Wrestling: First Impressions

Some first impressions:

- I can feel the rust.

Coach Z basically ran everything the first week. I don't think I said more than a few sentences the first day. It was all conditioning anyway. I was there to establish myself a common fixture in the wrestling room.

The second day was more conditioning. I may have said a few more sentences.

Day three saw the first drills, but I did not wrestle with anyone. The exercises, the drills, the sweat, and the intensity all ring familiar. I remember it, but I also remember there's more than I'm remembering. Everything so far is related to the standing game; Not my strength.

Day four was the first time I grabbed a kids and went really hands on (I think). My mind remembered more details than my muscles did.

By day five, I was more comfortable. I'm not going to be in the same shape as any of the kids. I remember doing all of the exercises they've done (and more), but when I did a small workout at home I rediscovered my age and (lack of) shape. Thankfully, that's not my job. It's to give feedback and help push the kids to grow past their current limits.

I'm not ready to jump in and critique the Varsity wrestlers, though. There are some really skilled guys on the team. One just signed his letter of intent to join a college team. Another has 9 years of wrestling experience compared to my four. Everything coach has done so far has related to the standing game, as well.

Which brings me to my second thought.

-Coach Z really know his stuff.

He's very technical in how he describes what he wants. He's very clear, breaks things down, and tells exactly what to do and what not to do. I've already learned some new things. It seems like he has a clear curriculum he wants to teach.

Day 1 and 2 were all about conditioning. Day 3 introduced stance into the conditioning and moving in it properly. Day 4 brought in a single leg shot. Day 5 focused more on the shot and what Coach Z considered proper drilling.

-He's also very intense.

Coach Z was an all-american college wrestler. He made it to the national semi-finals after cutting 26 lbs in a week to make weight at 142 lbs. He talked about how he was so dehydrated and cramped he couldn't open his hands or even undress himself when he had to weigh in.

Now, he made it clear to the kids that they were going to cut weight smart and not do "any stupid shit like that."

Yes, he'll curse in front of the kids. He's not very PC either. It's very different from being in a classroom. Part of it (for me) is the transition from middle to high school. Some of the kids aren't really little kids anymore. They're not adults either.

It's been made very clear that there are standards and expectations. Anyone who doesn't like it can get the hell out.

-There's good, there's bad, but overall I have a lot to learn.

Honestly, Coach Z seems like a very good and very effective head coach to me. There're things I don't like about  how Coach Z runs practice, but there's a lot I do. I don't know the first thing about running a team myself. I know one kid is on the team, because his dad moved to make sure he was in our district. Coach Z has a history and a reputation of success.

Coach Z can be very intense, but I think he has the students' best interests in mind. He's told them multiple times that the goal of being on the wrestling team for four years is "To be a better person, to be a better athlete, to be a better wrestler. In that order." When there was one extremely un-athletic freshman failing at cartwheels, he held him upside down to walk him through it. The rest of the team finished their exercise and then watched quietly. Coach Z didn't quit and the kid didn't quit until he flopped out his last one. Everyone applauded, and Coach gave the kid a nod. When we talked about cuts Coach Z mentioned that he wasn't concerned with what a kid can't do. Our job is to teach. What the kids won't do/try is what will get them cut.

I won't say more here, because there's really not much more to say or that I'd want to post. This is the internet. I think I'm going to like coaching overall.

For now, I'm following two strategies.

"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise." -Proverbs 17:28

and

"Better to be thought a fool and remain silent than to speak out and remove all doubt." -Abraham Lincoln.

I guess "silent" only applies when I'm in the wrestling room. I wrote quite a bit here.

-Carrie was wonderful.

Carrie had to shave hours to work Saturday, so she picked up Shane Tuesday-Friday. That let me stay at practice. On Friday, she surprised me by bringing Shane to visit. He loved running all over the mats. It's a good thing, because I disappeared into the locker room for the next hour to help with cut day. She had to borrow my wrestling shoes to chase him around!

-I think it was a good first week.

Now it's on to the second.