To play or not to play:

[Marine03]

I need an unbiased opinion on this. As a coach and a dad it's hard to be objective on it. My son is in his first year of wrestling this season. For those who know the sport I started him off in novice (went 7-1) so I moved him up to open and went (4-5) he was never pinned, but struggled a bit scoring against the better opponents. He's qualified for the regionals, but really has little chance to qualify for the states (Top 4 advance). This region has 4 of the top 8 in his state competing. He's done great already his first season, but do you let him go with the chance of getting demolished which may kill his psyche or call it a season and let him have some confidence for next year? I'm kind of split on it, anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[i am herdman]

I need an unbiased opinion on this. As a coach and a dad it's hard to be objective on it. My son is in his first year of wrestling this season. For those who know the sport I started him off in novice (went 7-1) so I moved him up to open and went (4-5) he was never pinned, but struggled a bit scoring against the better opponents. He's qualified for the regionals, but really has little chance to qualify for the states (Top 4 advance). This region has 4 of the top 8 in his state competing. He's done great already his first season, but do you let him go with the chance of getting demolished which may kill his psyche or call it a season and let him have some confidence for next year? I'm kind of split on it, anyone have any thoughts on this?

Yes, let him go. He may get demolished but it will make him better in the long run. My son got demolished early on and even his first couple of years in high school. By the time he was a senior he went on to be a state qualifier and finished in the top 10 in the state. It opened so many doors for him and wrestling builds character more than any sport I have been around. He took plenty of lumps along the way. But, then got better and better.

How old is he?

 

[Marine03]

Yes, let him go. He may get demolished but it will make him better in the long run. My son got demolished early on and even his first couple of years in high school. By the time he was a senior he went on to be a state qualifier and finished in the top 10 in the state. It opened so many doors for him and wrestling builds character more than any sport I have been around. He took plenty of lumps along the way. But, then got better and better.

How old is he?

He's 7, which is part of the problem. If he were older it'd be one thing, but I watch him daily and offensively he's not hitting moves automatically yet. He's able to muscle his way through each match but when runs into a kid with experience they just technique him to death on points. I know he's not ready for a few of these kids, some he can compete with.

 

[WV-FAN]

what state and how old is he? reason i ask is in the state of WV and at an early age (4/5/6 years old), a kid can damn near go winless and still get in the state tournament. my kid wrestled at ages 5 and 6 and was pretty damn good for a year and a half until he got tired of all the travel associated and told me 1/2 way through the 2nd season he didn't want to wrestle anymore. i made him finish the season, but think he only won one more match after he said he was done. that was against a kid that was about 4" taller than him. kid screwed up and told him he was going to be an easy win. 15 seconds into the match, he had the kid on his back and the kid was screaming bloody murder. anyhoo, we take him to the state tournament - he didn't want to wrestle, just wanted to go with the team - with a horrible record; like i said, he was almost winless the second half of the season. retribution for the screamer: he faced my kid at the state tournament and think he set a state record pinning him.

all that said, don't be a everybody gets a trophy and needs to win dad. let him wrestle. losing builds character. and, maybe he'll surprise you and do better than you think. how you gonna feel when he's kicking ass next year and you're thinking, "damn, wish i'd have taken him to the state tournament"?

 

[Marine03]

I'm not a participation trophy dad or coach. The state is NY, which (no offense to WV I wrestled there for 12 years) NY is different caliber of wrestler. Mostly due to sheer population and the coaches involved. Much like PA compared to everyone else.
Fan he can't qualify for the state, I know that wholeheartedly.

 

[WV-FAN]

I'm not a participation trophy dad or coach. The state is NY, which (no offense to WV I wrestled there for 12 years) NY is different caliber of wrestler. Mostly due to sheer population and the coaches involved. Much like PA compared to everyone else.
Fan he can't qualify for the state, I know that wholeheartedly.

i don't doubt a bit it's different caliber in NY, PA, or most any other state, for that matter. let him try, though. he'll be better for it in the long run.

 

[Herd Fever]

He is 7......if he wants to go to States then let him but don't push it. He has a long time to grow. NY is a beast when it comes to wrestling so he has time to get better.

 

[i am herdman]

Let him go. He has plenty of time to worry about wins andoases later..wrestling better wrestlers will make him better. Focus on learning technique at his age

 

[CockyHerd]

I need an unbiased opinion on this. As a coach and a dad it's hard to be objective on it. My son is in his first year of wrestling this season. For those who know the sport I started him off in novice (went 7-1) so I moved him up to open and went (4-5) he was never pinned, but struggled a bit scoring against the better opponents. He's qualified for the regionals, but really has little chance to qualify for the states (Top 4 advance). This region has 4 of the top 8 in his state competing. He's done great already his first season, but do you let him go with the chance of getting demolished which may kill his psyche or call it a season and let him have some confidence for next year? I'm kind of split on it, anyone have any thoughts on this?

Two points......

1) What does your Son want to do? Despite only being 7, after a full season, he's probably pretty self-aware as to where he stands.

2) Despite being his Dad and based on the above, you seem to be pretty objective about the situation. You've competed and you coach. Once you take a deep breath and step back, nobody knows better than you what's best for your Son.

Bottom line and I'm sure you already know this......Make sure he's having FUN! That's all it's about, especially at age 7.

Best of luck.....Enjoy every minute with your Son, it goes by fast!!

 

[Sean Hammond]

I have no experience in wrestling, but I would suggest you challenge him as much as possible as long as he still enjoys the sport.

Winning is fun. But never forget the joy in the challenge. Every championship I won when I was growing up was because I played a lesser role on a very good team. Those championships were a blast. But the most fun I had playing sports was when I was on a lesser team and we fought, scrapped, and played our asses off to finish higher than anyone thought we would. If your son enjoys the challenge, he'll get more out of proving himself worthy against tougher competition than he will collecting metals against foes who he knows can't compete.

...but make sure he enjoys the challenge.

 

[Marine03]

Two points......

1) What does your Son want to do? Despite only being 7, after a full season, he's probably pretty self-aware as to where he stands.

2) Despite being his Dad and based on the above, you seem to be pretty objective about the situation. You've competed and you coach. Once you take a deep breath and step back, nobody knows better than you what's best for your Son.

Bottom line and I'm sure you already know this......Make sure he's having FUN! That's all it's about, especially at age 7.

Best of luck.....Enjoy every minute with your Son, it goes by fast!!

He wants to go, but he's stubborn and wants to go so he could be the "only first year kid to qualify for the states." His words not mine. To his credit he beat a state qualifier and lost by 3 to a state runner up. He has two other coaches also, 1 says not a good idea, 1 says let him go. Wife says "he's not ready" which to her credit her brother wrestled when I did, so she knows what's she's seeing. He's really good but he's not there yet, next year I think as an 8 year old he'll be an animal.
I don't know I have until tomorrow night to decide.

 

[Herd Fever]

Let him go if he wants to. But enforce there will be no crying if you lose in the first round

 

[wisemaniac]

No dad wants to see his son lose but on the flip side, be careful the message you send about facing competition.

 

[Marine03]

No dad wants to see his son lose but on the flip side, be careful the message you send about facing competition.

Lose is one thing but pummeled is another, which is what will happen at some point. The 2 kids ranked 1-2 are from Niagara, he's not ready for. But I'm leaning on letting him go

 

[sistersville]

Let him go you are doing great. Nothing as exciting as having a kid on the mat. First match i went to i was hourse

 

[WV-FAN]

Nothing as exciting as having a kid on the mat.

damn, ease up sandusky jr.

 

[herdfan429]

You never know what can happen on the mat. Kids can make mistakes and end up on their back. Let him wrestle

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

Nothing as exciting as having a kid on the mat. First mat i went to i was hourse

I think you mean "doggie" instead of "hourse."

 

[sistersville]

I could barely talk after the match. So exciting. Good one rifle

 

[sistersville]

Wv fan you thought sexual when u saw mat and kid..u have the problem i just cant spell

 

[JudgeDD]

Both my boys played numerous sports as kids, and were three-sport athletes all through high school. And I've said this before: wrestling did more than any other sport to help shape the young men they have become. The combination of hard work, accountability, sportsmanship, challenge, dedication, teamwork, drive...it all meant so much to my boys (who both started when they were five).

I will echo those who have said to keep it fun. But you can help judge how your son has handled losing in the past, and how he may handle it in this post season. It is one of the most valuable life lessons - that you will sometimes lose. And how you handle that, and what you do to prepare better the next time, will help define you as an athlete and a man. At seven, you son is still learning how to cope with disappointment. If you don't think it will crush his psyche, then you might want to encourage him to accept the challenge. Realizing, of course, that losing is not failure, but an opportunity for growth.

 

[Walden Pond]

I like cheap oil. Don't even care if it costs me in the 401k. Cheap oil is great now while I can still go out and burn it up. 401k is just money for nursing home bilkers when/if I get old.

 

[Herd Fever]

damn, ease up sandusky jr.

Sandusky Jr. Is sitting next to Sandusky Sr. Already

 

[marshallisqbu]

Let him play. Better that he learns to lose and get pummeled so when he becomes good he wins with class

 

[Rock98Dog]

He qualified, that's a honor in itself for a first year wrestler. So let him go so he knows he still has work to do if he wants to be really good like those kids he will compete against.

 

[GeauxHerd]

i don't doubt a bit it's different caliber in NY, PA, or most any other state, for that matter. let him try, though. he'll be better for it in the long run.

Maybe there's hope for your kid yet. Not wanting to be like his old man wrestling around in skimpy clothes with other dudes. Good for him.