certain level of success. I believe there is a communication gap about who is eligible to compete on the novice circuit.
Is the novice program being abused…most likely yes? I say shame on those who are abusing it. However, I do feel that the novice circuit should be for ALL first and second year wrestlers who qualify. The diversity in skill level between a beginner (first year) and intermediate (second year) wrestlers is good for the program as a whole and both should be classified as novice wrestlers. Beginner wrestlers are exposed to intermediate wrestlers without the intensity of an open tournament and intermediate wrestlers can work to perfect the skills that are critical to their development. Skills that until perfected will seldom work on experienced wrestlers at Saturday open tournaments.
Classifying 10 and 12 year old wrestlers is often harder than 6 and 8 year olds. This year one of my wrestlers is a second year wrestler that is in the bottom of the 12 year old class. He has developed his skills to an intermediate level. He has attended several open tournaments and rookie mistakes have prevented him from achieving any significant success. He has not placed in an open event all year. He also attends novice tournaments as a second year wrestler and rarely looses a match. However, because our club has introduced him to more than one pinning combination, a couple of different escapes, and how to capitalize on the mistakes of his opponent (none of which he has developed beyond intermediate level) he is treated as someone who does not belong. If a wrestler is loosing on Saturdays and still qualifies to attend novice tournaments, would I not be doing him a disservice by not letting him attend and gain valuable mat time to perfect his budding skills? I learned that at a novice tournament this past weekend an opposing coach approached and berated him for having wrestled at an open tournament on Saturday and being entered in the novice event on Sunday. This is wrong on so many levels. First, whoever this coach was should have discussed it with me or another member of my coaching staff and not discussed it with this 12-year-old wrestler prior to his championship bout. I would have gladly given him the wrestlers name and USAW membership number so he could independently verify his years of experience. His action was irresponsible and upset the wrestler, it upset the parent and it upset me. The way I see it, this young wrestler was paying his dues on Saturday, as he does at each open tournament, and is learning from his losses ….he did not place on Saturday.
I do not know of any rule that excludes kids from attending Open and Novice tournaments on the same weekend. I believe that it is somewhat at the coach’s discretion whether the wrestler’s skills have developed beyond novice and intermediate level. For example if a wrestler consistently places at the major or mid-major open tournaments we do not allow them to participate on the novice circuit. However, if you qualify then you qualify. Any quibbling at mat side is counter productive and will often instill a defeatist and excuse-laden attitude in the loosing wrestler.
I would support efforts to police the two-year rule. For this to be effective a tiered discipline plan would have to be developed and adhered to. A plan should also be put in place for wrestlers which may never advance beyond the intermediate level. A waiver could be granted allowing them to compete in novice tournaments. Any system would be better than the “witch hunt” we currently have.
Good luck at mat side and remember that the reason we all devote our time is for the KIDS. It is their sport and it is our job to serve as mentors and moderators.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark J Stanley
President/Club Director
Junior Viking Wrestling Club
