Wrestling Parents,

 Just a quick note to let you know what to expect after Christmas:

We are investing in competition singlets (wrestling uniforms) for the entire club. They will be signed out by your child during practice after Christmas. Your child will be responsible for that singlet until the end of the season, and then they must be returned. They have a forty dollar replacement cost, so please take good care of them.

We are making this investment to make it easier for wrestlers who go to tournaments, but also because we are stepping up our team-based competitions during practices. Please have your child wear the singlet to practice on Tuesday nights. To save wear and tear, do not wear the singlet of Thursday. Your child will also be issued a team shirt. That belongs to your child and does not need to be returned.

Please check the “Board  to make sure your child is on a team.

Wear and Care of the Singlet:

The singlet should be worn with underwear and that underwear should not peak out from underneath the singlet. Girls should also wear a snug fitting T- Shirt underneath the singlet. Boys should not wear T-shirts under the singlet. The team shirt for should be worn over top of the singlet, and then removed for competition.

The singlets are reversible, either the blue or the red side may be worn to the outside. You will have a schedule that tells your wrestler when to wear red and when to wear blue. Have your child change into them at home. If they come to practice with it on, and leave practice with it on, there is much less likelihood that it will be lost or damaged.

They are machine washable with other colors, and do not use bleach. Please air-dry them instead of putting them in a dryer. Dryers shorten the life span of the singlets. They are almost dry after the washers spin cycle. If left on a hanger, they will be dry in about thirty minutes.

 Tournaments:

                I have chosen three individual tournaments to go to. If you are comfortable coaching your own child, you may go to more if you like. (see armdrag.com for more choices) Tournaments require travel to other schools and cost between fifteen and twenty dollars to enter. They are not required, but I encourage you to attend some. Please let me know if you will be going to tournaments, so that I can get your AAU card to you.

 Practices:

                You may have noticed that quite a few mothers and fathers jump on to the mat to help their children, especially the younger ones. They are not their by special invitation, and any parent is encouraged to help their child learn and practice. You do not need to know much about the sport to be a great help to your child and the children around them. In fact, some of the best youth practices I have been a part of were family events where parents watched the coaching demonstrations, helped the kids learn what they needed to learn and had some fun with their children and neighbors along the way. It is a great way of multiplying our coaches’ efforts and helping your child get the most out of the program. By all means, if you have the urge to help your child, please feel free to get involved. All I ask is that you have a clean pair of rubber soled shoes- something that won’t damage the mat or leave dirt and grit on the mat. We will also need scorekeepers and team coaches for Tuesday nights. Sign ups are on the Board.

Thanks, Eric Gross, Donnie Duncanson, Jesus Velez, Dan Hamner