Reflection on my unborn son's wrestling career

[Mrfess]

Wrestling blog:

http://www.obsessedwrestler.com/blog/reflection-on-my-unborn-sons-wrestling-career-when-should-i-introduce-him-to-the-sport/

[jcddmoon]

Great read! I can tell you from my own personal experience with my son, that this article is right on point. My youngest started at 4 and found success right away. Out of my own ignorance and zeal   for his success, I allowed him begin competing nationally by the age of 7. Soon thereafter he began to compete year round and following the FS/GR state championship he started showing signs of burnout and wanted to quit by the age of 9.

 

He has since taken a full year off. I gave him space and allowed him to choose when to come back.Recently he came back to the mat and will compete at a limited schedule (30 matches max). The moral and lesson learned for me is to start them later 8 or 9, and to allow them to make more choices. Providing him with the space to choose when e came back gave him a greater appreciation for the sport. There was no better feeling than him coming home from practice and telling me that he loves this great sport again!

[maj]

Great read! I can tell you from my own personal experience with my son, that this article is right on point. My youngest started at 4 and found success right away. Out of my own ignorance and zeal   for his success, I allowed him begin competing nationally by the age of 7. Soon thereafter he began to compete year round and following the FS/GR state championship he started showing signs of burnout and wanted to quit by the age of 9.

 

He has since taken a full year off. I gave him space and allowed him to choose when to come back.Recently he came back to the mat and will compete at a limited schedule (30 matches max). The moral and lesson learned for me is to start them later 8 or 9, and to allow them to make more choices. Providing him with the space to choose when e came back gave him a greater appreciation for the sport. There was no better feeling than him coming home from practice and telling me that he loves this great sport again!

 

Not sure the exact circumstances with your kid but from what I've witnessed in the last couple decades with this sport is the quickest way to burn a kid out on wrestling is to have him cut a bunch of weight as a elementary  and middle schooler.  I'm not  a real fan of some of the lunacy in high school either but at least at that age the kid can make his own choice on how much misey he wants to endure. Seen too many parents become food Nazis in the never ending quest to give their kids an advantage and drive their kids away from the sport they once loved. Wrestling year round may at first seem like a good idea but trying another sport or some other activity in the traditional off season will go a long way to having the promising 12 year old still wanting to wrestle as a senior in high school.

[Mrfess]

Great read! I can tell you from my own personal experience with my son, that this article is right on point. My youngest started at 4 and found success right away. Out of my own ignorance and zeal   for his success, I allowed him begin competing nationally by the age of 7. Soon thereafter he began to compete year round and following the FS/GR state championship he started showing signs of burnout and wanted to quit by the age of 9.

 

He has since taken a full year off. I gave him space and allowed him to choose when to come back.Recently he came back to the mat and will compete at a limited schedule (30 matches max). The moral and lesson learned for me is to start them later 8 or 9, and to allow them to make more choices. Providing him with the space to choose when e came back gave him a greater appreciation for the sport. There was no better feeling than him coming home from practice and telling me that he loves this great sport again!

 

Thank you! You bring up one of my major concerns. I don't want to start him too early and then he reaches a point of "burning out".

[Mrfess]

Not sure the exact circumstances with your kid but from what I've witnessed in the last couple decades with this sport is the quickest way to burn a kid out on wrestling is to have him cut a bunch of weight as a elementary  and middle schooler.  I'm not  a real fan of some of the lunacy in high school either but at least at that age the kid can make his own choice on how much misey he wants to endure. Seen too many parents become food Nazis in the never ending quest to give their kids an advantage and drive their kids away from the sport they once loved. Wrestling year round may at first seem like a good idea but trying another sport or some other activity in the traditional off season will go a long way to having the promising 12 year old still wanting to wrestle as a senior in high school.

 

Cutting weight is such a difficult issue. For sure, I will not allow my kid to cut weight in middle school or junior high. It's just not necessary.