Tournament Tips from Coach Wait and Bobby Douglas

 

Before the tournament:

• Sleep well
• Eat foods high in carbohydrates (i.e. pasta, potatoes, bread)
• Visualize winning the tournament the night before
• Visualize winning your matches the night before
• Have your shoes, headgear, and singlet as well as any other equipment you might need for the tournament packed and ready to go the night before

 

Day of tournament:

• Have a move to do first in mind before the match
• Arrive 45 minutes early to get ready and be on the mat for team stretches
• Never act beaten down or defeated
• Check your bracket and know either your pool number or match numbers before the tournament starts

 

During the match:

• Look over at every break on the ref’s whistle towards the coaches for tips
• Stay focused on basic techniques and push your opponent into a mistake
• Never waste energy chasing, lunging, or worrying—just be persistent
• Never crawl back to the center of the mat, always jog or run
• Take advantage of time or it will take advantage of you
• Attempting moves in a match that are not part of your training plan is not smart wrestling. 
• Be cool and collected in all situations, never quit.
• Stopping before you feel the ref touch you is a mistake.  Even though you hear a whistle, it could be for a match going on beside you.  Wait until the ref stops the match.
• When you try a hold that does not work or is blocked, switch to something else.  It is generally useless to try to force a hold.
• When you are ahead, stay in bounds and keep the clock running.

 

Top tips:

Pinning is the ultimate objective in wrestling.  Always try the half nelson on a take down or end up inside the crotch.

1. Break opponent down on stomach while you work for the pin, keep your back arched.  Move to a T’d out position and drive with your toes.  Always control both the head and the crotch.  Place your opponent in a second pinning hold if he comes out of the first one.  Stay behind your opponent’s arms.
2. If your opponent is using his elbows for support from the bottom, grab the wrist and drive.  Use your chest to hold them on the mat.  Remember to change from one position to another and from side to side, that way your opponent can never regain a good starting position.  Stay off both knees.  Make him carry your weight.  Constantly push off your toes driving your chest and hips into him.  Maintain top pressure with your body and keep his head down.  An example of this is to use your chest like a bulldozer moving your opponent forward driving with your toes forcing his body into the mat.
3. While your opponent is regaining his base attack the ankles to bring him back down.
4. Your initial drive should place your opponent’s weight on his hands and knees preventing him from moving.
5. Do not clasp hands
6. When you start in referee’s position line up with your near knee down far knee up
7. When covering make sure to cover the belly button and then the elbow

 

Bottom tips:

1. Chop your arm down and turn your head up and away to counter the half nelson.  Also force your shoulder down and use your hand to pull his hand off your head.
2. Stay “turtled up” and do not let them get your arms isolated alone.
3. Always keep your elbows in tight and reach for hand control.

Never:

·        Permit your opponent to make you carry his weight

·        Move in the pattern your opponent wants you to

·        Allow your arms to fly about aimlessly

·        Let your opponent tie up your ankles or wrists

·        Let your opponent keep you on your stomach

·        Stop on your back!

·        Think that you can’t get away!

·        Rest your head on the mat

·        Reach back for arms or the head