Wrestling

[FreshTressa]

I always said I would never let my kid be a wrestler, but now I am thinking of signing him up.

It is the only sport he likes and I want him to be active. It would just be with other little kids (he is 6) twice a week and I am thinking it would be okay to keep him fit until he took an interest in another sport.

Anyone have any experience with wrestling??

 

[powellrj]

I think its a great sport for kids. My ds started with the pal club and did it for several years. My db wrestled for many years and loved it. It really gets a bad rap because of TV, but its nothing like TV.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I have a love/hate relationship with wrestling. My ds wrestles hs varsity. It is in many ways a great sport. It teaches him discipline, and all of the wrestlers do well in school. Also, they are so into health and their body they don't drink or do drugs. I can't say the same for the football players I know. But it is a tough sport. When the boys loose it is awful. I have seen 6ft tall 200lb 17yo guys shed tears when they loose.
And last year for the first time there was pressure on my son about making and holding a weight class. I hated this so much, since my son is active and a healthy weight.

 

[Lanshark]

While in HS I remember some of the CRAZY things the wrestlers did to maintain weight. Competition was fierce at that level.

For a 6 year old I think it would be a great experience.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

As a former high school wrestler, I can say I learned valuable life-skills from the experience, but monitor it. The weight-loss thing can be bad. And the energy level is so elevated shortly before matches, behavior has to be watched, e.g. I once was so fired up before a match I punched a steel fire door and busted my hand (note, that could just mean I'm a moron, but the energy level reaches enormous proportions).

Like most things, though, I'd just make sure YOU have involvement to see what it's doing to your child. In the end, sports kept me out of trouble and tought me good lessons. And wrestling is a good sport, in that it's an individual performance, but decidedly a team sport.

Good luck!

Pat

 

[mamajoan]

I know our High School Wresting program has undergone some major changes over the past two years. The coaches are pushing nutrition and a healthy body weight.. no more dropping lots of weight to make a certain weight class. THANK GOD...
Unfortunately it took the hospitalization of a young man for eating disorders... due to his long standing participation in Wrestlling. This was a state class wrestler... sad but true. The young man returned to high school and is now healthy and in his sophmore year of college.
My DS has wrestled for the past 6 years. It is a grueling sport, but one that brings out independence and self reliance. I love to go to the meets. It is great fun... but I hold my breath alot too as it can be a bit nerve racking at times.
Check the program out. Talk to the coach several times and get a good feel of his position on training etc.
You will make the right decision for your DS I am sure....
Oh and don't be surprised if you see some girls at the gym... Yup the girls wrestle with the boys now......... ya.. that is way up close and personal!