Welcome to ASL Eagles Wrestling Club
In this handbook you will find information about the club, as well as interesting information about the great sport of wrestling.
ASL Eagles Wrestling Club is a non-profit organization run under the direction of a booster club. The club is funded by a portion of each member’s registration fee, proceeds generated from our annual wrestling tournaments, and other fundraising activities. Donations are always welcome, as the club receives no public funding.
Philosophy
(soon coming)
Wrestling Culture
There is a great deal of “attitude and intensity” in the sport of wrestling. With self-discipline to keep them in check, this can be a great thing. Wrestlers with good attitudes become great assets to the sport and their team. ASL Eagles coaching staff strives to coach with a small-step mentality. Success is not necessarily measured by the win/loss column. Wins enforce the wrestler’s self-confidence; losses are seen as opportunities to improve. The first step might be not being pinned by an opponent that has pinned you every other time, scoring a single point on an opponent that you have never scored on, scoring your first takedown, escape, or pin. All of these accomplishments strung together will result in success.
Wrestling is a very physically and mentally demanding sport. Some say it is the most demanding of all sports. Be prepared for tears; it happens and there is no shame in it. Losing can be especially difficult when your wrestler makes a mistake and begins losing a match they were winning. Screaming, yelling, and criticism during a match are not the best way to help your wrestler gain their composure again. Frustration and anger at losing are not uncommon, but we ask that any displays of anger by the wrestler be done outside of public view, and never on the wrestling mat. We would like them to focus this frustration into a desire to improve. The coaching staff would like the first few moments after a match to speak with the wrestler, to give some constructive criticism or congratulations on a success. Please respect this time as parents and wrestlers. Your words after a match as a parent should be positive whether they won or lost. They may feel that they have in some way let you down. If the wrestler is still angry or frustrated letting them leave the gym area and walking around by themselves can allow them time to cool off and regain their composure. One of life’s lessons is to learn how to deal with losses, as well as successes.
Folkstyle Terminology
Two athletes square off in the middle of a mat in neutral (both standing) position. Youth wrestlers get three (60-90 seconds each) periods to pin each other. If no one gets pinned during the match, the winner is determined by points. Points are scored by successfully completing wrestling moves. An athlete wins by a pin which is achieved by holding both of the opponent’s shoulders to the mat for two consecutive seconds. A pin ends the match. A technical fall also ends the bout. It occurs when a wrestler has a 15 point advantage over his/her opponent.
Point scoring
TAKEDOWN – 2 Points – Awarded after one of the neutral wrestler forces opponent down to the mat and gets behind the opponent AND becomes the offensive wrestler. Neutral to Offense is a two point takedown.
ESCAPE – 1 point – Awarded after the defensive wrestler gets out from underneath the opponent’s control and gets into the neutral position AND is facing the opponent. Defense to Neutral is a one point escape.
REVERSAL – 2 points – Awarded after the defensive wrestler gets out from underneath the opponent’s control and gets on top of and/or behind the opponent in one move AND becomes the offensive wrestler. Defense to Offense is a two point reversal.
NEAR FALL – 2-4 points – Awarded after the offensive wrestler turns the defensive wrestler over onto their back and holds them at a 45 degree angle or less for between 2-5 seconds (2-5 counts by the referee). Defense on their Back.
FALL (PIN) – is met by holding an opponent’s shoulders or scapulae (shoulder blades) on the wrestling mat for a prescribed period of time (2-3 seconds). A pin immediately ends the match and the offensive wrestler is the victor. (Please record pins earned on our pin chart in the wrestling room.)
LOCKED HANDS PENALTY – It is a penalty for the offensive wrestler to lock hands (except cradles) around the torso or both legs of the defensive wrestler unless the opponent is standing on their feet or within a near fall count. Overlapping fingers is considered locked hands by the referee and is a common warning or penalty issued by the referee in youth wrestling.
As mentioned earlier, a match is broken into three periods of one to two minutes. In the first period, both athletes start standing. In the second period, the wrestler who wins a coin flip may start in the top, bottom, or neutral position, or may defer the decision to their opponent. In the final period, the other wrestler may choose the top, bottom, or neutral position. When athletes go out-of-bounds, the official blows the whistle and stops the action. He starts them again in the center. No scoring can occur out of bounds unless the scoring individual has two feet remaining in-bounds.
WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS
Tournaments are usually held on Saturdays or Sundays, but participation is not mandatory.
Depending on the age and experience of your athlete, you may want to slowly introduce them to tournaments to prevent them from becoming discouraged or even burnt out.Please use your discretion if you do not feel your wrestler is ready for competition and ask a coach if you are unsure.
Tournaments are lengthy, lasting 4 to 6 hours, and can involve as many 200 to 400 participants. Most tournaments will start early in the morning, and run until early to mid afternoon. Each parent is responsible for getting wrestlers to and from tournaments. Registration and weigh-ins vary at each location. We will post a recommended tournament on our bulletin board, facebook group, website, and in an email. Please feel free to search out other tournaments on your own at www.theguillotine.com.
Tournament entry fees vary from $10 – $15 (cash only), that you can pay for on site. You may have to pay admission fees for non-wrestlers, as well. Registration is generally filling out wrestler’s name, club, birthdate, grade, and/or years of experience on a slip of paper. This registration paper is then taken to weigh-ins. After registration, bring your wrestler along with registration paper to weigh-ins where your child will be weighed. They will also perform a skin check and verify that nails are trimmed.
The club recommends that ASL Eagles Wrestlers and their families sit together as a group at tournaments. We also ask that wrestlers wear their singlet and t-shirts at tournaments to provide unity and help the coaches easily pick them out from the hundreds of other wrestlers. Food and snacks are the responsibility of each wrestler, although most tournaments feature a concession stand. Nutrition is an important part of any athletic activity, so please help us to encourage a healthy diet.
Tournament format varies by location, but there are many similarities. Wrestlers compete only against wrestlers of their own age/grade and weight. Most youth tournaments in our area are 4-man round robin. All local tournaments are co-ed. (There will be a girls-only division at MNUSA State tournament and some national tournaments.) There is usually a 60-90 minute period following weigh-ins before the tournament begins. During this time the tournament directors are assigning wrestlers to brackets. Wrestlers should use this time to warm up with their teammates. Bracket sheets are posted in a prominent location as soon as they are complete. It is each wrestler’s responsibility for locating their bracket sheet and reporting to their assigned mat for competition. In some instances, brackets are called over the intercom and wrestlers should report to their designated mat immediately. Most often, wrestlers will be called to a staging area, grouped according to their bracket, and walked out to their assigned mat.
ASL Eagles coach will attempt to coach your child during each match, however, depending on the number of ASL Eagles wrestlers present this may not always be possible. Please feel free to reach out to other wrestling parents for assistance, if necessary. After your child’s bracket is complete, they should head to the awards table to receive their medal or trophy, if not led there by a volunteer.
Open Tournament
This tournament, as described above, is open to any wrestler. Wrestlers are grouped by grade, weight and sometimes also by experience.
Qualifying Tournament
Wrestlers must have a MNUSA wrestling card to compete in these tournaments, which also run as described above and wrestlers are grouped by age and weight. At the State Qualifier tournaments a wrestler will earn 40 points for 1st place, 25 points for 2nd place and 10 points for 3rd place. A wrestler must compile a minimum of 25 points to qualify for the State Folkstyle Championships (Pee Wee through Novice only. Girls, Schoolboy and Cadet divisions at the State Folkstyle tournament are open – no qualification necessary.).Please visit the asleagleswrestling.com tab on our website for more information on purchasing a MNUSA wrestling card.
Age Groups: PeeWee (2013-2014), Bantam (2011-2012), Intermediate (2009-2010),
Novice (2007-2008), Schoolboy (2005-2006), Girls (All Ages)
WRESTLERS
Expectations/Code of Conduct
1. Respect will always be given to coaches, teammates, and opponents.
2. Wrestlers must listen and follow directions of all coaches.
3. Wrestlers are not to be disruptive during practice, meets, or tournaments
4. Come to practice prepared, dressed, and ready to wrestle
5. At all times, wrestlers must conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.
A) Physically and/or verbally abusive behavior is not allowed.
B) Win or lose, wrestler must shake hands and congratulate their opponent.
C) Wrestlers will behave themselves at all practices and events.
D) NO horseplay!
6. ASL Eagles Wrestlers are a guest at all facilities, so respect all property.
Practice
Practices will be held at Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, 1824 Marshall Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55104, in the Auditorium. Each practice, we will provide instructional time to teach wrestlers new moves, give them the opportunity to drill the moves, and wrestle live with each other to apply what they have learned. We match wrestlers up based on age, size, and experience. We will do our best to match those according to the numbers at a particular practice. We will occasionally play games during practice to keep the FUN in wrestling!
Rules for Practice
1. Show up at least 5 minutes early, dressed and prepared to start.
2. There is to be NO horseplay before, during, or after practice.
3. Do not leave the practice area without a coach’s permission.
4. Report all injuries immediately to a coach.
5. Respect your teammates. (No name-calling or bullying).
6. Be positive and never say “I can’t.”
7. Shower after you get home, after EVERY practice, to help prevent spread of any bacteria or disease.
Required Equipment
Clothing
Wrestlers should wear athletic shorts/pants without zippers and a T-shirt to practice. Sweatpants are acceptable, as long as they don’t have zippers. Long sleeve T-shirts or compression shirts are also acceptable, while hoods are not since they could lead to injury.
Wrestling Headgear
Headgear is not mandatory, but is suggested to protect your wrestler from getting cauliflower ear. A hair cap is recommended for shoulder-length or longer hair.
Mouth guards
Mouth guards are optional, but are required for any wrestler with braces.
Footwear
Wrestling shoes are optional, but we require wrestlers to bring a clean pair of sneakers to change into before stepping on our mats. This helps maintain a clean environment and reduces the chance for skin infections. Shoes worn outdoors can damage the mats, while also tracking in harmful and contagious skin diseases. The mats are cleaned on a daily basis, but you can help us to maintain a healthy and safe environment for our wrestlers.
Health Issues
Wrestling Gear
Put your clothes directly into the washer after practice or a tournament, and don’t leave them lying around for an extended period of time. Headgear should be cleaned with warm water and mild detergent every two weeks.
Cauliflower Ear
This injury is caused by trauma to the cartilage of the outer ear. This can be very painful and will deform the ear. Headgear is not required at practice at this level, but is strongly suggested.
*Some tournaments DO require headgear.
Clean Shoes
This is required to ensure the safety of our wrestlers. Prior to the wrestlers entering the wrestling room for practice, their shoe soles need to be clean. The easiest way to accomplish this is by bringing a different pair of shoes to wear on the wrestling mat. Don’t ever wear your wrestling shoes outside!
Cuts & Scrapes
If your child has cuts or scrapes, please be sure they are clean and covered prior to coming to practice. Also, keep fingernails clipped short to prevent scratching other wrestlers.
Shower
Showering should be the first thing an athlete does when they get home to prevent the spread of infections.
Colds/Skin Checks
If you notice any lesion, sore, or rash on the skin (especially if it is red, swollen, or draining fluid), notify the coaches and contact your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. If you are sick, please do not come to practice until you have sought treatment for your ailment.
ASL EAGLES WRESTLING PARENT EXPECTATIONS
In an effort to provide a competitive, yet fun atmosphere for ASL Eagles Wrestlers, we are asking all families to read and abide by the following guidelines:
1. Have Fun! That is what we will be trying to do! We will try to challenge your child to reach past their “comfort level” and improve as a player, and thus, a person. We will attempt to do this in environments that are fun, yet challenging. We look forward to this process. We hope you do too. Good sportsmanship must be maintained before, during, and after any matches by parents and wrestlers.
2. Be your child’s best fan. Be positive and support your child unconditionally. Every child learns wrestling skills at a different pace.
3. Leave the coaching to the coaches. You have entrusted the care of your child to these coaches, and they need to be free to do their job. If you wish to volunteer as a coach, contact the current head coach. Performance usually declines when a wrestler is confused from directions from too many sources. Advice or observations after the match is concluded should be kept positive and free of criticism.
4. Parents and wrestlers must refrain from castigating, denigrating, or providing any other non-constructive feedback to wrestlers, coaches, officials or spectators. A violation of this provision will result in a warning or a request that the parent and/or wrestler leave the practice or the match. (Including any and all tournaments whether the wrestler has already paid to wrestle or not).
5. Use of profanity by any wrestler, parent or spectator will result in the immediate removal of the offending person using the profane language from the practice or match. Such behavior is also grounds for suspension or expulsion from ASL Eagles Wrestling after review by the ASL Eagles Wrestling Club Coaches. For these purposes, “profanity” is defined as commonly known “swear” or “curse” words, and do not include words that would be considered profane due to religious connotations.
6. Any threats or violent physical contact by wrestlers, parents or spectators against other wrestlers, coaches, officials, or spectators will result in the immediate removal of the offending person from the practice or match. Such behavior is also grounds for suspension or expulsion from ASL Eagles Wrestling Club after review by ASL Eagles Wrestling Club Coaches.
7. Due to the unique nature of wrestling and the format in which wrestling tournaments are conducted, behavior expectations can be enforced by any ASL Eagles Wrestling Coach, President, or Commissioner of the ASL Eagles Wrestling Club Coaches. Hearings and/or appeals, if any, will be handled by the ASL Eagles Wrestling Club Coaches.
8. Last, but not least please refrain from sitting on the mats during practice. This is the wrestler’s field/court/course. You won’t find parents sitting on the pitching mound during practice, so please do not sit on the mats.
COMMUNICATION
Our main source of general communication will be our website, www.asleagleswrestling.com, Head Coach, and Director.
We will keep relevant information populated on our website. This will include registration, a calendar of events including changes to practice schedules, important links, upcoming tournaments, etc.
Once the season begins, we will be sending out key communication via email. Any questions or concerns can be sent to: jdolezal50@gmail.com and davidenathanson@gmail.com.
General Information and Club Updates
We will provide you and your wrestler with the general information and updates during the last 5 minutes of each practice. In the event that a practice has to be cancelled ahead of time, we will post the cancellation in the calendar section of the website, and will make every effort to give you several days’ notice via email. If we have to cancel unexpectedly, an email will be sent and we will also post the announcement at the top of our website.
Inclement Weather
Since our wrestling season is during the winter months, from time to time we may cancel a tournament or practice. Cancellations are decided by the host schools If a contest is not cancelled, yet you do not feel it is safe to be on the road, go with your judgment.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your coaches, director, or parent of contact representative.