From the Sidelines: Tips For New Wrestling Parents
As a wrestler who didn’t come from a wrestling family, I’ve had many moments when it felt like my parents and I were on two different planets. Wrestling comes with a myriad of unique challenges compared to other sports. I was blessed with two very supportive parents, but things like weight-cutting, ringworm, and singlets were completely foreign to them. However, as I grew as an athlete, my parents also grew in their understanding of the nuances of how to support me in a sport they knew little about. Here is what I wish we had known at the beginning of my wrestling journey.
Wrestling tournaments are like a desert island, so what are you going to bring?
A middle school or high school wrestling tournament is not for the faint of heart. They are loud, crowded, and very long. Most of your time is spent waiting around, interspersed with short bursts of intense (and exhausting) activity. Preparation is the key to survival. Wrestling tournaments are generally hosted by schools, and often, it is difficult to leave to supply yourself and your athlete with sustenance. Most concession stands provide less-than-ideal food, limited options, and won't keep your athlete's energy sustained for the day. Pack a cooler of food options that will fuel your athlete and yourself. Some of our favorites were cheese, nuts, yogurt, peanut butter packets, sliced fruit, and the greatest invention known to man, GoGo Fruit Squeezes. Personally, I also liked Honey Stinger gummies and waffles before matches. They burn fast and give you energy when you need it. For more snack ideas, check out the LuchaFit Competition Snack guide.
In many venues, your athlete is going to be down on the mats while you are up in the stands. They are competing and building relationships with their teammates, so as hard as it might be, you must be supportive from a distance. This means you have time to focus on yourself, bring comfy seating for the bleachers (they will always be the worst), and make friends with the other parents in the stands.
Weight Management
At some point, many wrestlers will have to lose weight to make their targeted weight bracket. Unfortunately, this is perhaps the hardest aspect of wrestling as a sport, and some take it too far. Fortunately, high school regulations have been enacted to minimize drastic weight loss and the perils that accompany it. These rules are complicated, so make sure you are listening carefully to your athlete if they decide to follow a “destination plan”.
It is common to lose some water weight prior to weigh-ins through a sweaty practice. As a result, your wrestler may be dehydrated after weighing in. Be careful to avoid hydrating with just water, as that can lead to hyponatremia (low sodium levels), which can be dangerous. Have electrolyte-filled fluids, such as Pedialyte or Scratch, on hand when they step off the scale. If all you have is water, make sure that your athlete has a salty snack to replenish what was lost through sweat, which can be found in most snack foods like chips and crackers. LuchaFit has a free downloadable guide to weight management to help you and your athlete.
Ringworm is Not a Worm
Ringworm is a fungal infection. I’m not sure that makes it any less undesirable, but it is, at the very least, easily treatable. I have personally had it before; as will many wrestlers during their careers, and in reality, it is a small amount of raised skin that is itchy and spreads in a circular pattern. It can be treated with over-the-counter creams, and as long as your wrestler has the area covered, they can continue to practice, though some events may disallow competition.
The best prevention is good hygiene. USA Wrestling recommends that athletes shower at most an hour after practice and wash their clothes after every use. Make sure you are looking out for Ring Worm. It can initially look like a bug bite, but it should not be covered with a bandaid. Ring Worm loves dark, warm places.
“Why don’t you just stand up?”
There are three main styles of wrestling: Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco. Folkstyle is used at the youth, high school, and men's collegiate levels. It focuses on controlling an opponent and includes the classic referee's position. Freestyle and Greco are international styles, and they focus on exposure for points and reward action. The defining difference between the two is the “no leg rule” in Greco, which results in a lot of throws.
Folkstyle is the style you are most likely to run into, and it is helpful to learn the rules. If your child chooses to do off-season training in Freestyle or Greco, it is ok if you can’t follow along with the fast-paced action. You are not alone.
When I came home from the Western Freestyle Regional Championships, my father, who had watched all of my matches on streaming service FloWrestling, exclaimed: “We need to practice the leg spinny thing! Why don’t you just stand up?” I tried, in vain, to explain that I had been training leg lace defense for weeks as I transitioned out of Folkstyle into Freestyle and that in Freestyle, standing up would lead to getting scored on.
It’s okay not to know everything; be in a space to learn and listen to your athlete. Wrestling is a difficult sport to follow and understand as a spectator, but there are many online guides and tutorials so you can learn alongside your wrestler. My mother even went so far as to purchase the book, “Wrestling for Dummies”. By the way, when you encounter the “Crotch Lift”, don’t worry! It is not what it sounds like.
Final Thoughts
I’ll be the first to admit it: wrestling is a little ridiculous. It can look awkward, and it is often hard to watch as a parent. My dad used to come home after tournaments and pass out on the couch because it was so emotionally, mentally, and even physically exhausting for him. And he works in the ER! But after stepping back as an athlete and experiencing wrestling as a coach and mentor, I’ve realized how hard it can be on the other side of the glass.
Being new to wrestling doesn't mean you can’t help your athlete be their best. Reminding your athlete that you support them and are proud of them no matter the outcome is perhaps the most important advice I could give. And having GoGo squeezes at the ready doesn't hurt.
