A Lobster Dinner Conversation

Marlon, 4th place in the State @ 60 lbs!

First of all, congratulations to all the wrestlers who competed Sunday.  With six mats going non-stop, Time Warner Cable taping the finals, and one of my team's very own wrestlers taking fourth place, it was quite a day!  Just when I thought it was over, the team decided to go to Red Lobster to celebrate the season.  The other coaches and I talked a lot about plans for next year and so on, but one topic that came up was weight cutting and the negative impact it can have.  One coach mentioned how one of the high school coaches persuaded a now-alumni of the team to drop a weight last year because he told him he'd "make it to Columbus [where the high school state tournament is held]" if he cut down.  Long story short, he didn't qualify.  A similar thing happened to me my senior year, although it was mostly my own stupid decision, and I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

I've stated my opinion plenty of times before, but never from the perspective of youth wrestling.  It seems outrageous, because it is, but some parents actually have their kids cut weight at that age.  What are they, nuts?!?  That's the quickest way to turn a kid away from a sport he likes because he's burnt out.  Someone pointed out to me that the 52 lb. state champ has been at that weight three years in a row.  Hmm, cutting weight, maybe?  It goes without saying that kids should not be cutting weight.  I believe that high school and college wrestlers who are done growing can get away with cutting roughly five pounds, but a growing boy (or girl) shouldn't be cutting an ounce.  It isn't healthy, mentally or physically.

A great suggestion by one coach was to implement hydration and body fat testing at the youth level, just as they do at the high school and college level.  This would determine the lowest allowable weight that a kid can be at, and would, presumably, curb the amount of weight cutting.

However, there are some kids out there who would be better off a little lighter.  Although our 175 pounder qualified for state, he may not be able to compete next year if he gets any fatter.  Yesterday he weighed in at 172, not leaving much room to grow.  175 is the heaviest weight class at that age group, and if he weighs more than that, he won't be allowed to wrestle!  However, he has excess body fat that he'd be healthier without.  Keep in mind this would be managing his weight during the off-season, not cutting - there's a big difference.  For starters, he should do the obvious and eliminate any sweets, fried food, or fast food, and eat balanced meals containing lean protein, non-refined carbs, fruits and veggies, and healthy fats.  Other than that, they shouldn't be putting that much thought into what they eat; just keep it simple for the parents and the kids.

What they should be focusing on even more than healthy eating at that age is just staying active.  This boy, as well as any other kid, should be doing some sort of physical activity year round  The best sports for young wrestlers to do off-season are, in my opinion: gymnastics, soccer, swimming, and karate or other martial arts.  Gymnastics and karate and superb for teaching basic coordination and strength, and soccer and swimming are great cardiovascular activities that most any kid can do.  All of these choices develop good athleticism to round out a youth wrestler.

Stay active this spring,

Jeff