Coaching Youth Wrestling is part of the improved generation of the American Sport Education Program’s (ASEP) Coaching Youth Sports series. This widely respected and highly popular series is the best collection of youth sport-specific guides, which are grounded in positive coaching principles. ASEP, the nation’s No. 1 coaching education program, developed Coaching Youth Wrestling to provide coaches with both an explanation of their role and concrete instructions on fulfilling that role. Coaching Youth Wrestling contains specific programs for both boys and girls wrestling, including specifics on equipment, tactics, conditioning, nutrition and “making weight”. You will also find chapters on communicating with your athletes and their parents, teaching and developing wrestling skills, planning and conducting practices, and coaching during matches. This book includes a special chapter on the games approach to coaching wrestling, which makes practice more fun for the kids and teaching more effective for you, the coach. About the Author The American Sport Education Program (ASEP) is the most widely used and respected sport education program in the United States. More than 30 states now require ASEP courses for their high school coaches, and more than 200 universities use ASEP courses and resources. Over one million people—coaches, parents, and directors alike—have used ASEP products since the program began in 1981. The ASEP headquarters are located in Champaign, Illinios. Table of Contents Welcome to Coaching! Chapter 1 Stepping Into Coaching How to meet your responsibilities as a coach, how to coach when your child is on your team, and being aware of the five tools of an effective coach. Chapter 2 Communicating As a Coach How to send effective verbal and nonverbal messages to communicate better with players, parents, fans, officials, and opposing coaches. Chapter 3 Providing for Players’ Safety How to provide for safety and respond to players’ injuries when they do occur. Chapter 4 The Games Approach to Coaching Wrestling How to use the most effective method for teaching tactics and skills. Chapter 5 Teaching and Shaping Skills Learn the four steps of teaching skills effectively and how to shape skills, correct errors, and deal with misbehavior. Chapter 6 Match-Day Coaching How to prepare for the match, coach during the match, and keep winning and losing in perspective. Chapter 7 Rules and Equipment Understand the rules, wrestling equipment, and the three styles of wrestling. Chapter 8 Getting Wrestlers in Shape Know about fitness components, good nutrition, and making weight safely. Chapter 9 Tactics and Skills Know the offensive and defensive tactics and skills to teach to your wrestlers. Chapter 10 Season Plans Organize your practices throughout the season with sample plans for wrestlers aged 8 to 9, 10 to 11, and 12 to 14. Appendix A Injury Report Appendix B Emergency Information Card Appendix C Emergency Response Card Words of Praise "Coaching Youth Wrestling is a great resource for coaches who work with young wrestlers. Coaches and athletes alike will benefit from the step-by-step instructions for introducing wrestling technique. USA Wrestling highly recommends this book for all wrestling coaches.” Ted Witulski National Coaches Education Program manager USA Wrestling “USA Wrestling recommends Coaching Youth Wrestling for any volunteer or beginning coach. The book covers everything coaches want to know about creating a positive experience for their youth wrestlers.” Mitch Hull Director of national teams USA Wrestling