Parents Orientation 2024-2025 Season

Introduce coaching staff

Wrestling overview-what the sport is and what it is not:

• Is it like the WWE?
• Wrestling competitions-kids are grouped by: age, weight, experience level
• Will my child get hurt?
• Grit:” The ability to work hard and respond resiliently to failure and adversity; the inner quality that enables individuals to work hard and stick to their long-term passions and goals.”
• Building block for all other sports as well
• We are always looking for volunteers throughout the year for various items and events (Uniform night, banquet etc.)
• Tournament volunteers 12/7 and 12/8

Registration fee $250 ($100 discount for second child within family)-due Wednesday 11/27. Payment plans and other accommodations are available, no child will ever be turned away. This fee covers the rental of the space, uniforms, insurance, USA wrestling charter, league dues, trophies etc.

Scheduling:

● Practices:

• Monday/Wednesday for grades 5-8 from 6:00-8:00
• Tuesday/Thursday for grades K-4 from 6:00-7:30.

● Meets and tournaments:

• Occur either Saturdays or Sundays depending on the event, and are marked on the calendar as to whom should attend which event. The events that are marked NER (North East Region) are our league events (scrimmages/dual meets), and there is no need to register ahead of time, as these are included with your registration fee. Most tournaments you will need to register for, and are marked in the calendar with registration information (highly recommend registering in advance as they’ll up). We will remind everyone weekly the plan for the upcoming weekend’s events details.
• Parents Responsibility to have wrestlers on the mat, with a coach

Website registration and Teamlinkt calendar and comms:

• Everyone should be registered through the website, and have Teamlinkt downloaded as that is where we will be sending out communications. Please continue to use “My name is” stickers until after next week while we learn names. Please reach out to Lauren Kinney with questions or assistance with website or Teamlinkt
• Attendance expectations for weekends:
  • We need to show up to wrestle, learn, and grow. If your wrestler needs more encouragement, help, or a “lift” please let us know
  • Communicate with us if you cannot attend a practice or weekend event, please use common courtesy in that regard. You can mark in Teamlinkt if you are unsure or not attending

USA Wrestling-our insurance, Safe Sport, Background checks. USA wrestling card needed for state tournaments at end of year for all wrestlers

Uniforms will be distributed on Thursday 12/5 from 6:00-7:30 at our practice space at Millworks (looking for some volunteers please). In order to receive your uniform, you must have paid registration, and sign off promising to return the singlet at the banquet, or you will be charged in full. Wrestlers will keep their hoodies, which are also available for purchase for parents or anyone else.

Safety-Wrestlers will need to bring their own head gear and water bottle every practice and meet/tourney. Water breaks will be given regularly throughout practice, and we have some extra water bottles in the room in case any wrestler forgets. Live wrestling begins Monday 11/25 and all will need headgear by then. Bathroom breaks will be a 5-minute intermission halfway through practice. There will be no bathroom breaks during practice other than intermission

Westford Academy Wrestling week (all wrestlers):

• WA Coach Bruce Rich and his wrestlers will be running our practice on TBD, and we will be attending their home meet on Wednesday 1/29. Our wrestlers will be doing the opening warm ups on the mat with the high school before the meet
• This will be our team and individual picture day.

Bracelets program and DAWG of the Week Belt

Wrestling Demonstration after Q and A Session:

• Scoring-Takedown, escape, reversal, near fall
• Listen to your coaches
• When not wrestling-cheer on your teammates
• Sportsmanship-win or lose we shake hands with our opponents and opposing coaches. Go see your coach afterwards for coaching
• No throwing of our headgear or temper tantrums

End of year potluck banquet in Monday March 10th:

• Uniform return
• Team recognition
• Individual award winners ​​​​​​​

Below are some helpful links.​​​​​​​

USA Wrestling
Massachusetts Wrestling Association​​​​​​​