By Dr. Bill Welker
Wrestling parents must make a total commitment!
In my opinion, no other athletic contest asks as much from its parents as much as wrestling. Why do I feel this way? Well, in the mat sport, it is imperative that mom and dad learn the unique roles played by their child (the wrestler), the coach and the official. Below are some helpful hints for dealing with these three individuals.
The Wrestler
Of utmost importance is making sure that your son / daughter eats the proper foods throughout the season. Moreover, do not place undue pressure on your child during competition. Individual sports (especially wrestling) have a way of doing that themselves; you needn’t add to it. Finally, and here is the tough one, teach your son / daughter to accept the consequences of his or her actions, allowing them no false crutches to stand on.
The Coach
Parental trust is the cornerstone in reference to the coach. Keep in mind that the coach is responsible for doing what he thinks is best for the team and your child. If you are upset with a decision made by the coach, ask him about it. You’ll probably find out that he has legitimate reasons for his action. But, most importantly, support your coach; he deserves all the help you can give him.
As wrestling parents, try to keep in prospective the fact that the referee is faced with over 100 judgment calls per dual meet, and certainly many times that amount during tournament competition. Thus, you cannot expect the official to be right on the money with every single call. So, acquire a satisfaction in knowing that he cares deeply about the safety of your child, attempts to be as consistent as possible, and truly concerns himself with doing a fair and unbiased job.
To be totally honest, wrestling parents have quite a burden to bear. However, by following the above suggestions, the wrestling experience can be just as rewarding to them as it is for their son or daughter.