Calling all wrestlers/coaches/parents! Help a newbie out

[dez1978]

My kids are not new to wrestling, but new to Freestyle wrestling. They've wrestled Folkstyle for 4 years. Our youth club only does Folkstyle, so from like Nov-Feb/March. They decided this year they wanted to wrestle some of the spring and summer tournaments, which are mostly Freestyle, so we've started practicing with another club and they seem to love it. But I am clueless. I know the scoring is totally different and some of the rules are different. But I need a Freestyle for Dummies breakdown lol. I mostly understand Folkstyle, but I don't want to show up and ask stupid questions. I prefer to ask stupid questions here, anonymously
Before I had kids, never, ever would I have imagined I'd be here doing the whole sports mom thing, but here I am, trying not to be one of those wrestling moms you see on Tiktok going crazy, watching their kids. Tho I will say, my kids play football too, and wrestling moms are WAY more intense than footbal moms. I'd have never guessed that.

 

[White Cat]

I’ve done both. Easier to look at you tubes than have it explained. He just needs the go to tournaments, watch what’s going on and learn. He just needs to know that he cannot expose his back in the way he can in folk style. He will probably learn that the hard way.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Does Freestyle include body slams,drop kicks and suplexes?

 

[dez1978]

I’ve done both. Easier to look at you tubes than have it explained. He just needs the go to tournaments, watch what’s going on and learn. He just needs to know that he cannot expose his back in the way he can in folk style. He will probably learn that the hard way.

Lol, you are correct. My boys have to learn everything the hard way it seems. They had their first practice for it last night, and loved it. For now lol.

So the exposing back thing... Is that the reason for the leg roll thing? I'm sure thats not the right name for it. But the top person would grab the legs of the bottom guy and sort of roll a few times across the mat. It made me think of a spool of thread unraveling. If they rolled 3 times, do they get 2 points each?

 

[dez1978]

Does Freestyle include body slams,drop kicks and suplexes?

According to my limited knowledge body slams and suplexes are allowed. Idk about drop kicks. That sounds more WWE than youth

But now having googled suplexes more, I am not a fan lol

 

[LuvOrlando]

We had a lot of learning years, my DH was always a coach for everything and spent a lot of time learning new things plus rules change by age so it's ongoing. There were always people willing to support and probably some parents on the team have knowledge and can assist. Maybe ask the local high school Wrestling Coach is anyone on the team needs community service hours to graduate or some such requirement and would be willing to help with the kids while you learn?

 

[White Cat]

Lol, you are correct. My boys have to learn everything the hard way it seems. They had their first practice for it last night, and loved it. For now lol.

So the exposing back thing... Is that the reason for the leg roll thing? I'm sure thats not the right name for it. But the top person would grab the legs of the bottom guy and sort of roll a few times across the mat. It made me think of a spool of thread unraveling. If they rolled 3 times, do they get 2 points each?

Yes that’s right. Each time you roll the guy like that you get back points.

 

[White Cat]

And your son won’t be the only one just learning freestyle. Most of the kids won’t have any experience in it. Odds are he won’t be in the first match. So he can watch. The idea on the bottom is to lay flat, spread your arms and not get rolled. He’s just got to read over the rules. And watch. Then do it. Watch you tubes.

 

[White Cat]

According to my limited knowledge body slams and suplexes are allowed. Idk about drop kicks. That sounds more WWE than youth

But now having googled suplexes more, I am not a fan lol

Just don’t want to expose your back when doing those moves. In freestyle.

Greco Roman does different throws. Chances are your son will never do that style.

 

[dez1978]

Just don’t want to expose your back when doing those moves. In freestyle.

Greco Roman does different throws. Chances are your son will never do that style.

Yeah, I def don't think we'll do Greco. So our small club has never done anything outside of folkstyle. So we've gone to another club and those kids have been with that club for awhile and they do all the things it seems like. Tonight there will be a couple more kids from our club there so I think my kids will feel better asking questions knowing that they don't know either lol. Funnily enough, after the state tournament a couple weeks ago, my 9 yr old (just turned 9 in march) said he was NOT wrestling again next year. Not 2 weeks later, I asked if they wanted to do this and he jumped on it lol. I told him he shouldn't quit on a bad year. He broke his leg in dec at the beginning of the season, and got cleared to wrestle again 2 days before districts. He made it to state, but lost his bubble match. Last year he took 2nd so he was really disappointed to not even place. I think it's great that he even made it having missed 95% of the season. So hopefully this will help him get his confidence back and get him ready for 10U because that seems to be a whole different animal lol. My 11 yr old loves wrestling, but isn't very good in matches. At practice, he is amazing. But I think his ADHD gets him during tournaments and his body can't keep up with his brain or something.

Good grief. I can't believe that we got this vested in 8U wrestling lol. But I guess when you live in Hickville USA with nothing else to do, you go all in on what you can do.

 

[White Cat]

Yeah, I def don't think we'll do Greco. So our small club has never done anything outside of folkstyle. So we've gone to another club and those kids have been with that club for awhile and they do all the things it seems like. Tonight there will be a couple more kids from our club there so I think my kids will feel better asking questions knowing that they don't know either lol. Funnily enough, after the state tournament a couple weeks ago, my 9 yr old (just turned 9 in march) said he was NOT wrestling again next year. Not 2 weeks later, I asked if they wanted to do this and he jumped on it lol. I told him he shouldn't quit on a bad year. He broke his leg in dec at the beginning of the season, and got cleared to wrestle again 2 days before districts. He made it to state, but lost his bubble match. Last year he took 2nd so he was really disappointed to not even place. I think it's great that he even made it having missed 95% of the season. So hopefully this will help him get his confidence back and get him ready for 10U because that seems to be a whole different animal lol. My 11 yr old loves wrestling, but isn't very good in matches. At practice, he is amazing. But I think his ADHD gets him during tournaments and his body can't keep up with his brain or something.

Good grief. I can't believe that we got this vested in 8U wrestling lol. But I guess when you live in Hickville USA with nothing else to do, you go all in on what you can do.

Hicksville USA is the best wrestling. I grew up in south west pa. Very rural mountain area. We started at 4/5 years old. Many all Americans come out of that area. It’s a tough sport and will serve your son well in life.